Anchorage superintendent proposes FY26 budget built on unchanged base-student allocation; warns of deep cuts unless legislature acts

Anchorage School District Superintendent Dr. Bryant presented a preliminary FY26 budget to the school board that assumes no new state revenue and uses one-time funds and reserves to balance the district’s books.

Dr. Bryant said the budget "is not a reflection of the school district's aspirations. This is a reflection of about 10 plus years of systemic neglect" and that administrators prepared the proposal assuming the base student allocation would remain at the current level. He told the board the district computed roughly $60–65 million in necessary reductions for FY26 under that assumption.

Why it matters: the proposal would touch personnel, programs and school operations across the district. The administration said it prioritized avoiding large layoffs where possible and preserving direct instruction and student supports, but recommended cuts including classroom staffing adjustments (a districtwide pupil-teacher ratio increase of about four students per class on…