The Anchorage School District is facing strong opposition from parents and staff over a proposal to close two elementary schools next year. At recent community meetings, families from Fire Lake and Lake Otis elementary schools raised serious concerns, focusing primarily on the potential disruption to students in special education programs.
District officials maintain the closures are necessary due to a significant drop in student enrollment and the need to allocate resources more efficiently. However, many in the community question whether the financial benefits outweigh the impact on children and neighborhood stability.
Key Takeaways
- The Anchorage School District proposes closing Fire Lake and Lake Otis elementary schools.
- The primary reasons cited are declining student enrollment and budget constraints.
- Parents and staff express major concerns about the disruption to special education students.
- Community members feel their feedback about new housing and program stability is being overlooked.
- The school board is scheduled to make a final decision on November 18.
District Cites Declining Enrollment
The proposal to close the schools stems from a long-term trend of decreasing student numbers. According to district data, enrollment in neighborhood schools has fallen by nearly 7,500 students since 2010. During that period, five other schools have already been closed.
At a community meeting held at Bettye Davis East High School, Deputy Chief of Schools Kersten Johnson-Struempler explained the district's position. She stated that underutilized schools are more vulnerable to staffing issues and that consolidation would help reduce the number of mixed-grade classrooms.
"We are looking at low utilization rates. The reason we’re here, unfortunately, is partially budget-related, but partially enrollment decline," Johnson-Struempler said. "We as a district really do have to consider what is our utilization rate, how are we using our money as a district most effectively, and so that’s a factor."
If the plan is approved, charter schools would move into the buildings currently occupied by Fire Lake and Lake Otis elementary schools.
Special Education Concerns Dominate Discussion
The most emotional and frequent criticisms of the plan involve its impact on special education students. Parents and educators argue that these students rely heavily on routine and familiar environments, which the proposed closures would shatter.
A Ripple Effect on Programs
The plan doesn't just affect students at the closing schools. To accommodate students from Lake Otis, for example, the School Based Behavioral Supports program at Kasuun Elementary would be moved to Ocean View Elementary. This creates a chain reaction of disruptions across multiple school communities.
Chandra Binion, a special education behavior coach at Kasuun, voiced her worries about the move. She is concerned that essential facilities, such as the sensory deprivation room her students rely on, might not be available at the new location.
"Our kids in our program thrive on consistency, stability, and that’s what they need and this move feels like it’s taking that away from them," Binion stated. "We deal with students who are often in crisis, and you can’t keep moving them around like that if we want them to be successful."
She noted that for some students, this would be their third school in three years, following the closure of Lake Hood Elementary.
Parents Fear Regression
Parents of special needs children echoed these concerns. Jacqui Higgins, who also serves as the chair of the district’s Special Education Advisory Committee, spoke about the progress her child has made at Lake Otis. She fears that progress could be lost without the familiar teachers and environment.
"We spent a long time building this community, and I think it is unacceptable that the Anchorage School District thinks that it is OK to be so transient with their special education students," Higgins said. She also raised concerns about longer bus rides and the effect on her child.
Community Feedback and Board Response
While district officials are pushing for what they call "right-sizing," some school board members are expressing reservations. Board member Pat Higgins attended two community events and said he does not support the current proposal.
"They feel strongly that it’s going to hurt the kids, and it’s not good for the community, and they oppose it. That’s what I heard," Higgins explained. "I’m not a big supporter of closing these schools. I don’t think the benefits outweigh the adverse impact it has on the community."
Another point of contention for the Fire Lake community is a new housing development under construction nearby, which is expected to add over 100 homes. Parents feel the district is not adequately factoring in the potential for new students.
"We went through this last year, and every reason remains the same for why Fire Lake should remain open," said parent Arielle Van Vleet. "The only thing that has changed is that the development being built is further along than it was a year ago."
Next Steps and Final Decision
The school board is continuing to gather feedback before the final vote. A community survey is available on the district's website, and another public meeting is planned for Saturday.
Board member Andy Holleman acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, noting the passion parents have for their neighborhood schools.
"When you go to these, people stand up and talk about how wonderful this school is and how it’s the only place that really gets their kid... which is how we want everybody to feel about their schools," Holleman said. "But at the same time, we just have too many buildings for the number of kids we’re serving and this is going to be a tough choice."
The board will officially discuss the proposed closures on Tuesday and is scheduled to take a final vote on November 18. The outcome will determine the future for hundreds of students and staff members in the Anchorage community.