After heated public comment, Anchorage School Board reallocates two buildings: Stream to Nunaka, ANCCS to Lake Hood; more rightsizing work ordered

The Anchorage School Board voted on March 1 to repurpose two district buildings after extensive public testimony from students, parents and staff. After several board amendments and roll-call votes, the board approved a plan to place Anchorage Stream Academy at the former Nunaka Valley Elementary and to locate the Alaska Native Cultural Charter School (ANCCS) at the Lake Hood Elementary building. The board also directed administration to prioritize Highland Academy and Rilke Schule (the German immersion program) for future building assignments arising from the district’s rightsizing process.

The vote followed a lengthy public-comment period in which more than 70 speakers — many students and parents from East Anchorage charter programs — described building deficiencies at their current locations and urged the board to reassign permanent school buildings. Students from Anchorage Stream Academy described lacking a gym, cafeteria and safe outdoor space at their current rented site and urged a move to Nunaka Valley for access to Russian Jack and Cheney Lake trails. Rilke Schule families argued that moving to Lake Hood would stop a recurring large rent payment and provide enough classroom, music and library space for their 480 students.

Board action…