Juneau, Alaska

School board members, students and district officials from communities across Alaska urged members of the joint Senate and House education committees on Feb. 11 to increase the states Base Student Allocation, arguing that flat funding has forced staffing cuts, school closures and program reductions and that passage of House Bill 69 would be a necessary step to stabilize districts.

The most pressing testimony came from Fairbanks North Star Borough School District representatives and parents who described multiple rounds of reductions. "We have cut and cut and cut year after year...we have been accountable at every step," said Bobby Burgess, a Fairbanks school board member. Burgess listed roughly 200 jobs eliminated across teachers and support staff, 25 administrative positions cut, and the closure of six elementary schools over recent years. He warned that without a "substantial increase" in state-controlled revenue, further cuts are likely.

Parents and students from rural and urban districts echoed those concerns. Audra Hull, a parent in Fairbanks, described the emotional toll of recent closure votes and the demographics at affected schools: "Hunter has 45.9% that are Alaska Native and American Indian...67%...economically disadvantaged," Hull said, noting Hunter is the districts trauma-informed elementary. "If we don't get a substantial increase...we will have to make even more cuts that will harm our ability to provide a quality education," Burgess added.

Multiple rural districts told the committee that flat BSA funding combined with rising local costs has eroded staffing and program capacity. Carrie Irons, president of the Kodiak Island Borough School Board, said Kodiak balanced a $4,000,000 deficit last year by cutting administrative, teaching and support positions and is planning another roughly $4,000,000 reduction this fiscal year that will include closing an elementary school. "Without an increase, we are likely to cut into those student activities that keep kids engaged," Irons said.

Student speakers described classroom impacts: Olive Jackson, a Kodiak High School sophomore, said combined classes forced three levels of Spanish into one classroom and increased teacher workloads; Minna Traneri, a Kodiak junior, said class sizes have grown and many students no longer receive individualized support. Jenna Shea, a junior from Service High School in Anchorage, told the panel the Anchorage School District faces an estimated $110 million deficit and warned that next years cuts could eliminate extracurricular programs including hockey, gymnastics and swim and dive.

Several rural districts detailed infrastructure and cost pressures specific to their regions. Testimony cited frequent facility failures (leaking roofs and failing HVAC), high freight and heating costs (witnesses in Yukon Flats reported gasoline above $8.50 per gallon and heating oil near $10 per gallon), challenges recruiting and retaining teachers because of housing and living costs, and the additional burdens of transporting students and supplies where road access is limited.

Witnesses repeatedly asked the committee for predictable, inflation-adjusted funding. "Budget uncertainty is a huge issue," said a Sitka student, who testified that districts must submit budgets without knowing final state allocations, often forcing premature cuts. Dillingham board member Terry Mann urged lawmakers to pass HB 69 "not because its due, but because its more than the right thing to do for immediate relief."

A few testifiers highlighted targeted proposals included in the governors package or other bills. Several speakers supported Senate Bill 41 on mental-health education and the Alaska Reads Act as pieces of broader reform, but urged that new mandates be funded. Nome Public Schools' testimony stressed that policy changes must come with funding: "As you consider other policy changes, please know that funding is...we ask that you consider funding any other policy changes that you would give to districts," Darlene Trigg said.

No formal committee action or votes on legislation were recorded during the hearing. Committee members asked witnesses to submit written testimony by email if they were unable to finish and signaled the Senate Education Committee would take up Senate Bill 41 and other bills on Feb. 12.

Why it matters: Witnesses represented districts that range from urban Anchorage to very small, remote villages. Testimony linked flat funding to staffing losses, the elimination of counselors and librarians, rising class sizes, school closures and loss of extracurriculars and CTE opportunities. Those changes, witnesses said, risk long-term workforce and community stability across Alaska.

What the committee heard repeatedly: districts need an increase in the BSA and more predictable, inflation-proofed funding; policy changes should be accompanied by dedicated funding; and rural districts face higher fixed costs that amplify any shortfall.

The committee did not vote on HB 69 at this session. Lawmakers on the panel heard several hours of testimony and closed the joint meeting at 10:04 a.m., saying the Senate Education Committee would continue related work the next day.