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Parents, students and staff urge board to move Rilke Schule into Lake Hood Elementary
Summary
Dozens of students, parents and staff testified that Rilke Schule German Immersion School should relocate into the vacant Lake Hood Elementary building to reduce commercial rent costs, gain classroom and gym space, and preserve staffing levels. The Rilke community asked the board to act before the school's lease expires.
Dozens of students, parents, teachers and parents spoke during public testimony at the Anchorage School District School Board meeting Jan. 21, urging the district to repurpose Lake Hood Elementary for Rilke Schule German Immersion School.
Student speakers recounted classroom and facilities limits at their current site and asked the board to approve a move. "Please help the students and the staff of... I hope you will think about moving our school to a different ASD facility next year," fourth-grader Miranda Adney told the board.
The nut graf: Rilke Schule leaders and families said high commercial rent consumes about 20% of the school's annual budget, forcing program and staff cuts; they asked the district to allocate a vacant ASD facility so the charter can remain sustainable and expand student access.
Several speakers described crowded classrooms, a music room "without room," one multipurpose space serving as cafeteria, gym and assembly hall, limited small-group spaces needed for special education services, and a library the school said is too small for program needs. Parent and school nurse Amanda Adney said the nurse's office is directly under a stairwell and that "facility costs represent about 20% of our yearly budget," a strain she said limits the school's ability to meet mandated health screenings and day-to-day needs.
Rilke Schule principal Brandon Straub described recruitment and timeline concerns: the district's kindergarten lottery opens Feb. 1 and school tours and outreach are underway, he said, adding that a prompt decision would affect recruitment and planning. Rebecca Colvin, the school's APC chair, told the board the Lake Hood building is largely move-in ready and that occupying an ASD facility would reduce the charter's operating costs and allow reinvestment into staffing and programs.
Speakers also described student outcomes and program strengths. A staff member cited consistent academic performance in English language arts and math despite half-day German immersion instruction; multiple parents and staff recounted long-running international exchange programs and opportunities for students to earn recognized credentials.
Board members listened but did not take an immediate vote. School leaders and parents asked the board for a timely decision because the school's commercial lease ends in August and the school has planned to spend rollover reserves this year and next.
The testimony included students, parents, teachers, the school nurse and school leaders. The district did not announce any action at the Jan. 21 meeting; Rilke advocates asked the board to place the Lake Hood allocation on an upcoming agenda so the public and the school can plan for the next school year.
Votes or final decisions about facility repurposing were not recorded during the meeting.
