001Good evening everyone. We're going to call the Tuesday, November 4th, 2025 uh ASD schoolboard meeting to order. We are present here in the boardroom. Uh student representative Madison, would you please lead us in the pledge and then land acknowledgement? I pledge allegiance of America to the stands nationy and justice for all. >> We acknowledge that we gather here today on the traditional lands of the Denian people of the Upper Cook Inlet. For thousands of years, the Denina people have been and continue to be the stewards of this land. ASD is committed to diversity and inclusion, and it is with honor and respect that we recognize all indigenous people who live and learn in our community. >> Thank you, Madison. Uh want to note that for the record, uh all board members are present. Higgins, Lessons,
002Donley, Jacobs, Wilson, Hollowman, and Bellamy. Uh we want to welcome you to our meeting and thank you for attending and supporting the work of the Anchorage School District and this board. The board thanks students, parents, teachers, staff, school business partners, and the entire community for your investment in our district with your time, your talent, and your tax dollars. Um would entertain a motion to approve the agenda as drafted. >> Mr. Chair, I move to approve the agenda as presented. >> Is there anyone made by Bellamy, seconded by Hollowman? Is there any amendments to the agenda, >> Mr. Chair >> member Belly >> I actually have two amendments. Can I I'll start give one at a time or do do can I give both at a time? >> One at a time please. >> I move
003to postpone ASD memorandum number which is the annual comprehensive financial report also known as ACFR for fiscal year 2425. Move it from this evening's consent agenda to the consent agenda for the next meeting on November 18th. Is there a second? >> Second >> made by Belly, seconded by Lessons. Um any discussion? >> I think this is from administration for any members who need to be um addressed there. Okay. Seeing no opposition, we will um consider the agenda amended there. Member Bellamy, do you have a an amendment regarding um AS Memorandum number 75? If so, we would want to make that later, but do you have another amendment to the agenda now? >> But I have a I have one more. Okay. >> Uh, I move to postpone ASD memorandum number 059, which is our six-year
004plan known as our CP capital improvement plan, also known as the CIP. Project tables from this evening's non action agenda to December 2nd's non-action agenda. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Okay. Made by Bellamy, seconded by Lessons. Any discussion? Is there any opposition? All right. Our agenda has been amended twice regarding uh ASD memorandum number 71 and 59. Uh the last uh amendment I would ask is uh to ask consensus for the board to allow uh our initial public testimony to exceed one hour and hear from all testifiers at the start of our meeting. Is there any objection? Okay. Hearing seeing none. So ordered. Is there any opposition to approving the agenda as amended? Okay, we have an amended agenda. Thank you everyone. Move on to reports B1 student representative report. Madison, the floor
005is yours. >> All right. Thank you. So, first off, I would just like to say a big congratulations to the ASD Student Advisory Board who successfully hosted the fall 2025 Alaska Associations of Student Government's conference here at Alaska Pacific University, especially with Diamond High School and Eagle River High School helping the team host. We saw 42 different high schools across the state attend, especially with more than 150 students just from ASD itself. The conference was a true success as there were many past resolutions and even workshops with Senator Luki Tobin and the UAA Department of Political Science and even Alaska Pacific University's nursing program. There are many tours across different campuses in Alaska, our museums, and more. I'm just extremely proud to say that hundreds of students across our state were able to foster advocacy
006and leadership skills under the Anchorage School District's planning for this conference. Secondly, I would also like to say that student advisory board has not had a November meeting yet, but we will be meeting on the 18th and I will report on that at our next board meeting. Third, I would also like to acknowledge that it is Alaskan Native Heritage Month for all Alaskan Native students in our district because I know as a student the most important thing about attending a school is feeling like you belong there and that includes celebrating your culture. So, I hope to see ASD continuing to celebrate this month and all coming years. And I just want to give a big recognition for this month for all our accomplishments and perspectives that Alaskan Native students in our district add to us
007every single day. And then fourth, I would also like to note that I noticed for one of our national scholarships, there were 10 students actually from the Anchorage School Duel District that qualified as semi- finalist for the National Coca-Cola scholarship program. And I would just like to congratulate them and let the public know of their accomplishments. And other than that, that concludes our report. Thank you. >> Thank you. Are there any questions for our student representative? Okay, hearing seeing none, thank you for your report. Move on to item B2, board conference and committee reports. Does any board member or chair of a committee wish to make a report at this time? >> Member lessons. >> Thank you. More of a public service announcement. We have talked about um the balancing act software um most recently
008this afternoon in our work session, but there will be a workshop here in the ASD ED center um on Saturday, December 6th from 11:00 a.m. to 100 p.m. members of the public are going to be invited to uh explore um this interactive software to help give the board in input into how we might close our $77 million uh gap and there will be um members of staff and board members on hand to to talk about things. So, it should be an interactive opportunity. Thank you. >> Thank you, member lessons. Member Bellamy. >> Yes. I'd just like to uh of course congratulate our board president who is the newest uh member uh se uh nominated and uh voted on for the uh association of Alaska school boards. Uh he will uh join other members from around
009the state uh to deal with um to help school board me school boards better serve students. So congratulations Miss uh President Jacobs. Thank you very much, Member Bell. Seeing no other board conference or committee reports, we will move on to item C, goals and guardrail monitoring, student proficiency, grade three state summit of assessment technical report. Dr. Bryant, the floor is yours. >> Thank you, Mr. President and board. Uh we'll go ahead and pull up the presentation. So, I'm going to provide a brief technical report on our uh ELA goal for third grade reading based on the Alaska Star scores. Next slide, please. So, for the general public's awareness, our board goal is displayed on this slide. Um, we're aspiring to increase our uh students in grade three who are proficient on the AK star to
01046.4% by May of 2028. Next slide, please. So, in two weeks, I'd like for us as a board to discuss the the trends that we're seeing. Um, because this is an area where we could use support and resources to really move the needle on reading proficiency. Um on this slide you'll be able to see historical trends to date as well as the number tested. Um so you'll note that though we have a greater number of students being served in 2425 than in previous years um we're seeing a downward trend in our proficiency. So I'd like to talk more about our strategies we can put in place to move the needle in this area. Next goal slide. What we'll also leave with the board is this data disagregated by different subops. So the previous slide really
011showed the topline number of how many students total are proficient and the next piece of our discussion will look at our individual student subopul groups. Some of those groups follow that trend and there are other groups that are actually moving in the opposite direction and are increasing in proficiency. So that'll be part of the nuance and the discussion that we'll have in a couple of weeks. Next slide please. And then uh we'll also uh talk with the board more in depth about the the tactical action plans that we have. Uh actually the next slide you'll see our priority action steps. So for those who are relatively new to goal monitoring sessions, we've recently made this change. Whereas instead of a variety of you know 10 to 15 different steps that are taking place in some
012schools but not others um we've really put the priority action steps at the top and those will be the areas that the team will ensure happens across the system and then we have additional action steps that are happening in some way shape or form in buildings across the district. This will be key to figuring out what needs to change in terms of inputs so we can move the needle on this area. Next slide. And that concludes the technical report. We'll leave this data with the board and then our full academic team will be here to have a discussion in two weeks. >> Thank you, Dr. Brian. Are there any questions on the technical report from the superintendent? Member Bellamy. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I meant to break. >> Seeing no questions on the technical report,
013we will move on to item D, public comments. Welcome to the board's first and only opportunity this evening for public comment. The board has set aside a 1-hour time slot at the beginning of the meeting, which we are going to wave and hear all testifiers at the start. During public comment, board members will not answer questions or engage in discussions with members of the public. The board welcomes uh public to observe and contribute to our meetings. However, to be productive, our meetings must be structured and civil. We utilize Robert's rules of order, which have been utilized since the late 1800s. Uh examples of uh criteria in Robert's rules of order are do not attack member speaker's motives. No profanity or foul language. Refrain from disturbing the meeting. Please no cheering, applause, outbursts, or waving of
014signs or posters. If you have handouts you wish to share with the board, please give them to Miss Sullivan who's seated to my left. Additional details can and information can be found on the hand at the door regarding audience participation. As always, we'll begin with our student testifiers. Our first two speakers tonight are Gwendelyn Balo and River Bailey Bernelo. Both could come forward, please. >> Welcome, Gwendalyn. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. So, I have a paper that has writing on it and I'm going to say all the words. So, my name is Gwendalyn Bulauo. My how to spell my first name is G W N D O L Y N. And how to spell my last name is B U L A U. And now I'm going to say some words
015about my school. So everybody that's in Lake Otus is trying to save Lake Otis and they're trying to save it. And if we don't have Lego, we won't we will we won't have a school to go to. I will sing my school song after I finish all my words. And so how I like this school is like how I like this school is all the teachers that work there. We won't have the teachers if we go to another school. So, and all of our teachers that teach all the students, they also need teachers to teach the students or we won't have teachers. So, we won't learn if we don't have teachers. And when we are like when we don't have a school to go to, we we won't have teachers if we we won't have
016the same teachers if we go to another school. And if we go to another school, um, >> thank you very much for your testimony. Uh, River, you have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Hi, my Hi, my name is River and I am a third grader at Fire Lake Elementary School. First, I want to say Fire Lake is an amazing school. I just got my grades from parent teacher conferences and I got a lot of S pluses and O's. I've learned all I know from Fire Lake. Fire Lake Fire Lake just keeps getting better in every way. Nobody wants to close our school that I know and I know a lot of people. Next, I want to say there's a lot of people in student council and parents in PTA like my mom.
017She's PTA president and I'm in student council and we all try to make our school and our environment a better place and we try as hard as we can. Also, I would never want to see any of our teachers leave because they are amazing teachers and they write and plays and they do choir and running club. All of our teachers are nice and kind. I would never want them to leave. Right now in student council, we're working on a canned food drive. All of November, our school is collecting canned food to donate to our local food bank. I think we're making a positive impact on our school and our community. Please don't close our school. >> Thank you for your testimony. Um, Miss Balau and Miss Bernelo, as you both signed up, if you would
018like to testify at this time so we can get you home, please feel free to join us. So, our next two speakers will be Shannon Balao and Karen Brunello. Miss Balao, you have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. Good evening. My name is Shannon Bulauo and I have a student enrolled in Lake Otis Elementary. She has been a member of the Lake Otis family for four years and thrives daily in her studies. She along with the majority of the students enrolled have been in this school with this staff and with these kids since their schooling began. I also have a pre kindergarten child who is at another school because Lake Otis lost his prek privileges program. There are so many kids in the in the two prek classes but all all but guaranteeing added
019enrollment to our school next year. Along with standard teaching, Lake Otis offers life skills and 21st century programs, both of which are highly beneficial to those who attend. This central location gives opportunity for all families to enroll their children in these programs, some that may not be offered in their zone. During spring break and summer breaks, this is the perfect location for larger groups like 21st Century where students can attend and learn together. Tier 1 School. This means so much to so many people. There are so many families who rely on their children being supplied with breakfast and lunch five days a week. There could be families that don't eat at all food baked rations and limited to supplied school meals for their children. What happens if these to these kids if they lose their
020school? Right sizing. This term is thrown around like gibberish. You want to resize our district by sticking teachers with more students than they can handle, let alone should have in their classes. Everyone has a right to their education. And if teachers are so busy helping a few, will others start to fall behind? It breaks my heart to think of what will happen to all these kids who rely on the stability of their school days, their teachers, their friends, and the famil familiarity they see daily. And the children who can't understand why they have to go somewhere else for education, who don't have the same connection to their teachers as their previous teachers. What do we tell them? and the parents who rely on the programs in our schools for their kids. What will they do?
021How will their kids take the news of their beloved school closing? Please vote no and keep our school open. Go Huskies. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next speaker is Karen Bruno. Welcome. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Hello, my name is Karen Bernello and I'd like to share why Fire Lakes continued operation is vital. As a parent, I've had the opportunity to enroll five of my six children at Fire Lake. We became a part of the Firelake family in 2012 and I am happy to share that many of the teachers and staff who welcomed us initially are still part of the school today inspiring a new generation of students. These educators are not only teachers but also serve as role models, mentors and leaders empowering each child to reach
022their full potential. Teachers who have remained devoted to Fire Lake year after year such as Mr. Bill, Mr. Sullivan, and Miss Crow to name just a few embody a deep-seated commitment to the success of each child in the community at large. ultimately leaving a lasting impact. Fire League supports students to excel academically and it extends it excellence beyond the classroom. In addition to meeting curriculum requirements, staff and PTA have collaborated to provide students with a variety of opportunities to participate in engaging activities. For example, we provided students the opportunity to participate in Kids Don't Float, which teaches water and boating safety. With the school support, students visited Chooak High School, where they gained hands-on experience in the water, learning critical skills, including what to do if a kayak flips or a friend is drowning. PTA
023partners with schools to organize a variety of activities throughout the year, including bingo night, pumpkin carving, dancing, movie nights, and more. Teachers generously volunteer their time and resources to support students in participating in these activities in various clubs such as student council running club, Battle of the Books, Choir, NYO, and many more. Just last year, my third grader, River, was cast in a school play and had the opportunity to portray the same character that her now 20-year-old sister had played during her time at Fire Lake. A play that was cleverly written by our very own Mr. Ko, who also authored our school song. Fire Lakes attendance continues to flourish, and with new subdivisions emerging all around us, we eagerly anticipate a surge of students. Legends show our current students education remains uninterrupted, knowing that Firelakes's
024importance will only continue to grow. Fire Lake isn't just a building, it's a family. Please don't break us apart. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next speaker is Mandy Burns. Welcome, Maddie. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Hi. Hi. My name is Maddie Pa Burns and I'm in fourth grade. I'm a Firebird and today I'm going to tell you why I think Fire Lake Elementary School should stay open. Fire Lake is a place where students can learn and grow. The teachers at Fire Lake are funny, smart, amazing, and incredible at what they do. If Fire Lake shuts down, I know it would affect a lot of people badly. And one of those people would be me, my mom, my uncles, and my aunts. Basically, my whole family went to Fire
025Lake. And now my little sisters, me, and my little brother go to Fire Lake. I really know how Fire Lake is a neighbor. I really like how Fire Lake is a neighborhood school so that I don't have to ride the bus for an hour every day. I also love our SLC kids in and classes. Fire Lake is the only school in Eco River with SLC classes. I also like how we have recess and that we have a fun family nights at least once a month like movie night. And second, I love that we get to wear our own clothes to express different the differences between we all have. Fire Lake is a proud, strong, fun, incredible, loving, inclusive, amazing school that will stay standing forever. Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are
026Lola Freeborn and Cruz Freeborn. >> Okay, welcome Lola. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> My name is Lola and I go to Fire Lake. My favorite teacher is Miss Block. I want you to save our school because if you split us up into different schools, you're splitting a great community apart. We are using the whole building. For an example, my class is two classrooms cuz there is too much kindness to fit in one room. This is the school. This is all This goes for all classrooms. Fire Lake is the only school I've ever known and I don't want to know a new one. My future is in your hands by Save our School. >> Thank you for your testimony. Welcome Cruz. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. My
027name is Cruz and I go to Fire Lake. My favorite teacher is Miss Crow. I love our school because Miss Mason is the best art teacher and all the special teachers are so nice and we have so much fun. My mom teaches the kids with autism and they are so fun to be around. Fire Lake is the only elementary school I I've been to and I want to stay there. Please save our school. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next two uh Miss Freeborn, if you would like to testify, you are welcome to please join us. And you have two minutes. Please become your ready. >> My name is Cara Freeborn and I'm an SLC teacher at Fire Lake. I'm also a mother of two children who attend the school. As an SLC teacher,
028I'm extremely worried about the displacement of my program. SLC is a wonderful but very fragile system. Echoing that, we've been so lucky to have the population of GenEd kids at Fire Lake. They don't flinch when there's a meltdown. They know some of their peers are disregulated and struggling, and they kindly go about their day. My students participate in a great deal of inclusion, and it's key to their success. When I prep a gened classroom for my students, I always tell them I can't teach my students to be fourth and fifth graders, that's what you're for. And they always rise to the occasion. As we know, the goal of special education is to not be in special education. This takes an absolutely tiring amount of work for staff and students to achieve. I have zero confidence
029that if we are moved to Birwood, my students will succeed academically in inclusion. I teach both alternate and general education curriculums. My fourth and fifth graders have put in an unbelievable amount of effort to learn these curriculums. Birwood is an ABC school and therefore follows an entirely different curriculum. This model will not work for us. This is a problem with no solution. Another thing I worry about is the proximity to the highway. Alopement exists in our SLC universe. Birwood is directly next to the highway. Fire Lake is nestled in the woods and we haven't lost any lives. I do not feel our students will be safe at Birwood. Lastly, don't throw us out of our beloved school to put in a charter school. How would we ever think you're not prioritizing charter schools? The well-off
030kids are going to make it wherever you put them. It's our population that needs our school, not the charter school. Please save Fire Lake. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Mabel Patterson and Klo Pickering. >> Welcome. Could you state your name for our record and then you have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. My name is Mabel. Hi, my name is Mabel. I am Clinket and Haida. I am in second grade. Did you know that me and my mom had to go to three different schools? I was not so happy cuz I missed all my friends. But I was still sad and it was hard moving schools and I had to move because my mom is a teacher and I had to move because my mom got disreged. I
031was at Homestead for kindergarten with Miss Lux for my first grade teacher. No, for my kindergarten teacher. My first grade teacher was Miss Madison at Ravenwood. The teachers I had were really good, so I miss them. But I have a good teacher for this year. I have upic class with Miss Gonuk and she gave me a aupic name and it's and it means the baby fish that have big eyes. The bad thing about my new school is we have to we have a 40 minute drive and none of my Eagle River friends are there. I think my mom is a really good teacher and she shouldn't have got disreed. Thank you for listening to my speech >> and thank you for your testimony. Uh Miss Patterson, if you would like to testify at this time,
032you're welcome to join us. Okay. Thank you. Um, so our next speaker is Chlo Pickering. We also have Evelyn Pickering. Welcome Chloe. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Hello. My name is Chloe Picker. I am in sixth grade. I went to elementary school. I went to Fire Lake Elementary last year and it was my favorite year of my school career. I learned so much not only about math and science, but also about how to be a good person. The staff didn't treat me like they were above me. They treat me like an equal. They made us They made all of us feel like we were safe. Most of my friends from my fifth grade class cried on the last day of school because they didn't want to leave. Fire Lake is
033a great school. School board, please don't close it. Thank you for your time. >> And thank you for your testimony. Um Evelyn, you have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Hello, school board. My name is Evelyn. I am a third grader at Fire Lake Elementary School. I moved here with my family last year in July of 2024 because my dad got stationed at JBR. This is my second school year with Fiery Lake. I am from Indianapolis, Indiana. Moving to Alaska was very scary. Starting at a new school made me very nervous, but Fire Lake is an amazing school that made me feel safe and loved. My teachers are really nice and I am doing so much better thanks to them. I even started Ignite this year. Please don't close our school. Thank you
034>> and thank you for your testimony. Is there a Cambria Reus who would like to testify? Okay. Thank you. Our next two speakers are Hazelyn Higgins and Hayden Higgins. And if Candace Pollock and Kenneth Higgins would like to join them, please come forward. Okay, welcome Hazelyn. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. Miss Sarah, Miss Ball, help me with my anger issues. Without them, I wouldn't have the tools I need to calm down when I'm over stimulated. Feel like art department has given me the ability to express my creativity. Nurse Ashley has gave me the option to come to her office when I'm over related to calm down. She makes me feel safe. Mr. M helps me identify my over stimulation triggers and helps me calm down too. He's also my favorite principal.
035He also makes me feel safe to express myself when I'm over stimulated. I'm grateful to have him as my principal. Please don't close down my school. Thank you for your testimony. >> Thank you. >> Aiden, welcome. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Say it. >> Last year, Miss Sarah helped me with my anger abuse. Without Miss Sarah, I will be still angry for no reason. and just my favorite principal cuz he's so kind and that if they shut down by elementary school I'll be so sad. The teachers are so funny and fun. And without the principal, I won't be able to go to the office. This actually me. This actually helped me with my body parts. >> Thanks. >> Thank you for your testimony. Um, >> Candace, our next two speakers
036are Candace Pollock and Kenneth Higgins. Candace, if you would like to testify, you have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Fire Lake Elementary has been the home to my two autistic children since kindergarten. They're now in third and fifth grade. When my children started, they were non-verbal. It was due to the help from the amazing staff that both my children are able to speak and speak well. That would not have been possible. Sorry. My daughter Hazelyn moved from SLC to general a education. That would not have been possible without Fire Lake. I'm not sure you're aware, but children with autism have extreme difficulty with change of routine. My son Hayden is an SLC and gets aggressive when routines change. This is very common in the autism community. These behaviors are embraced at Fire
037Lake by well-trained staff throughout the whole building and not just the SLC classrooms. Currently, my son's bus ride is 20 minutes long, and that amount of time, he already struggles. Moving to SLC to Birwood is only going to increase the busing time. Not only that, when I pick up my sum for appointments, my driving time will increase. Fire Lake is located at the heart of Eagle River. This move seems like a decision made by someone who doesn't st understand the geography of our community. Principal Inch has experience in special education, which is not a quality had by all. My personal experience from principles is that they see autistic behaviors as a child acting out and not understanding and helping the root cause. Principal inch looks at the root cause. He understands that over stimulation and
038change of routine can negatively impact a child on the spectrum. He is great at redirecting and calming down my children. In such a short amount of time that we've had him, he's doing amazing work. This work would be lost if you close Fire Lake and move this program. He is valuable to the autistic community that attend or the autistic children that attend Fire Lake. I urge you to keep Fire Lake as it is and thank you for your time >> and thank you for your testimony. Our next speaker is Kenneth Higgins. Welcome. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Thank you. Hi, my name is Kenneth Higgins and my kids are right up here with me and they've been in school at Fire Lake for a while and they both have autism
039and the staff at Fire Lake has helped them out so much. As you could tell, they're actually very well behaved for the most part. But if it wasn't for the staff at Fire Lake, my kids would not be where they're at today. and and I appreciate everything that this staff has done at the school and I want to say thank you for everything that the staff has done. I don't want to see the school get shut down because [snorts] I don't think it would be able to continue with the SLC program and I think it's a very important part of the community. Thank you very much. Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Conrad Splain and Daniel Huberty. Conrad Splain and Daniel Huberty. Welcome, welcome, Conrad. You have two minutes. Please begin
040when you're ready. >> My name is Conrad. I am in first grade at Roka Shula. Brook stands for for respect, for integrity, for leadership, for kindness, for excellence. We are all ASD. >> That'll be it. >> Thank you, Conrad. Uh, is there a Daniel? Welcome. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. Hello, my name is Danny and I'm a fifth grader at Birwood ABC. My parents have always my parents and teachers have always taught me to stand up for what's right. Last month, I submitted a written testimony, but the same simple problem still exists. There is a school board policy that says students in elementary school should get 30 minutes of recess, but I only get 20 minutes of recess. And then I'm supposed to get 10 minutes of movement break, but that
041doesn't always happen. My brothers and I only get 20 minutes of recess, too. And they don't always get an extra movement break, either. Sometimes my teacher only gives us 5 minutes of extra movement break. Schoolboard policy says that we should get 30 minutes of uninstru unstructured recess outside if it is above -10°. That doesn't happen at my school. I have to follow the rules at school or there are consequences. There is a student handbook that outlines expectations for students. The board policies are the handbook for schools to follow. What sort of example does it set if the school isn't following the district expectations and there are no consequences? Fire Lake Elementary School is one of the schools the district suggested to close. Many of those students will come to Birchwood. Is it fair they come
042to a school where the district rules are not followed? Doesn't that set a bad example? These students will already face challenges. Switching schools, losing the uninstructed recess time will make this transition even harder for them. Please take the time to help fix the students that please help take please help take the time to fix these problems. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Katherine Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Huberty. Katherine Smith and then Mr. and Mrs. Huberty. Welcome. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Thank you. Uh I'm a parent of a first grader at ROKA. I'm here to support the ROKA tri board and their testimony tonight for a permanent home for our school community by exploring opportunities to find a suitable long-term facility for ROKA schools
043program. The APC, RSV, and RSI boards of ROA are comprised of outstanding members of the ROA community. each of them parents and board members alike providing unwavering support through volunteerism. The vision of Rilka is to have students that are biliterate, globally aware and locally engaged. The mission provide a culturally enriched German immersion learning environment with a focus on academic excellence and student success. Excuse me. I will echo my son's words. ROA stands for respect, integrity, leadership, kindness, and excellence. I would also like to recognize the same attributes within your administration. The ASD administration has brought forth several recommendations to you, the school board, over the last several years of right sizing. This most recent recommendation may be the most important to the future of the ROKA program as the current facility is only a temporary
044location with the last directive was not to improve and close the building at the end of the 2728 school year. As a reminder, memo 128 does not satisfy the priority given to the ROA under memo 106, which states, "If ROA German immersion school temporarily occupies this Abbot loop facility, it would allow the students sufficient the school sufficient time to coordinate with the district to find a permanent location through the communication of the ASD right sizing process as outlined in memorandum 108, which was provided by the school board on March 4th, 2025. I encourage the ASB to work with the ASD administration to understand the importance of these recommendations. Please remember students are ASD students. Thank you. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Maddie Temple and then Jamie Temple. >> Welcome.
045You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Hi, my name is Maline Rose Temple and I am a Firebird. When I came to Fire Lake Elementary, I was a little scared and nervous until I met a lot of students that were kind and nice to me, also very respectful. It would be sad if Fire Lake closed because all of the teachers are very nice and they help me learn and grow. Also, next year would be my last year of elementary school, so I will stand up for Fire Lake as long as I can. Fire Lake is a place where other students can continue learning, and Fire Lake is close to my house, so my mom doesn't drive long. My mom also went to Fire Lake a long time ago, so please don't close
046Fire Lake. Also, my mom just started working there. And that is all I have to say tonight. Thank you for >> and thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Michael Jones and Misty Nelson. Welcome. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Okay. Yeah. Ever since we learned that Lake Otis may be closed, there's been a lot of misinformation and disinformation presented to the board and to the community as fact. I'm hearing very biased opinions and comments made uh or even expressed with pride in what should be a fair and balanced discussion. And quite frankly, there seems to be a lack of desire to set that record straight. It's been made clear publicly that there is a desire to preserve Southside schools. The percent capacity of Lake Otis was not
047presented correctly in early documents presented to the board so that the four life skills classes and the space they require were accounted for. What were described as the negative impacts and effects of a small school do not seem to be applied to the brand new Inlet View building which will have a capacity of only 300 and there are other examples of misrepresentations of facts in regard to the realities and trans of transportation of students. On the table is a proposal that will clearly discriminate on the basis of socioeconomic status against people who live in neighborhoods with more dense and affordable housing. What does not seem to be discussed is that misinformation is being used to not just close a school, but to break apart an Anchorage community in an unprecedented way. A community that Dr.
048Bryant himself publicly referred to as strong, able to make cultural connections, and to provide stability and belonging to his students. Those results don't just happen overnight. If Lake Otis were to close, the current plan is to send our students to Cassoon, which currently doesn't have the space, to tutor, which will have to figure out how to handle seven preschool classrooms whose families might want to keep their children there in the future, to Rogers Park with very different demographics from Lake Otis, to Collegegate, which just grew significantly, to Russian Jack and to Airport Heights at six different schools. Lake Otus is a diverse title one school with many wraparound services and regardless of what is said in presentations. The reality is suffer if they become a community divide. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next
049speaker is Misty Nelson. Welcome. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Thank you. Good evening, Misty Nelson. Um I am a proud Lake Otis staff member and um you know I kind of have something at written out but u little bit of it echoes what Mr. Jones said we do call each other by Mr. and miss. It's a thing at school. Um but this graphic that was shared the school size impacts to levels of service. Um I just don't see that at our school. This oh we have an increase of combo classes. um we don't have enough collaboration amongst grade levels. We have staff vacancies that are not fulfilled unless it's like a typical you know illness or whatnot. Um also the we lack in being able to provide related service supports.
050I mean, we have one of our life skills parents, I think many of you know, in the room, and she can attest to her daughter receiving all of their OTPT services. And in my time at Lotus, which has been about a decade, I think something over that, um, we've never had a full-time OTP. So, I feel like that was a little bit misleading as well, of saying that we don't have um we're not able to commit to or fulfill services for our students based on the size. Um, and so I'm just I'm I'm let other people speak because it's a long night, a lot of people ahead. uh you've got the most recent petition, 774 signatures. Um and uh I just, you know, I wish for all schools to have what they need and I
051just appreciate your time. Thank you. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Ariana Cuddy and Brandy Castalute. >> Ariana Cuddy and Brandy Castalute. Okay, welcome Ariana. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Hello. Uh, my name is Ariana Cuddy. I've been with the district for 11 years and I'm an art teacher at Lotus and Cassoon Elementary. I come to you today having the unique perspective of being at the two schools in Anchorage most greatly affected by this resizing recommendation. While I understand the district's need to address budgetary issues, upending our community is not a solution the public supports. This closure would severely disrupt the academic growth and well-being of our students as well as put yet another burden on dedicated educators like myself. Have you visited Lake Otis,
052a title one school? We just painted a beautiful husky mural outside the nurse's office. Have you spent a day with our 31 life skill students? Or have you witnessed the incredible SBBS program at Cassoon? Our classrooms have been carefully designed and curated for these special programs. It's taken me years at Lake Otis and a lot of money to create the art room our students deserve. One of ASD's top priorities is teacher retention. In front of you, I've provided a list of some of the things I've purchased or had donated for the betterment of childhood education. I've done this despite receiving a literal decrease in my paycheck for the second year in a row. You say you want to conserve resources, but how much will it take to move and consolidate kids who are currently thriving?
053We just moved a migrant and preschool at Lake at Lake Otis this year into our building. Cassoon just expanded their SBBS swing and now you want to move them to Ocean View. We don't want to move and neither do our students. Our kids deserve stability, strong relationships, and high high quality high quality educators. Please put children first and please don't make me pack up my art room. Thank you >> and thank you for your testimony. Our next speaker is Brandy Castaloop. Welcome. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Awesome. Thank you. Good evening, members of the board. My name is Brandy Castalute and I'm here on behalf of the families of Lake Otis Elementary, a school that's being considered for closure. Even though data doesn't add up, let's talk about enrollment. Lake
054Otis currently serves about 337 students K through 5th. Since our preK program was removed, we are not the lowest enrolled school in the district. Yet, we're being treated as if we are. Districtwide enrollment has dropped by thousands of students. So, this isn't a Lake Otis problem. It's a systemwide challenge that deserves a systemwide solution, not selective closures on schools. Next, our building, Lake Otis, was built in 1955, and the last improvement was 1990. Yes, it's an older school, but the district's own capital plan already includes funds for the necessary upgrades. Closing the school doesn't eliminate those costs. It only shifts them elsewhere while taking away a vital neighborhood resource. And finally, consolidation. Moving children, especially those under 10, create a disruption that directly affects their learning, confidence, and senses of a sense of safety. Um,
055the youngest kids that thrive on routine, community, and familiarity, things that consolidation takes away. Um, please keep Lake Oasis open because this decision should be about what's best for the children, not the building or our budgets. Thank you >> and thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Ishmael Martinez Guzman and Deborah Wright. Welcome. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Right. Next person. Okay. I would like to begin by thanking Dr. Bryant for recognizing what a great title one school Lake Otis is. When Western Alaska was devastated by the recent typhoon, three ASD elementary schools were identified to provide support and classes to displaced students. our EUPIC immersion, Alaskan Native Charter, and Lake Otis. I quote Dr. Bryant, "These schools were chosen for their strong communities, cultural connections, and
056ability to provide stability and belonging." End quote. Lake Otis has a student population which is 82% minority, 78% economically disadvantaged, 19% are students with disability, and 33% are English language learners. At the community conversations, it was stated that by consolidating schools, our most vulnerable students and families would receive more support and benefits. This is not true. when the majority of our students would be going to Cassoon or Tutor, neither are Title One and therefore there will not be extra support. It was also presented that five schools are being considered for renting space to child care centers. None are in Midtown. Lake Otis should be considered if 50% of the space in these businesses will be prioritized for ASD staff. It's a great location. There are eight ASD schools nearby and the ed center. My closing
057question is why is a neighborhood title one school which borders its feeder middle school being given to a German immersion charter school where 1% are economically disadvantaged, 12% minority and not feeding into Wendler. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Naen Price and Drew Huskin. Naen Price and Drew Huskin. Welcome, Miss Right. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. My name is Nadian Price. I'm a retired teacher from the Anchorage School District. More importantly, a mother and a grandmother who has been part of the Lake community for 35 years. Both my boys and my grants went to Lake Otis, including my youngest, who's currently in first grade. I live in the Lake Otis neighborhood. I have seen familiar faces at trick-or- treat time, Christmas food drives, Girl Scout got
058cookie sales, and even former students come shovel my driveway. I'm still looking for one this year, but I'll get it. All of these children are from Lake Otis and Windler. We all recognize each other. I've attended numerous programs, back to school barbecues, culture nights, Girl Scout meetings, parent teacher conferences, spelling bees, choir and band programs, Halloween carnivals, math or reading nights, book fairs, celebration life, PTA meetings, talent shows, and end of year celebrations. Lake Otis was a common connection for all of us and many people in the neighborhood. It is truly a neighborhood school, and it remains that way today. My family has always felt a part of it and we are welcome at Lake Otis. One of the classes that I taught when I was at Windler was a class called CADI. Each year,
059usually at least twice a year, we would come over to perform at Lake Otis and developed a sense of pride and a connection between the students from each school. Continuations of the program was important. Then, as a mother and a grandmother, I've always been impressed with the quality of professionalism and helpfulness of all of the staff. My family benefited from all the academic programs at Lake Otis. My boys were in the gifted programs and now my grandson has an IEP, so I've seen the gamut. Recently, the friendships my family started there still continue to this day. As a sub, as I would like to say, a master teacher who currently spends a majority of my days at Lake Otis, I've been treated kindly, respectfully, and welcome every time I go there. In conclusion, I would
060ask you to keep our school open. The past, present, future, staff, students, and parents love Thank you for your testimony. Welcome. Please state your name for the record and you have two minutes. >> Uh Drew Husenfeld. I'd like to talk to you guys uh today. Switch gears about our teacher contract and the ongoing negotiations. Good evening. Your teacher contract is quite simple. Our teacher contract is state states that the price of our time and labor. We have stated clearly our price of our t the price of our time and labor. If you, the school board, would like to continue to enjoy the benefits of our labor, such as higher test scores, better reading results, and higher graduation rates, benefits your administration just bragged to visiting legislators about last week, those are based on our work,
061you will need to pay us. You can no longer ignore the fact that the BSA is BSA funding is being grossly misdirected in this school district. It is your job to direct those funds to better support ASD's core mission which is fulfilled by us, the educators. If it comes to it, I will vote to strike because I love this city and I would like to stay here. I am the very person this community is pushing away while lamenting the loss. I moved here 5 years ago. I met the person that would be my wife here in Anchorage three years ago. We're married, have purchased a home, and we both still hope to raise children in this city and send them to the public schools. You quite literally need us, but I'm not from here, and
062neither is my wife. We have no family ties or tenable bonds that hold us to Anchorage except our love for the city and its people. That love will not sustain building a home and feeding children as my paycheck not only continues to not keep pace with inflation, but also gets smaller in real dollars. I have no hope of a pension or sustainable retirement while my classes grow and I make less money. Eventually, enough will be enough and I, like hundreds of educators each year, will leave for a school district that values the worth that I bring to the table. Will this be next year? Will it be next two years? or will I get to grow up and see my children play for the Diamond Links? That choice lies with you and the people to
063your right. Thank you >> and thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are General Lassley and Samantha Brown. >> General Lassley and Samantha Brown. Samantha Brown. Oh, welcome Jenna. You have three minutes. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. I implore you to reconsider the potential closure of Lake Otis Elementary School. Lake Otis is a pillar of the Anchorage community and has been for decades. Generations of families have asked to have their children attend here. The school has been in the news in many positive ways over the years for fundraisers and for many school and student achievements. I had heard of how amazing the school was for years and tried multiple times as a teacher to transfer to Lake Otis before I finally succeeded. I'm a teacher who prefers to work
064in title one schools because of the high needs of the students. These students cannot always speak up for themselves. They are highly transient, sometimes homeless or living out of their vehicles. They cannot always speak English because they are refugees or non-English-speaking. They are impoverished and need access to food. I am dedicated to helping these families. In my 16 years as an elementary school teacher, every school I have taught at has sadly been targeted for school closure. I spent 10 years at Wonder Park Elementary. It was targeted for closure twice. I spent two years at Lake Hood Elementary and it was shuttered just last year. Lagos Elementary is the third Title One school where I currently teach and is now on the chopping block. Please stop targeting Title One schools. This is not equity. These are
065communities that cannot find the time to speak at schoolboard meetings when they are working two to three jobs just to survive. Moving their children to schools further away from where they live does not help them with transportation when they don't have working vehicles. We are a school body that needs 100% free breakfast and lunches. Yet, every school where you have planned to relocate students isn't title one. What happens when our students most basic needs aren't met? We also have four life skills classes. These are the most vulnerable students in ASD. At our school, they have their own space and are a vital part of our community. They too deserve better than being split up and relocated to multiple schools. Our sped students need stability. There are schools that aren't title one with lower attendance. Why
066aren't these schools being looked at? Please stop and reconsider what you are proposing. Lakeotus Elementary is vital to the local community, especially for marginalized populations. Our students matter and deserve the best services possible. >> Thank you for your testimony. Could you please welcome Please state your name for the record and then you have two minutes. >> Samantha Brown. Um, hi, my name is Samantha Brown. I'm a proud parent and advocate for Lake Otis Elementary, a school that has stood a pillar of our neighborhood for decades. I'm here tonight with one simple message. Do not close Lake Otis. Last year, you closed schools across Anchorage. You told us it was necessary, that it would stabilize the district. But here we are again. We still do not have the data on the long-term impact those closures had
067on our kids, on families, on teachers, and on our community or or on community trust. We don't know how those displaced students are performing now. And yet, we're being asked to accept more closures before we've even measured the fallout from the last one. Lotus is not just another dot on a map. It's a school with deep roots, specialized programs, and extraordinary educators who have built a community where every child is seen. It houses critical programs that cannot be easily moved without harm. For many families, Legotus isn't just convenient, it's essential. And let's be honest, parents are choosing to leave ASD. um they're choosing charter schools, correspondence, homeschooling, and private options. Why? Because they've lost faith that this district will listen, that it values community or parental voice. That is not a Lake Otis problem. That's
068an Anchorage School District problem. Instead of closing schools, why not listen to what these numbers are saying? Families want smaller, more personal learning environments. They want options that work for their kids. Like Otis is already that, a small, close-knit school that works. Closing Lake Otus will not fix enrollment. It will not fix the budget. It will only deepen the distrust and push even more families out of ASD. Give the chance to rebuild trust instead of tearing it down further. Legos is an example of what a neighborhood school should be. Safe, connected, and full of heart. If you want to rebuild this district's reputation, start by protecting what's still strong. Start by protecting my go. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Rebecca Kulovven and Allison Ger. >> Welcome, Miss Coven. You
069have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. Dear ASD board members, my name is Rebecca Kovven. I am the proud mom of two reala German immersion school graduates who are now currently at German immersion at Service High School. I want to thank the board for allowing reala to move into Abbott Loop this year. It has resulted in significant cost savings that can now be used towards students instead of rent. The move into a building that was actually constructed for use as a school has had many other positive program impacts, such as being able to offer a lunch program and a full library, just to name a few. Moving on to discuss Rilka's future location. This board voted during the previous school year to place a priority on Rilka Schula during future rightsizing closures. I would
070like to voice my support for Rilka to have the option to move into Lake Otis Elementary if it is chosen to be closed. This facility would allow Rilka at long last to have a final home and house our public school students in a public building. It would place the German immersion program on equal footing with ASD's other immersion programs who are already housed in neighborhood schools. When right sizing votes are held at your next meeting, please remember Rilka as your priority. Thank you. >> Thank you for your testimony. Welcome. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Good evening, AS board members and Dr. Bryant. Thank you for your willingness to hear the voices of your community as you thoughtfully navigate the difficult decisions surrounding the topic of right sizing. My name is
071Allison Galler. I'm the president of Realula German Immersion School's parent teacher organization. My request today is straightforward. continued consideration of Real Cushula's 495 ASD students and 45 ASD staff members and the procurement of a permanent facility for our school school community to call home. Roshula is deeply appreciative of the opportunity you granted us in the temporary use of the Abbott facility. The money we previously spent on rent can now be invested directly into what matters most, our students. The expanded square footage has allowed us uh has allowed our enrollment to expand to 495 students while clearing the way for several key milestones in our school's 20-year history to include our school's first dedicated library which passionately supports our mission of bilingual literacy. Our first dedicated lunchroom which provides equitable access to hot meals for over
072200 students daily. An outdoor education program that focuses on the development of lifelong connection with nature and healthy habits. As you are aware, however, the Abbott Loot facility is and was always meant to be a temporary solution, a stepping stone along the path to procurement of a permanent home for Rokushula's 495 students and 45 staff members. The waiver granted to the Abbott Loop facility by the fire marshall, noting lack of fire suppression system expires at the end of the 2829 school year. The tens of millions of dollars required to bring Abbott Loop up to code would be a jagged pill for the Anchorage voters to swallow, especially considering this is a facility which has previously slated to be shuttered not once but twice prior to Rilka Schuler's tenure. We're hopeful that you will remain true
073to your word and prioritizing reala and the reallocation of ASD facilities through the right sizing initiative. In making good on this promise, you're not only satisfying the objectives of right sizing, but also paving the way for reala German immersion school to continue thriving for years to come. Thank you. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Delaney Schneider and Ashley Denaster. >> Well, Commissioner, you have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Hi, I'm Miss S. from Tarmigan Elementary. The last time I spoke up at one of these meetings, we were all required to wear masks. Be brief background on me. This is my 10th year in education, two years in the lower 48, and my eighth year with ASD. A few years ago, I was fed up and quit ASD
074as a classroom teacher and became a sub while I got my MERS in something unrelated to education. This is my second year hired back on as a classroom teacher with ASD, and I am already regretting my decision to return. I don't have enough time to tell you the problems our education system is facing daily, but I will highlight what I feel is important for you to hear. One, teachers are the backbone of this school system. We wear many hats when we're in the classroom and we wear them well. Without us, your system will fail. Compensate us more and give us a reason to stay. Two, lack of consequences and account accountability within society and the school system has created intense behaviors in every grade level. It's exhausting and leaving very little time to actually teach.
075Three, teachers are the care and support daily to our students. Yet, this school district does not make me feel supported or cared for. It's hard to give from an empty cup. Lastly, mental health is important in this industry. When I'm healthy, I see my therapist once or twice a month. During a regular school year, it's once a week, but this school year, I have already had to bump my therapy sessions to twice a week, just so I don't quit midyear, which wouldn't be fair to my students. A great healthcare plan promotes healthy teachers and you need healthy teachers. I know I'm just one teacher to you and you couldn't care less if I quit the school district, but just know it will be a loss to the students and that is something you should care
076about. I am looking forward to seeing the resignation incentive you offer this school year because at this point it's probably better than the new contract you have offered us. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you for your testimony. Welcome. Please say your name for the record. You have two minutes. Thank you. You have two minutes. You can state your name for the record and begin. Thank you. Okay. >> My name is Ashley Dennister. I am the school nurse for the students at Fire Lake. I come here not to protect my job because as a nurse, I am very employable. I come here out of grave concern for the students I care for. A study conducted by BMC Public Health showed elementary years significantly impact adulthood. The elementary years laid the foundation for lifelong health,
077education, and social emotional well-being. The more negative experiences a child suffers during the elementary years, the increased risk for depression, poor health, and lower occupational prestige and adulthood. The majority of the students I interact with at Fire Lake have challenging home environments. homes with one parent, parents with multiple jobs, broken homes where the child lives in more than one home, custody issues, and homes where the primary caretaker is not their biological parent. In the three months I have been at Fire Lake, I have had approximately 60 nurses visits for hunger, fatigue, not sleeping, and emotional health issues. Most of my daily interactions with students are needing to take a nap, emotional ice packs, requests for hugs, and food. I do not doubt the competency of the nurses who will care for these students should they
078be relocated. My concern comes from the toll a relocation will have on these students because Fire Lake is their only stable environment. Moving these children to a new school could cause trauma and negative experiences beyond what they are already facing at home. An additional meta study found done in 2020 found that children who experience adverse childhood experiences are 2.5 to 3.6 more likely to develop depression and chronic physical health conditions as adults. For the sake of my students, I beg you not to close Fire Lake so these children can become healthy adults who make a positive impact in our community. Your vote to close Fire Lake will only benefit the affluent and harm those who truly need stability and Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Natalyia Clark and Brandon Strut. >>
079Welcome, M. Clerk. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Thank you so much. Speaking about the pos possible closure, I'd like to address two issues. Collaboration and big schools versus smaller schools. Collaboration was emphasized in both community conversation meetings. It is my experience that schools with a bigger population are not better and not safer. I worked in eight different schools and I can testify that collaboration is not better in bigger schools. In fact, big schools lack collaboration. Often staff members feel insignificant and invisible. It's kind of same feeling when I was in New York and I looked up at the tall buildings there. Do you know how I felt? I felt like I was a speck. Nothing. There are lots of people and they do not see each other and they do
080not care. Do I want the same experience for my students and or Noah. So title one minor minority lower income students will be transitioning into a nontitle one school a non-title one schools ready to accommodate title one students in the meetings we asked if our students would have the same services benefits resources and the answer was uh maybe possibly might be could be this tells me that the environment for title one minority students is not in place in those schools how is this going to benefit our students. They will feel like a speck and become invisible and lost. Bullying can become a problem as well. We have the most vulnerable, extremely diverse population with many bilingual students. We have the highest number of economically disadvantaged CIT title six and students with disabilities. They need stability,
081resources, services, our support. We have everything in place for them in our school. The students are noticed and known. In my opinion, we are looking at the wrong school. Let's not rush in making decisions. Let's analyze the situation and make the best solutions for our students and their families. This is our home. It matters. Thank you. >> Thank you for your testimony. Welcome. Please state your name for the record. You have two minutes. You can begin when you're ready. >> Hello, esteemed board members. It's nice to be here again. I'm glad that right sizing could bring us together. Um I am Brandon Stroke, principal of Real Shula. And I want to begin by thanking the board immensely for allowing real to relocate to the Abbaloop facility for the 2526 school year. This has been a
082tremendous uh growth opportunity for our program as enrollment has continued to rise. Um we've been [clears throat] able to provide a hot lunch program to our students for the first time in 20 years and roughly 200 students take care uh take advantage of that daily. There's extra four acres of playground for these students to play kickball, football, participate on a playground, and it's all uh greatly appreciated. The biggest benefit naturally though is that our public education monies aren't going to rent a facility. Instead, that money can be turned around and spent on staffing that directly supports our student outcomes. However, Abbott Loop is not a long-term solution. As we all know, two different school communities have already been moved out of that facility. In 2017, the CIP indicated that it needed $20 million worth of
083maintenance. Eight years later, we can safely assume that that number is much greater. Um, to be clear, I'm not here to advocate for the repurposing of any school. However, I'm here to advocate for Rilkashula and its long-term sustainability. Rila is the largest in-person charter school in our entire state. Nearly 500 ASD students attend this school from all over the community, Girdwood to Eagle River, and we have over 40 A.E.A. employees. Please keep us in mind as we move forward that real needs a long-term sustainable facility in order to meet goals set by this board and meet the expectations of our community to educate our students so they become productive citizens in our community. Thank you. >> And thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Elizabeth Ripki and Andrew Mullins. >> Welcome. You
084have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Hello. So, my name is Elizabeth Repkkey and I'm a teacher at the SPBS uh school at Cassoon and I'm here to talk about the closure of Lake Otis Elementary and the move of SBBS from Cassoon to Ocean View. If you were to close Lake Otis Elementary, you would not just be displacing four life skills classrooms, but also the SPBS students at Cassoon. In Cassoon, some of our students have moved three times already due to right sizing, and this would be their fourth move. And one of the things that most of our students have dealt with is trauma. And if we were to move them again, it would cause more trauma as well. One of the things that most students um in our school use is our
085um sorry is our um deescalation facilities and those are not currently at Ocean View. They would have to be rebuilt and they were just rebuilt at Cassoon. The teachers that work at Cassoon know SPBS students well and have worked with them as well as our general education teachers. When it comes time to do pictures, my students asked for the PE teacher because they wanted him. If they were to move, they would not get to see that PE teacher ever again cuz he would stay with Cassoon. And thank you. >> Thank you for your testimony. Welcome. You have two minutes. Please state your name for the record and bring them when you're ready. Yeah. Andrew Mullins, you have to be crazy to become a teacher today. I will say that again. You have to be crazy
086to become a teacher today, especially in Anchorage. My name is Andrew Mullins and I am a third-year teacher. As someone that made a career change later in life, I offer a unique perspective on the many challenges that educators experience as well as the barriers potential new educators face entering the profession. As a high school language arts teacher, I work twice as hard for less pay than I ever did in my previous career. I am also gambling that things will work out and there will be some improvement to the tier three retirement system at some point in the future. Just as all educators face, I have experienced everything ranging from growing class sizes, disruptive behaviors, and students crying over personal struggles. I have experienced inflation and rising costs in Anchorage on seemingly everything while our compensation
087remains stagnant. and I have experienced the barriers that exist for someone that wishes to enter the teaching profession even while having a master's degree in their content area. Teaching involves sacrifice. Sacrifice during the mornings or afternoons to prep the day's lessons because one planning period isn't enough. Sacrifice during the weekends to work on the ever growing pile of assignments to grade. Sacrifice to buy your own supplies and books so students can have a better experience in your classroom. sacrifice to stay off social media because of growing animosity towards educators in public education and sacrifice to knowingly take less money while working harder than other professions because of some silly dream to help the next generation. Perhaps you should sacrifice for your teachers just as your teachers do for their students every single day. You have
088to be crazy to become a new teacher in Anchorage. For the students of Polaris K12, thankfully I am crazy and I chose to follow my dream in my heart. How many others would be willing to do the same? You have the power to fix this. Fix it. Pay your educators what they are worth. Improve our retirement and make it more worth it to be a teacher in Anchorage. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Ashley Kander Giani and Donna Yates. Welcome. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> My name is Ashley Kenneriani. As a taxpayer and a parent, I really want our money to be used as best as possible. I also want what is best for our students. Eagle River is a unique layout of a
089community tucked in a valley and on the sides of mountains and areas. We aren't a grid. Our boundary lines haven't been adjusted in forever. There are neighborhoods that are bus to schools not closest to them. Take the community of Powder Ridge for example. They live across the highway from Fred Meyers. The bus ride to Fire Lake would be 1.4 miles. Instead, these students are busted 4 miles up the Glen Highway to Birwood. Doing the math, it's 5.2 additional miles roundtrip per day, equaling 936 miles in a school year. 936 additional miles those students spend on a bus. The irony is that when it's time for Powder Ridge residents to go to their polling location, they don't go to Birchwood Elementary, they go to Fire Lake Elementary. I believe that families should have choices in schools.
090But putting a charter school that follows an ABC curriculum with yet another ABC school of Birwood a few miles away makes zero sense. These programs should be combined within the building of Birwood. Regard regarding charter schools, it's impossible not to feel like the administration is prioritizing the rich kids over the economically disadvantaged kids, which is over half of Eagle River's population. The kids who already at are at a disadvantage are going to struggle more with this catastrophic move. They need us. They need all of us and they need each other. Please don't kick us out and put the rich kids in. I urge you board members to read all of the emails you receive from our Eagle River community. We are living in survival mode. This is the second year fighting this. Our families are
091exhausted. But please note, I'm my child's advocate and I won't stop fighting. I ask that you listen and comprehend what is being said. Please visit our school before making your vote. Our students matter. Thank you. >> Thank you for your testimony. Welcome. Please state your name for the record. You have two minutes. >> Hi, I'm Donna Yates and I'm the cafeteria manager at Fire Lake. Fire Lake is the only school in the Eagle River area participating in the community eligibility provision program. This provides free meals for all students regardless of a family's income. Fire Lake qualifies for this USDA program because we have the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged families in the area. I serve healthy food free to families to 80% of Fire Lake students every day. Meal counts have doubled since the start
092of C. So, this Eagle River community is in need. Please take C eligibility into consideration. If our students are relocated to schools without this program, I'm not confident they will be set up for the most success. I see students who may not have enough food packed in their lunch or they don't like what was packed, so they would just sit quietly and be hungry. Hungry kids will not be prepared to learn. Breakfast and lunch are essential for learning. The C program has been a blessing for our families. If Fire Lake students are displaced, a lot of these families will incur debt and economic hardship. A lot of our families are too proud to apply for the free and reduce program. And I've seen the amount of debt that families can get when paying for meals.
093One third grader owed over $5,000 eating breakfast and lunch daily. That's just one student. Student nutrition has worked hard to get this program into more schools and hopefully one day meals will be free to all schools. Closing Fire Lake will threaten the stability these families just got of having free food for their kids. Right now, 203 Fire Lake children are guaranteed meals at schools. Closing Fire Lake does not support ASD's core value of every student deserves the opportunity to achieve his or her potential. Please keep fueling healthy minds to their potential when you vote to keep Fire Lake open. Thank you. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Erica Arnold and Jason Hutch. Welcome. Uh, please state your name for the record. You have two minutes. >> Uh, good evening. My
094name is Jason H. Hotch. Um, so good evening board members and ASD administration. Uh first, um I'm the father of two daughters who are in sixth and fourth grade at Roshoula and have been there since kindergarten. I'm also the chair of the Roachula Academic Policy Committee. Uh and I'm here tonight to first express my gratitude for the work that you all do as public servants um and as administrators in Alaska's largest school district. Uh this is taxing work. Secondly, I want to thank this board for offering reala the use of the Abbott Loop facility on the short-term basis as it has provided many opportunities for our students, staff, and the program. Uh such as an additional 20,000 more square feet than we were in previously, a true library where we have been able to hire
095a full-time librarian, something that Rilka has not had before. As a father of two very avid readers who go to the Lusac library every other week and check out 20 books uh what they're allowed to um having the ability to have a true library in school has only expanded their desire to read. Also a cafeteria uh as noted previously by uh others associated with ROA you know it serves 200 students daily um my two daughters included who have jumped for joy at the option of of a hot lunch. um and the ability to not pack a lunch the night before. With those positives of the Abbott Loop facility afforded the Roachula community, there are the drawbacks to it, including the expiring occupancy waiver, which places a deadline on the future in that facility. The deferred
096maintenance cost the facility faces is also a reminder of why the facility was originally closed, but offered in this kind of an emergency use situation for us and our predecessors in that space. Lastly, I want to express again our interest in being right sized in a long-term ASD facility and to thank you again for working through these difficultations. This isn't workations. >> We thank you for your testimony, Mr. Hutch. Um, your two minutes is expired. Thank you for your service. Uh, our next two speakers are Jeffrey Lee Bevier and Jessica Schwarz. welcome. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Hey, thanks. Wow, big crowd. Last time I spoke to a crowd like this, I got booed. Um, my name is Jeffrey uh Bevier. Jeff Bevier. I've been a teacher for 27 years,
097the last 23 with the Anchorage School District. Um, you know, it's bad when you get an old guy like me to sit past my bedtime to come talk to you. So, thank you for listening. Uh, but I was one of those people that was recruited uh about 23 years ago when I left a stagnant Oregon as the finances were crashing due to something something called Measure Five. And uh I was recruited by a guy named Chuck Fannon who was part principal, part Carnival Barker at the time when I went to Clakamus Town Center for a a job interview. Uh it was great. I came up here those first few years 2003 to 2006 were amazing. We were building schools south got built. We had a new diamond. I mean I guess it's pretty easy to
098build schools when oil's $100 a barrel but you know here's where we are. Then we changed and everything started to kind of slowly, you know, decrease. We used to have a freshman academy back in 2005. We had two schools. It was great service and diamond go links. We had these freshmanies and unfortunately we had to kind of shut them down after the funding disappeared from our smaller schools grant. I don't know if that's prophetic but it is what it is. But going forward I don't understand how a new teacher would ever want to come to Alaska these days. When I came up here in 2003 we were paying $10,000 a year more than school districts in Washington and Oregon. Fast forward now to 2025. It is a complete inverse. I mean $10,000 a year less.
099Our insurance is worse. Two years right now, $500 less per check. That's insane. How do you expect people to live like that? And then you on top of it, all our bargaining team, whether explicitly from the school board or implicitly, drags their feet, costing in human misery, $500 a paycheck, Bali's new teachers. That's not right. You can do better. You stand upon the precipice of an anti-education movement across the country and in our state. You can make the right call. You can make the decision. You can stand up for education not only in Alaska, but you can send a message by valuing your teachers. >> Thank you for your testimony. Welcome. Please state your name for the record. You have two minutes. Thank you. >> Is it ready? Oh, sorry. Okay. Good evening. My name
100is Jessica Schwarz. I'm a parent of two children at Fire Lake Elementary. I'm a lifelong Alaskan. I've lived in Eagle River for the past 11 years. I understand that the overall Anchorage municipality population has decreased and that technically Eagle River and Chuggyak are included within that. However, a 12-mile drive north of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway takes you to Eagle River, which is very visibly and rapidly growing, and it's not a fluke. It's a trend. Eagle River is a very desirable community to live in, attracting Alaskans and also um has a large presence of military families. There's land to build on and being built on currently, and citizens need homes to buy. Carol Creek is being developed within 12,200 feet of Fire Lake's doorstep, introducing 115 dwellings. There's a separate 58 unit housing area within
101the current lake current fire lake school zone being built. Furthermore, the projected Powder West subdivision will introduce 1100 1,100 new homes to the area. Knowing the realistic amount of students that would be moving in and attending Fire Lake naturally, I feel closing Fire Lake is a short-sighted recommendation instead of planning for the not too distant future reality that these students will come to fruition and need a neighborhood school to attend. When the proposal to close Fire Lake was made last month, we had 194 students. As of today, we have 203 4.6 increased in only 3 weeks time. Fire Lake is growing rapidly and naturally right alongside our town. Not by chance. We did not receive any of the students from the Western Alaska disaster. Don't make the wrong decision based on a once in a-lifetime
102occurrence and short-term problem solving. The North Eagle River and Chugiak community is booming. If you close Fire Lake, I'm 100% sure I'll be back in the seat within two years telling you we told you so. And by we, I mean our Fire Lake family here, those who couldn't join us tonight, and our 669 and growing petition signers that we've collected in only four days. Thank you. >> Thank you for your testimony. The next two speakers are Kerianne Wood and Aara England. My name is Kianne Wood and I am the fourth fifth grade combo class teacher at Fire Lake Elementary. As of October 6, we had 194 students. 104 of them met the socioeconomically disadvantaged threshold. That's 54% of Fire Lake students. These students face a lot of adversity already. They come from broken homes, broken
103families. They're hungry. For some, we are the only stability they have. Statistically, there is a strong link that exists between socioeconomic status and higher crime rates. When the individual lacks resources they need, such as an education or a community, crime increases in response to that perceived blocked opportunity. There are several other factors that play into this. Stress, frustration, and social disorganization. Like I said, broken homes, broken families, hunger. Everyone is so focused on crime and behaviors at schools nationwide, but don't focus on the underlying factors. Travis Hershey, a renowned sociologist, postulates in his social bond theory that there are four social bonds that lessen an individual's chance to engage in deviant behavior. It's attachment, commitment, involvement, and beliefs. attachment, a strong emotional connection to significant people like parents, but as I've said, broken homes, broken
104families, teachers, and peers. You're taking from our students, my students, and potentially giving our school to a charter school. Charter schools who already have a selected number of students they let in and are affecting our enrollment rates. Charter schools who, in lie of volunteer hours, can pay $20 per hour missed. My students can't, their families can't. Yes, kids are resilient. Yes, they will always learn. Yes, they will always have teachers. But these are my kids and this is my family. I have a stack of class journal entries here where they were asked, "What does Fire Lake mean to you?" I want to leave you with this from one of my students as I conclude my testimony. Fire Lake is where I come to be safe, learn, have fun. >> Be support, be encouraged, and be
105fed. It's where I find friends. That is what fire means to me. >> Thank you for your testimony. Uh, please state your name for the record. Welcome. You have two minutes. >> Uh, good evening, Dr. Bryant and members of the board. I'm Accara England. I want to first thank you for your continued efforts throughout the right sizing process and for creating your space um, conversations that you held uh, through last week to hear from your community. I appreciate the opportunity to engage with ASD staff and many of you during the recent meetings. It's clear that you are attempting to listen to the voices you serve. Thank you. Um I understand that the real Kushula APC chair recently submitted a formal letter, a formal letter expressing interest in the Lake Otis building. Many families, including myself,
106learned of it only afterward, leaving us feeling disconnected from a decision, or at least me feeling disconnected from a decision that could directly affect my children's future. I'm here tonight to speak for my two children who attend Real Cosula. Your administration presented that the Lake Otis facility is a $19 million investment just to make it functional. We are currently in a facility that you just heard tonight that is going to take over $20 million or a similar amount of money. I support finding a long-term sustainable home for real Kushula. However, if the board considers offering Lake Otis to the APC, I ask that student safety and well-being remain the top priority. In its current condition, it's not an environment I would want my children or any RILKA student to move into. Your administration chose to
107present this building not only due to the 50% capacity, but due to the amount of deterioration the building is in. Any offer that you give to Real Kosula must include a clear commitment from you. Bond voters are not Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Lee Butterfield and Logan Pittney. Welcome, Mr. Butterfield. You have two minutes. Please begin with your reading. My name is Lee Butterfield. I would like to offer a narrative to his why teachers are ready to walk a line or walk away. Based on the published 2026 budget book, between 2022 and today, the Anchorage School District has invested 3.8% less per student into teacher salaries. During that same time period, the human resources budget grew by 43.78%. Line 490 of the HR budget, labeled as other expenses, grew by
10816,41.03%. The teaching and learning department grew by 72.67%. Teaching and learning personnel investment grew by 125.92%. The development and grants department budget grew by 102.85%. The communications and external affairs department budget grew by 49.39% while the personnel budget grew over the same period grew by 79.36%. These numbers represent choices being made by administration and passed by the board. Numbers tell stories. The narrative here shows that when one-time funds become available to support a system, they are often utilized to grow the ancillary functions of the system rather than the core. Then when one-time funds disappear, these ancillary systems function functions survive by pulling general fund monies away from paying the workforce affecting the core mission of the district. How else are we that workforce supposed to view this pattern? How is the state, how are the
109families we serve? How then are we supposed to trust this district when it says it is cut into bone when its teachers and only teachers whose value has been lessened when all other departments have had increased investment over the same time period? It is a difficult question and one for which I have not heard an answer. With this in mind, I ask the board to consider one very important question. How has the increase in these departmental budgets had a direct and measurably positive impact on student outcomes? I await a very public answer. >> Thank you for your testimony. Welcome. Please state your name for the record. You have two minutes. >> My name is Logan Pittney. I'm one of your approximately 3,000 teachers. The core objective of this district is teaching the children of our
110community. Our teachers carry that weight and we are tired. We love what we do, but it is hard work. We've seen too many colleagues leave and a lot of them do not get replaced. The extra workload is added on to those of us who are still here. Recently, board members offered comments that you value your teachers, that you would love to give us a raise, but the district just doesn't have the money. When I look at budget books and I see administrative departments whose budgets have climbed substantially in the last 10 years, when I walk through the parking lot and see several brand new trucks, both of these observations lead me to the conclusion that we have or at the very least had money that could have been spent directly supporting our core objectives, but
111different choices were made. As you look at next year's budget, I urge you to ask yourselves, is the money we're spending directly supporting the core objective of teaching our students? is the if the answer to that question is no that choose to budget that money differently. Urge your district administrators to bring forward a competitive contract proposal that values our work and retains your experienced teachers. I conclude with the words of an ASD student. We won't learn if we don't have teachers. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Brandon Lee and Mike Still. Welcome Mr. Lee. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Uh hello. My name is Brendan Lee, also known as Mesley in the Eagle Liber. Uh because I'm running the martial arts school in Eagle
112Liber since 2019. Uh father of three. The first chart is artistic. Uh first child is 10 years old and our twin is 8 years old and now twins going to school with the anxiety uh that their school will be closed and they will be going to different school next year. I'd like to share my personal experience. My first child was struggle. I remember because he has to move to school to school either school close to special program or don't offer special program for special need like my child. We start with the Kun Elementary and has to move AU and finally moved to Ilo until we moved to Egalib. Uh he was very under stress and he couldn't express our children often uh don't understand uh even if they explain it. Uh closing fire lake elementary
113school children were under significant stress during the period when they have to the new environment. We all know stress in childhood has much worse effect than a stress in adult. Uh in the case of America unlike South Korea uh which is I origin from uh each school has a different curriculum and so there's a good advantage for children and parent to choose according to their preference. Uh it is very hard to understand uh close to school because of the budget and cost. Uh, please do not take the opportunity for the children who are responsible for next generation. Thank you. >> Thank you for your testimony. Welcome. Please state your name for the record. You have two minutes. >> Good evening. My name is Mike Still. I've been an educator for 17 years and I currently
114teach at Bowman Elementary. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak with you all. A month ago, I testified asking you to offer a contract that makes me and other teachers want to stay in Anchorage. I talked to you about the hard work teachers are putting in and asked you to offer a contract that retains teachers rather than wasting money hiring our replacements. You nodded along while you listened to all the testimony, but then your contract literally moved one per single percent. If I add that to the 50 extra healthcare dollars your team authored, then my me that to the meager raise, then my monthly salary will only go down by $20. That's right, down by $20. Your offer merely stops me from hemorrhaging money. It is not competitive. The AEA bargaining team knew
115how laughable it was and didn't even put it to a vote for us. Did you know that my paycheck went down $361 a month? I didn't make any changes, but that's me losing $5,000 a year to stay with ASD. Your teachers have devoted countless hours to writing and sharing this testimony. Why not use that time and energy to fight alongside ASD rather than against ASD? Let's work together in Juno to raise the BSA and fully fund Alaska schools. Have you heard of positive behavior supports? PBS for short. It's a buzzword and it's staying because it works. Reward the positive behavior. You'll see more of it. It's time for ASD to use PBS with our teachers. We aren't naive. Rather than being salted by these laughable offers, our teams have suggested other ways to keep our
116contract competitive. Do you realize the message you send Anchorage by giving new dads only two weeks and new moms six weeks to recover from childbirth, build a family, navigate the largest change in their life they'll ever have? An extra two weeks for a C-section tells our community you view building a family as a medical procedure with orders to return to work at a bare minimum level of recovery. But let's work together in Juno. Keep your teachers here. We want to be on the same team. Thank you. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Kim Cole and Jacqueline Higgins. >> Welcome, Miss Co. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Good evening. My name is Kim Cole and I've been employed by ASD for 17 years, a certificated teacher
117for 15, and I am ready to strike. In uh 2016, I did leave teaching for eight eight years, not because I hated it, but because I had a once in a-lifetime opportunity. After fulfilling that dream, all I wanted to do was come back to the classroom because I love it and I'm good at it. Despite my passion for the profession, the only reason I'm back in the classroom was because I was able to retain my tier 2 status with a pension. If I had had to return with a 401k, tier three, I would still be working my last corporate job. We need more robust pension program to attract and retain teachers, especially since this is the standard in most other states. My daughter has a BS and would love to be a teacher, but she
118can't seriously consider it because she makes more money bartending and she can't afford to take a year paying for and completing classes with an unpaid internship. I want to thank you for starting the pilot program to allow people like her to potentially long-term sub or work in a school while completing their certification. I look forward to an expansion of this program to include all grades and disciplines so we can continue to attract quality teachers to educate the next generation. We, the union, have accepted lesser raises for decades, causing the city to go from being highly competitive and attracting talent to falling further and further behind. ASD has repeatedly promised to make it up in the next contract when times are better. But instead, our take-home pay is essentially reduced every year while piling on more
119responsibilities, bringing education in our city to the brink of crisis. There are a ridiculous number of unfilled positions this year with long-term subs, and this will continue to escalate unless we stand up and correct it. Now, I implore you to join us in supporting our students by taking care of your teachers before we find the need to strike. >> Thank you for your testimony. Please state your name for the record. Welcome. You have two minutes. >> Um, my name is Jackie Higgins and I am the chair of the Special Education Advisory Council. Um, I am a mama bear of a student at Lake Otis Elementary, but tonight I will be speaking as the mama bear of special education in the Anchorage School District. I want to point out to as the chair of the SEAK,
120I feel it is my duty to take a stand for children in special education, especially those whose parents are busy working or are unsure of how to stand up and stick up for their children. Um, let's have another talk about discrimination. I want to point out to the board that both schools slated for closure this round of right sizing contain regional placement special education programs as well as every single school slated last year. These programs are vital to their communities. I want to remind the board that the goal of right sizing per the district is to maintain continuity of education for its students. However, trying to close either of these schools slated for closure speaks to the contrary. If you are looking at the education of life skills SLC or SBBS students, disrupting the students
121of these programs with moving them to unfamiliar schools and staff will be extremely detrimental to their education as well as removing them from their gened peers [sighs] as well as burdening the special education administration staff who are already overburdened with further helping with unnecessary changes. There are three other schools with low attendance. None of them contain regional special education programs, CIT, ELLL, or any other high needs programs. Only homeschool hybrid programs. This is an injustice and we see it. Children of the programs you are speculating on closing don't deserve the instability the district is providing. Something has to be done. But closing schools where the most vulnerable children attend is not the solution to accommodate special special interest charter and immersion programs. Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Alicia Busk and
122Ira Mani. Okay, our next two speakers are Alexandra Jagree and Ephine Chigree. Miss, it sounds like Miss Buick is with us on the phone. Um, Miss P, if you could star six to unmute, we'll hear your testimony now if you're available. >> My husband's on the phone. Does he go first or >> No, we're looking for Miss Buick. Miss Buick, if you're still with us, can you star six to unmute? We'll come back to Miss Buick. Miss Buick, can you hear us? >> Okay. My apolog. >> Yes. My apologies. Thank you. Yes. My name is full name Francesca Alicia Busk. I'm a mom of five Anchorage School District students and currently one student at Fire Lake Elementary. I am advocating for Fire Lake Elementary School to be to stay open. Um, this is now the
123third time that the Anchorage School District has slotted to close a school that my children are currently attending. Um, my children have attended multiple types of ASD programs, everything from virtual school curriculums to charter schools to neighborhood schools. Um, and I can tell you indefinitely that our neighborhood school was the ultimate program that helped with my children's learning success. Um, charter schools, unfortunately, uh, they have their niche, but they are not a right size for everyone, especially Fire Lake Elementary School. Uh, my background, uh, I work in commercial and residential real estate. Um and the area immediately surrounding Fire Lake Elementary is slotted to increase enrollment substantially uh within the next school year. Um by spring of 2026, there will be 115 homes built adjacent to the school. Um this will substantially increase uh enrollment
124and as of today um Fire Lake enrollment is at 203 students. Um it is imperative that the Anchorage School District look at the long-term goals for this area. The school and understanding that neighborhood schools and choice schools are vital to an economy and an industry. Um, one of the market trends that we're looking at right now from 2023 to 2025, projections are showing that home sales are going to increase. And when you look on realtor.com, the number one. >> Hey, thank you for your testimony. Please state your name for the record and you can begin. You'll have two minutes. >> Okay. My name is Alexandra Hadki and I'm a mother of four. Currently, three of my four children attend Fire Lake Elementary. I personally have had the opportunity to firsthand experience the surrounding schools in
125Eagle River and have had extremely poor experiences as a parent with a parent of children with special needs. Having experienced the illquipped administration at schools like Eagle River Elementary and Birchwood ABC, I can tell you that my children with special needs suffered until they were enrolled at Fire Lake Elementary. Fire Lake administration and staff have proven to be effective in the management of care and education of students and especially those with special needs. I personally believe that Fire Lake sets the bar and should be the example for other schools to learn from. The alternative placement for students will be inferior and as a result will have a discriminatory impact which would affect ASD and their budget. The discriminatory impact may open ASD into legal danger in the future, which will impact the ability for all
126kids to receive education. I know the board has to make a choice um based on the greatest number for the greatest good right sizing, but thinking you are temporarily affecting a small population like Fire Lake for the benefit of education for the entire ASD population. You are wrong. The closure of Firelake will be negatively impactful to the students and have a lasting negative effect. Thank you for your testimony. Um, if we have Ephrine agree, could you please star six to unmute and then you have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Hello. Can you guys hear me? >> We can. Please begin your testimony. >> Okay. I just want to say uh first of all, thank you for taking the time to listen to these testimonies. I want to um echo a little bit
127of what my wife said as well as some of the other speakers who've been advocating. Um three of our children go to Firelink Elementary and Fire Lake was the right fit. Um the staff [clears throat] there have provided um more than enough and uh we're truly grateful for their ability to help us uh navigate special needs and the challenges our children face. Um want to reiterate that uh keeping Fire Lake open means preserving a piece of history. It's for us helps us within our community um see the impacts that our children are having um overcoming challenges and we're truly grateful for the staff. Um, Fire Lake isn't just a facility or or a business where children go to learn math or reading. For us, it's an educational institute where um families and our children also
128learn a little bit more about themselves and their community. Fire Lake is a place where the teachers have believed in them. It's where they've made great friends and it's where students sense of pride in their community begins. Um, please save Fire Lake. Thank you. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Ira Mini and Matt Lassley. Welcome. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. Yep. Uh so the this plan to close the schools in my opinion is perfectly in the wrong direction. Uh the emerging job markets that are that we're preparing our students for is going to be vastly different than the past. So trying to stay on par with um the stats of the past is a fool's errand. We need to figure out how we can go way
129past what educators have done in the past. And so I have proposed an alternative solution or to repurpose these schools in question. And that involves uh converting them into laboratory schools where um experimental innovative uh educational tactics can be employed and uh then syndicated to other schools when um successful models are built. Uh the um I have general ideas about what type of tactics could be used but I don't have time to explain. Um but we get to see that the general t trend is that it's not clear what type of future we're preparing these kids to have a viable career in the future. You know by the time you graduate everything's going to be different. But what we can say is that the trend over the past 40 years is that advancing technologies is
130creating jobs that need smarter people that have better problem solving skills. And um you know in general I think I speak for the strong majority of of Americans that are sick to death of watching governments at all levels waste money on all sorts of frivolous nonsense and there's no funding left to maintain schools and roads and other essentials uh that build a successful society. Thank you for your testimony. Welcome. Please state your name for a record and you can begin lastly. Thank you for letting me speak tonight. I've been a teacher at Lake Otis Elementary School for over 12 years. While I'm aware of the district's needs to find ways to save money, the move to repurpose Lake Otis into a charter school will do more harm than good while making a negligible difference in
131the budget crisis that is faced by our district. Our students come from lower income families. This does not make them less deserving of the very best that we can provide. the short-term solutions are not going to fix long-term problems. Not only that, we have many students who are uh children in transition who come to our schools for a stable environment. Closing the cotus would take that from them. I know one of the arguments about right sizing our schools is to limit the shared resources like counselors and nurses. However, I would like to argue that our students will lose even more resources when they are moved to schools like Cassoon Elementary that are not title one schools. The sheer number of resource students would see them become merely a statistic when they lose the people and
132support that lake Otis has put into place for them. This proposal will disrupt hundreds of students and families, not just from Lake Otis, but also Cassoon as well, which will have to move programs over to Ocean View just to make room. I would like to remind you that Ocean View was proposed to be shut down last year and is still operating at less capacity than Lake Otis. Over the last 7 to eight years, there's been a big emphasis on our district on equity and equality. We have had numerous trainings and professional developments on its importance. So, I ask you, is moving some of our highest need students from Lake Otis to make room for a charter school equity or equality? I implore the school board and the school district to practice what they preach. I
133beg you not to close Lake Otis because of right sizing, but to keep it open because it's the right thing to do. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Shadar Washing and Alana Walker. Welcome. Could you please state your name for record and begin? You have two minutes. >> Hi. Hi. My name is Aliana Walker. I am 7 years old and I'm here to help fight to save Fire Lake. I have been to Fire Lake all my life. I feel excited to go to school and see everybody every day. I have good times there. So many people have good times learning there. We have movie nights and carve pumpkins. We really have fun. My principal called my mom to tell her I was being responsible by being extra helpful in
134class and made and made it made her so happy. Please don't make friends and teachers any sad. Keep Fire Lake open because we love Fire Lake. >> Thank you for your testimony. Welcome. You have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. >> Hi, my name is Shardy Washington. I'm here like many others to save Fire Lake. There's nothing I can really say that hasn't already been said. A question I still have is who decides which kids are more important. As a parent, it feels like ASD kicking out Fire Lake or Lake Otis to accommodate charter schools sends a clear message to the community that low lower income and special needs kids are of lower priority. I might understand why we were in this position again if it were because the building wasn't safe or because
135the kids weren't doing well emotionally or academically, but that's not the case. I haven't heard an argument to reallocate our building that overshadows the fact that Firelink is our neighborhood school, which ASD is required by law to offer to the community. In just a few days, we've gotten almost 700 signatures on a petition to keep it open. All night, we've heard how the teachers aren't being paid enough. So little, in fact, that they're willing to stop showing up to teach our kids altogether. We've been told that we can't afford to keep the doors open to schools that are flourishing. My question is, where's the money going? because I'm sure I can speak for every adult in this room when I verify that taxes are coming out of all of our checks. Where else is ASD
136looking at for funds besides derailing the stability of hundreds of elementary kids, not to mention their families and the community? I know you all have been given a wealth of information to absorb. So, I do want to make sure that you've learned, if nothing else, that Fire Lake won't stop fighting. We know the kids and the teachers that make up our Fire Lake family are worth whatever it takes to keep it open. Thanks for your time. >> Thank you for your testimony. Our next two speakers are Kevin Brownsburgger and John. The last name isn't super clear. It may be Young. >> Kevin Brownsburgger and John Young. >> Welcome uh Mr. Brownberg, you have two minutes. Please begin when you're ready. Thank you for having um this time to share. I'm an East High School graduate.
137My name is Kevin Brownsburgger. I've been teaching in the district for 32 years. faithful teacher, been at service and at East High School for most of my career. Thanks everybody for being here. And uh last time I was here, I shared numbers with you and I want to share some numbers again. Once again, I'm 33 years in the district, dedicated teachers. I've been in a master's equivalency at 90 for 19 years. I've been stuck in in lie of status for 10 years and I'm still a passionate teacher. I'm a father, 66-y old man, a father of a special needs daughter, and I'm hoping to retire someday, but right now I can't afford it. My last paycheck only covered my mortgage and a car repair, and I'm driving an old used car, and I can't afford
138to get a new one. Is being a teacher a viable career? I used to think so. I was all excited in the 1990s when I was teaching. Very first year I was teaching, there was a strike. And um so I know what a strike is. I still know what a strike is. Okay. The workload is huge. You know, we've worked 50 to 60 hours a week grading lesson plannings. I got papers back there I didn't tackle yet. But after a series of bad contracts and holdbacks and promises for the future, uh it looks less and less viable and I wouldn't recommend this as a viable career for any young person coming in. You can't afford it. I can't afford it 33 years in. I'm trying to head towards retirement, but every time that salary gets
139stalled, it takes a chunk out of what my salary could be. I don't want to get on the snap food line in retirement. I hope you understand that we're cost of living has gone up 33% in 10 years and the salary is way behind that. Take pay is going backwards. Mr. Brownberger, thank you very much for your testimony and service. Um, welcome Mr. Young. You have two minutes. Please begin your please state your name for the record. Um, and then begin your testimony. Thank you. >> Thank you. My name is John Jarger. Good evening, members of the board. In 2013, I accepted a Spanish immersion position at Juviaak High School, and now I teach at Betty Davis East High School. Having been born and raised in a farm and ranch in Eastern Montana, I was
140blown away that there was a Spanish immersion program in Anchorage, Alaska. How could that be? How could a community and school district so far north value the Spanish language and culture so much that they put their kids in it for 13 years? I had to be a part of it. I can honestly say that was one of the best decisions I ever made. With the support of building principles and administrators, I truly felt supported and needed and ultimately my experience was vital and useful to students. However, I come before you today to let you know that what was was or used to be no longer is. My experience and my ability are no longer valued and it saddens me. Our students deserve to learn and to see beyond the borders of their own experience. But
141systems around them are failing and breaking down. Our wages have been stagnant for years while the cost of living keeps rising. raise uh rent, groceries, gas, all up and now with a $500 a month increase in health insurance. I can't express how demoralizing it is. That's not progress. That's a step backwards. It's disheartening to pour your heart into the into your students every day only to wonder if you can afford to stay in the pro in the profession you love. And while I struggle in make to make ends meet, we're also fighting to keep our programs alive. World language programs, the very ones that open minds, build empathy, and prepare students for a global world, are being chipped away. Positions go unfilled. classes get cut. And when that happens, it sends a clear message that
142global understanding and cultural literacy are optional. They are not optional. My wife is Mexican and I were raising our child bilingual. How can that be? Every time world language programs diminished, our students lose opportunities to connect and to be connect and communicate and become citizens of the world our world desperately needs. We tell them that learning another language opens doors. But what doors are we open for them if we can't protect and keep our language programs that make that possible? Please value the educators who are shaping the next generation of global thinkers. Invest in fair wages of thank you Mr. Jarter for your testimony. That completes our public testimony list for tonight. We'll take a 10-minute recess.