Anchorage School District Faces Backlash Over Proposed Budget Cuts

Hundreds of parents, students, and employees oppose cuts to sports, nurses, and educational programs

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Anchorage School District is facing a $90 million budget shortfall and has proposed cuts that would increase class sizes, reduce school nurses, and eliminate most sports and some educational programs. Over 300 people attended a school board meeting to voice strong opposition to the proposed cuts, with nearly every testifier speaking against cuts to programs they or their children value. The district has since announced a recommendation to reinstate most sports programs, but the school board has not yet voted on the budget.

Why it matters

The proposed budget cuts have sparked a major outcry from the Anchorage community, with parents, students, and employees passionately advocating to preserve programs that are seen as vital to students' education, health, and well-being. The debate highlights the difficult decisions school districts must make when facing significant budget shortfalls, and the importance of community input in determining funding priorities.

The details

The Anchorage School District's current budget proposal calls for larger class sizes, fewer school nurses, and cuts to popular educational programs and most sports. The plan to move to a regional nursing model, where about 10 nurses would cover each region of the Anchorage Bowl, was strongly opposed by parents who said it would compromise student safety. The proposal to combine art and music classes into one 'elementary specialist' class was also criticized, with teachers arguing it would harm students' opportunities to learn. Cuts to middle school electives and the closure of three elementary schools were other unpopular proposals.

  • The school board meeting where the proposed cuts were discussed took place on February 17, 2026.
  • The school board is scheduled to vote on the budget on February 24, 2026.

The players

Anchorage School District

The public school district serving the city of Anchorage, Alaska, which is facing a $90 million budget shortfall.

Anchorage School Board

The elected governing body responsible for making decisions about the Anchorage School District's budget and policies.

Megan Charles

A nurse at Eagle River High School who spoke about the importance of having nurses on-site to provide medical care to students.

Hannah Johnston

A music teacher at Homestead Elementary School who opposed the plan to combine art and music classes.

Hazelynn Higgins

A student at Fire Lake Elementary School who spoke about the support she received from the school's staff in helping her progress from a special needs classroom to a general education classroom.

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What they’re saying

“A non-medical eye could easily have dismissed it and administered Tums. My clinical assessment identified that it was in fact a life-threatening allergic anaphylactic reaction. We saved that student's life because a nurse was there.”

— Megan Charles, Eagle River High School nurse (ADN)

“For many students, the arts are the very reason they get excited to come to school each day. I cannot tell you how many times I've been warned about a student who struggles, only to find that they absolutely thrive in music.”

— Hannah Johnston, Homestead Elementary School music teacher (ADN)

“School was hard for me. I felt overwhelmed a lot at the time, but the staff at Fire Lake didn't give up on me. With their help I found my voice.”

— Hazelynn Higgins, Fire Lake Elementary School student (ADN)

What’s next

The Anchorage School Board is scheduled to vote on the district's budget, including the proposed cuts, on February 24, 2026.

The takeaway

The Anchorage community's strong opposition to the proposed budget cuts highlights the difficult decisions school districts must make when facing significant funding shortfalls, and the importance of preserving programs that are vital to students' education, health, and well-being. The debate will likely continue as the school board prepares to vote on the final budget.