ASD administration recommends moving four charter programs into two district facilities; ACT program consolidation proposed

Superintendent Dr. Bryant told the Anchorage School District board at its work session that the district must decide how to reassign four charter programs into two district facilities and that administration would answer board questions before an action item later in the meeting. "So, tonight, the board has a big decision to weigh," Dr. Bryant said.

The administration recommended clustering the four charter programs into two available ASD locations to reduce outside lease expenses, provide more instructional space and create program stability, according to Jim Anderson and other staff who presented slides and background data. Staff said the key drivers for the recommendation were short lease timelines for some charter operators, limited district-owned space, and the district’s ability to host the ACT transition program for students with disabilities ages 18–21.

Why it matters: Administrators said consolidating programs into district facilities would lower recurring lease costs for ASD and for the charter operators, provide access to gyms, libraries and outdoor space that some charters lack, and create a more stable long‑term site for the ACT program, which staff said needs transportation access and continuity of services.

What the administration proposed and why - Lease timing: Staff said the ACT program’s lease expires in June and that at least one charter lease (described in the presentation as Rilke/Ricoh Shula) ends near the end of the school year, which shortens the time available for negotiation. "They're currently not working on an extension until after the decision is made," a member of administration said of one charter lease. - Space and program fit: Presenters described Lake Hood (Lakewood in some slides), Baxter and Nunaka Valley as candidate receiving sites. For example, staff said Nunaka Valley’s green space and proximity to Russian Jack Park fit STREAM’s experiential, outdoor‑oriented middle‑school model, while moving Rilke to Lake Hood would add a gym, library and larger gathering space the charter currently lacks. - ACT consolidation: Administration recommended locating the ACT transition program in the Highland facility (the space Highland currently occupies) because it already contains some infrastructure the ACT program requires and has better access to public transportation. "A big part of the ACT program is utilizing that public transportation system," administration said. Staff also said using an existing district facility would reduce renovation needs and avoid paying outside lease costs. - Unresolved lease questions: Staff said they had asked Wayland (the corporate owner referenced for one building) whether ASD could assume an existing lease and what Wayland’s long‑term plan for that building would be; the owner had referred the question to corporate headquarters in Texas and staff were awaiting a response. Because of the uncertainty, staff said they would likely not recommend major investments (for example, installing a kitchen) in a building that might be available for only a short term.

Board questions and financial context Board members pressed staff on how a proposed $1,000 increase to the Base Student Allocation (BSA) in pending House Bill 69 would affect the charters. ASD’s finance representative said approximate annual revenue changes under a $1,000 BSA increase (based on projected enrollments) would be: ANCCS about $466,000, Highland about $343,000, Rilke about $653,000 and Stream about $306,000. The CFO cautioned that HB 69 as then drafted provided a one‑time increase and did not include automatic inflation indexing, which could create future structural budget pressure if districts and charters used all new funds for ongoing staffing.

Transportation, co‑location and next steps Administration said it is exploring hub‑and‑spoke bus pilots to provide transportation cost‑effectively if the board approves relocation plans. Staff emphasized they had not finalized contractual details because doing that work before the board’s March decision could give the impression a decision had already been made. "We haven't engaged in what the contract looks like if the board says yes," a staff presenter said.

Staff said they will prioritize detailed planning for whichever schools the board directs at the upcoming action item, including working with principals on space needs, timing for moving, and any necessary building modifications. No final board action on the repurposing recommendations occurred during the work session; the presentation was described as preparatory for a formal decision later in the meeting.

Ending: Several board members said the decision will be difficult because all four charter programs present strong cases for space; staff said they intend to begin focused planning immediately after the board’s action so moves and any required support can be implemented in the summer and fall.