Anchorage school board hears update on 15-year school-based health center partnership

ANCHORAGE — The Anchorage School Board on Tuesday heard a progress report on the Anchorage School Based Health Centers, a 15‑year partnership that provides on‑site wellness exams, limited urgent care and connections to mental‑health services for middle‑ and high‑school students.

The board was told the program increases students’ access to sports physicals and other routine care and serves as an entry point for layered services. "Our session goal today…is to provide updates, some data about the partnership and the services that the collaboration provides students," said Ali Cecil, director of mental health and student support for the Anchorage School District.

The schools’ executive director, Heather Ireland, outlined where care is delivered, who pays and what shortfalls the program faces. "We had about a $100,000 of revenue from billing services in the calendar year 2024, but our budget is about $200,000," Ireland said. She added the program relies largely on a three‑year municipal grant funded through the city’s alcohol tax that expires this calendar year; the provider has reapplied for 2026 funding and maintains reserve funds to cover the current school year if the grant is not renewed. Ireland also said the Anchorage School District does not provide direct operating…