Board votes 6–1 to reinstate seven-period middle school schedule for 2026–27

The Anchorage School Board voted 6–1 on April 27 to approve AST Memorandum 163, reinstating a seven-period middle school schedule for the 2026–27 school year.

Administrators led by Dr. Bryant told the board the change is a one-year pause to give staff time to consult with families and plan for special-education and English-language-learner supports under a potential six-period schedule. The funding plan presented would repurpose roughly 14 FTE from Title 6B carryover funds and reassign nine secondary holdback FTE, producing approximately 26.6 positions restored to middle schools. Administrators said approval would return eleven teachers from layoff status (five to displaced and six back to schools), restore four fine-arts positions (band, choir and orchestra), return immersion and CTE teachers, and improve some core staffing.

Board members questioned sustainability, potential increases in pupil-teacher ratios and the legal constraints around federal Title funding. Member Lessons offered two amendments; one (to specify language about which students would be most affected) was withdrawn and a second amendment removing the word "temporary" from the memorandum carried 7–0. After additional discussion, the board adopted ASD Memorandum 163 as amended by a 6–1 vote (Member Donley opposed).

Supporters said the action preserves electives, special-education access and collaboration time while administrators work to embed supports into core instruction. Opponents highlighted that the trade-off increases class sizes and relies on carryover funds that are not necessarily recurring. Administrators said the plan is intended as a one-year measure to allow planning and engagement; several members noted the next board and budget cycle could revisit the decision.

The memorandum and staffing changes will be implemented ahead of the district's staffing event and used in allocation discussions for the next school year.