Anchorage School District - Educating All Students for Success in Life |
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A Message From Our Superintendent |
Dear ASD Families,
It’s hard to believe it was a year ago that the District began transitioning to remote learning to slow the spread of COVID-19. We’ve come a long way, and I continue to be excited about the progress we’ve made in getting students back for face-to-face learning. In many ways it has been a gut check for everyone. But like all uphill battles, we will become stronger and more resilient in the long run.
Spring break will give everyone a chance to breathe for a moment before bringing middle and high school students back into classrooms on March 15. Families who feel more comfortable leaving their students enrolled in ASD Virtual will still have the same District resources available from day one. Our Help Line, 742-HELP, will continue operating for families seeking assistance with everything from technology to health and wellness services.
In an effort to maintain the momentum of our reopening, we still rely on the community to keep ASD Symptom Free. Parents or guardians should be conducting at home health screenings each morning before sending their kids to school. If students have any symptoms, it is important they not go to school. For those traveling outside of Alaska during spring break, families should read and understand the District’s COVID-19 Travel Guidance or ASD Staff and Students. The travel guidance answers the most common questions about testing and how students can return to school based on their SARS-CoV2 test result.
Finally, I want to share some good news regarding the preliminary budget for next school year. State funding is expected to be relatively static for 2021-2022, but we are very fortunate that the federal government is providing additional Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. These funds will allow the District to focus on reopening our schools, helping students recover from shortfalls experienced as a result of the pandemic, and preparing them for a brighter future.
The fourth quarter will be full of events and excitement as we gear up for graduation and the transition to the much-anticipated summer. Have a safe and wonderful spring break! We look forward to seeing all the smiles behind the masks when we return.
Sincerely
Deena M. Bishop, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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Bond-Funded Construction on Track for 2021 Occupancy |
Earthquake Recovery and Educational Improvement Projects at Eagle River Elementary School and Gruening Middle School are well underway and both schools are expected to open for occupancy by the start of the 2021-2022 school year.
Improvement projects at Eagle River Elementary School include kitchen modifications, new flooring, new LED lighting and control systems, electrical outlets, intercom, classroom instructional audio system, security system, and visual display boards. These improvements will be completed concurrently with previously funded earthquake repairs, seismic improvements, and roof replacement.
Gruening Middle School earthquake recovery and educational improvements include damage repairs, seismic improvements, and roof replacement, as well as security, efficiency, mechanical/electrical, and environmental upgrades. Improvements will increase the building’s lifespan by 25-30 years.
Both projects are funded by the two-year Bond that passed in 2020. The cost of the Earthquake Recovery and Educational Improvement Projects covered in the 2020 bond will total $42,510,000. ASD has more than 7.8 million square feet in facilities and maintains the largest public facility footprint in the State of Alaska.
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Anchorage School Board Approves FY 2021-2022 Preliminary Budget |
The Anchorage School Board voted to approve the fiscal year 2021–22 preliminary budget and authorize an upper limit spending authority of $841,318,521 during its Feb. 16 board meeting.
The total Anchorage School District managed funds for fiscal year 2021–22 are about 4.6 percent below the prior year.
Additional information regarding changes in revenue and expenditures specific to each fund can be found in the budget document, as well as programmatic and staffing changes specific to academic programs and support services.
The proposed budget will be submitted to the Assembly no later than the first Monday in March.
After Assembly approval and the Legislative session has concluded, the District will produce an adopted budget, incorporating any necessary changes.
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New COVID-19 Travel Guidance announced for ASD Staff and Students |
Updated travel guidance for Anchorage School District staff and students is now available on the ASD website. This guidance applies to all ASD staff and students regardless of age who return from travel outside of Alaska.
Travelers are required to submit negative COVID-19 test results from a test taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Alaska.
Travelers who choose not to get a COVID-19 test must maintain strict social distance for 10 days after returning to Alaska. Please visit the District COVID-19 travel guidance website for more information. |
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COVID-19 Testing at Select ASD Sites Available in March |
Throughout the month of March, the Municipality of Anchorage will conduct COVID-19 testing at select ASD sites. This COVID-19 PCR testing service is open to the public and free of charge.
Testing will be conducted by Visit Healthcare, and testing trailers are located school the parking lot. Testing is NOT conducted inside schools. You do not need to register in advance, but doing so may help get your results faster.
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March is Women's History Month |
Women's History Month is a great time to see the Anchorage Museum's "Extra Tough: Women of the North," an exhibition that upholds and celebrates the stories and perspectives of Northern women. It also examines the traditional and non-traditional roles and contributions of women throughout Alaska’s history. The museum is open 10 Thursday through Saturday , 10a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon-6 p.m. |
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ASD Recognizes Students During 49th Annual Youth Art Month |
“Art Connects Us” is the theme of this year’s 49th student art exhibition at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center. The exhibition is presented in conjunction with National Youth Art Month and acknowledges visual art programs in American schools.
There will be an outdoor projected digital display event on the Anchorage Museum lawn every night at sundown starting March 5 through April 3 that is open to the community. The Anchorage Museum will also host an online gallery under the “current exhibitions” tab.
The community is invited to attend “drive-in” digital display slideshow events every Friday throughout March at the following school sites:
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March 5 at 7 p.m. – Service High School
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March 12 at 7:30 p.m.– East High School
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March 19 at 8:30 p.m. – Service High School
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March 26 at 9 p.m. – Chugiak High School
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April 2 at 9 p.m. – West High School
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Alaska Housing Provides Rental, Utility Assistance |
Are you struggling to pay your rent or utility bills?
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s (AHFC) Rent Relief program provides relief to households unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
AHFC will administer up to $200 million in federal funds to eligible Alaskan renters through Alaska Housing Rent Relief.
The application process is easy, safe, and confidential. The application period closes to new applications at 11:59 pm on March 5, 2021.
Visit AlaskaHousingRelief.org or call or text “relief” to 1-833-440-0420 for more information.
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Tudor Elementary Librarian Receives ASTE Teacher of the Year Award |
Congratulations to Michelle Carton, Librarian at Tudor Elementary School, for being honored as the Alaska Society for Technology in Education (ASTE) 2021 Teacher of the Year.
Carton received several nominations for this esteemed award. One nominator described Carton as “a jaw-dropping example of the leadership a school librarian can offer, as well as a model of warmth and welcome to all her students, whether those in-class or those who drop in while she is teaching another group.”
Another nominator described a time “before Zoom” that Carton utilized technology to grant her students the opportunity for a virtual talk from a holocaust survivor.
Additionally, Carton has led professional development sessions, offering virtual personal assistance to hundreds of educators since the beginning of 2020.
Carton received her master’s degree in innovative education reform in 2010 from Alaska Pacific University.
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AK Community Foundation Scholarships |
The Alaska Community Foundation has opened their 2021 Scholarship cycle with 35 scholarships available to students in Alaska pursuing higher education, whether that is college, university, vocational or trade school.
Most scholarships close by April 8, but some close in March. Visit alaskacf.org/scholarships to see the statewide and Southcentral-specific scholarship opportunities. |
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National Society of High School Scholars Recognizes Dimond High School Teacher |
In a year of challenges, Anchorage School District educators ensured students were set up for success despite adapting to distance learning. Dimond High School teacher Lem Wheeles was recognized by the National Society of High School Scholars as one of two finalists for Coach of the Year for his commitment to excellence in education, coaching, counseling, and productive instruction.
“It's an honor to be recognized for the work that I do, because it acknowledges that it’s important work. I'm a fulltime teacher and a student government advisor on top of that job. In many ways, it's a second job altogether. Being recognized honors all that my family and I sacrifice for the students to have this experience,” said Wheeles.
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Willow Crest Elementary Hosts Molly of Denali |
Molly of Denali from PBS Kids stopped by Willow Crest Elementary to remind students about the importance of social distancing, and wearing a mask. |
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Service High School Senior Selected for U.S. Senate Youth Program |
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The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) announced in February that Service High School student Nyché Tyme Andrew will join Senator Lisa Murkowski and Senator Dan Sullivan in representing Alaska during the 59th annual USSYP Washington Week, to be held March 14-17, 2021.
Tyme Andrew, along with a student from Dillingham, were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation who will each also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study. Due to the pandemic, the 2021 program will break ground as the first-ever fully virtual Washington Week, and is designed to be a highly interactive and exciting education and leadership forum for the nation’s most outstanding student leaders.
Tyme Andrew, a senior at Service High School, serves as vice chairwoman of Anchorage School District’s Native Advisory Committee and vice president of the National Honor Society. She is an advocate for Native issues as she is founder and president of the Indigenous Student Union, culture bearer for Alaska Native Justice Center’s McLaughlin Youth Center, published by The 74 Million in collaboration with America’s Promise Alliance on the issue of indigenous education, and was a youth leader at Community Outreach Patient Empowerment’s Inter-Tribal Youth Summit in New Mexico and Arizona.
She is the student advisor for the Service High School Equal Opportunities Program, has been involved in symphonic band, flag football, and basketball cheerleading, serving in leadership positions in each. Tyme Andrew’s commitment to service has been recognized as she is one of 15 in the country to be named a Yale Bassett Award For Community Engagement Winner in 2020.
In addition to outstanding leadership abilities and a strong commitment to volunteer work, the student delegates rank academically in the top one percent of their states among high school juniors and seniors.
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Free Financial Navigator Program Now Available to Anchorage Residents |
The Municipality of Anchorage has launched a new free Financial Navigator program to help residents solve critical financial issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This one-on-one over-the-phone guidance can assist residents with triaging personal financial issues, managing income disruptions, identifying steps to manage expenses, maximizing income, and by making referrals to other services such as rent relief, financial counseling, and job training.
Residents can access these remote services at finnav.org/anchorage; those without computer access can call 2-1-1 to sign up. Live translation services are available.
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ASD Welcomes DHSS Commissioner |
The Anchorage School District welcomed Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum to visit its COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the ASD Education Center in early February.
Commissioner Crum met with the District leadership team to see the District’s point of distribution (POD) concept in action. The POD layout allows the District to operationalize on a large scale to safely and efficiently vaccinate nearly 1,000 individuals a day.
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Statewide Poetry Contest Youth Entries Due March 15 |
Fairbanks Arts is excited to announce the 26th Statewide Poetry Contest and invites participation from writers of all ages. As a celebration of literary artistry, this contest aims to encourage, publicize, and reward the writing of high-quality poetry in Alaska. The contest’s youth divisions include elementary, middle, and high school.
Entries will be accepted through the end of Monday, March 15, 2021. The entry fee for elementary, middle, and high school students is $3 per poem, though class submissions have a bulk rate of $1 per poem. Winners of the contest will receive an invitation to share their poetry virtually in a reading in April, which is National Poetry Month.
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ASD Lottery to Close March 18 |
The system is currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 school year until March 18.
The lottery runs March 19 and parent notifications of lottery results will go out March 26. Parents will have two school days (48 hours) to accept or decline lottery results.
Lotteries are held two times each year: during the last weeks of March and the week prior to registration in the fall.
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Two ASD Teachers Selected to Participate in NASA's Airborne Astronomy Ambassador Program |
Goldenview Middle School science teacher Erin Schneider and Clark Middle School science teacher Jason Patterson were selected in a competitive process by NASA and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI) to be Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors. Both will receive a suite of professional development opportunities for the 2021-2022 school year and a rare trip with NASA astronomers onboard the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) aircraft, where they will accompany 28 teachers across nine states.
The once-in-a-lifetime trip takes passengers 45,000 feet high into the stratosphere – enough to escape 99% of Earth’s infrared-blocking atmosphere, allowing astronomers to study the solar system in ways that aren’t possible with ground-based telescopes. “It’s exciting to get to be part of that [space] exploration – to experience it firsthand!” said Schneider.
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ASD is Hiring! With students gradually returning to in-person school, ASD has immediate full and part-time openings for: Cafeteria workers, bus drivers and substitute teachers. Apply today and make a difference for kids across our community.
ASD is an equal opportunity employer.
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Elisa Vakalis, President
Margo Bellamy, Vice President
Starr Marsett, Treasurer
Andy Holleman, Clerk
Dave Donley
Alisha Hilde
Deena Mitchell
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Fri. March 5
State released grade reporting day
Fri. March 5 to Sat. April 3
49th Annual Student Art Show
Mon. March 8
Spring Break Begins
Wed. March 17 and Thur. March 18
Countdown to Kindergarten
Mon. March 15
Beginning of Fourth Quarter
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5530 E Northern Lights Blvd.
Anchorage, AK 99504
907-742-4000
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