The Anchorage School District’s budget cuts have sparked concerns among educators, parents, and students. The Cuts will have a significant impact on the community. Corey Aist, President of the Anchorage Education Association, expressed concern about the impact on educators.
“For years, educators have felt overwhelmed with large class sizes and excessive student behaviors,” Aist said. “This lack of funding will encourage educators to leave Alaska for the Lower 48.” Gov. Mike Dunleavy recently stated that he does not support the HB69 education funding bill.
Students and parents are also feeling the effects of the budget cuts. Adina Roberts, a fourth-grader in the IGNITE gifted learners program, will be impacted by the cuts. “I’m sad about it,” Adina said. “I’ve done IGNITE since 2nd grade, and every year I’ve loved it.”
Moreover, the budget cuts will increase the student-to-teacher ratio, making learning more challenging for some students. Miriam, Adina’s mom, expressed concern about the potential loss of staff at her daughter’s school.
Additionally, the school board amendment provides a way to use new funds from the state if they are passed in the legislature. Aist views this amendment as a hopeful sign for Anchorage’s teachers.
The budget cuts have also raised concerns about the impact on student programs. The IGNITE program, which serves gifted learners, is one of the programs that will be cut. Parents and students are advocating for the program to be saved.
The Anchorage School District faces significant challenges due to Anchorage School Budget Cuts. The community is looking to Juneau for a solution, advocating for a proper Base Student Allocation tied to inflation.
News story original published by Alaska’s News Source.
