Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents warn Rogers Park gifted program will lose access if buses are cut
Summary
Parents and military families told the Anchorage School Board that proposed elimination of busing for the Rogers Park highly gifted elementary program would make the program inaccessible for many working families and military households across Anchorage, creating an equity problem.
Multiple Rogers Park families and advocates told the board that removing district-provided transportation for the Rogers Park highly gifted (HG) program would effectively block access for hundreds of students who rely on centralized buses.
Kim Hayes, a parent and student representative, said the HG elementary program serves roughly 150–170 students from across Anchorage and is not an optional enrichment but a needs-based placement that requires transportation for accessibility. Casey Holly, an active-duty soldier stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), said his daughter's participation depended on the Rogers Park bus and that cutting service to JBER, Girdwood and Eagle River routes would be a "detriment" to military families.
Other parents described the program as uniquely diverse and necessary for students whose neighborhood schools cannot meet advanced needs. Testimony emphasized that eliminating buses would shift access to families with schedule flexibility or private resources and urged the board to preserve routes or find alternative models that maintain access for working families.
Administrators later discussed budget constraints during the meeting and the uses of specific transportation allocations; parents asked for transparency about where per-student transportation funds are being spent. The board did not vote on transportation changes at the meeting; several members requested more information and further discussion as the budget process continues.
