Anchorage School District board adopts revised FY26 budget, contingent on House Bill 57 funding

The Anchorage School District Board voted 6-0 to adopt ASD Memorandum 153, a finance-committee recommendation that revises the proposed FY26 general fund budget to account for projected revenue from House Bill 57. The motion raises the proposed FY26 general fund from $594,618,829 to $634,069,022 and directs the administration to restore reductions detailed in the attachment if the projected revenue materializes.

The board said the change is a calculated risk dependent on state action. “ASD did not find extra money tonight. That did not happen at all,” Superintendent Dr. Bryant said, explaining the board’s action assumes the legislature and governor will approve the projected BSA increase. Board members said the revision is intended to avoid certificated layoffs, reverse recent staff displacements and restore key student supports while acknowledging it is not a permanent fix.

Why it matters: The vote halts an immediate wave of displacements and restorations the district said would otherwise disrupt schools, but it depends on passage and executive approval of HB 57 or equivalent appropriations. Member Lessons, chair of the finance committee, said passage of memo 153 “will avoid laying off any certificated staff” and reverse displacement steps, while also noting millions in cuts remain unaddressed.

Most important facts: The board-approved revision increases the FY26 general fund to $634,069,022, a change the motion ties directly to projected state revenue from House Bill 57. The finance committee proposal reduces the district’s planned staffing change from PTR (pupil‑teacher ratio) +4 to PTR +1, restores roughly 138 positions described by the finance chair, and reinstates reductions to nurses, librarians, elementary immersion, middle- and high-school sports, summer programs and other services as detailed in the administration’s attachment.

Discussion and context: Board members repeatedly emphasized that the action is contingent and that the district remains short of a fully adequate funding level. Member Higgins warned the board and community that even a $700-per-student BSA increase would “not be adequate to prevent the same situation next year,” and that without sustained, larger increases the district could face similar cuts again. Member Holloman and others urged continued advocacy to Juneau.

Public testimony: Dozens of public speakers told the board about the local impacts of earlier staffing decisions. School nurses, librarians, counselors, teachers and coaches described being displaced or reduced to halftime and said students and operations were strained. Examples included a King Tech nurse who said she is responsible for as many as 1,596 students across multiple programs and a West High teacher who described stress to students and families after displacement.

What the vote does not do: The board’s action does not create new revenues; it reallocates based on a legislative assumption. Dr. Bryant stressed the board’s action is a ‘‘calculated amount of risk’’ intended to allow the district to begin reinstatement work while awaiting final state action. Several board members noted remaining unreturned cuts of roughly $23 million in the FY26 plan and said the district will need continued legislative support to avoid future reductions.

Next steps: The superintendent said administration will meet with principals the following day to begin reinstating staff and reversing displacement decisions where possible, contingent on the state appropriation process. The board also urged the public to continue contacting legislators and the governor about education funding.

Ending note: Board members framed the vote as both urgent and incomplete—intended to stop further disruption now while pressing for a larger, stable funding solution from the state.