OPINION: ASD is 'rightsizing' the wrong school

“Good schools are a team.” This quote was offered at the closing of the Anchorage School Board’s Nov. 4 meeting by board member Andy Holleman. At that meeting, the School Board heard from a room packed with advocates clad in Bear-themed T-shirts: students, parents, teachers and community members, providing hours of testimony. These families and staff had come to voice their shock and confusion after receiving a blanket email from the Anchorage School District on Friday afternoon, identifying Bear Valley Elementary, their neighborhood school, for permanent closure at the end of the school year.

The Anchorage School District is moving forward quickly with a “rightsizing” initiative. With the School Board, it is analyzing schools according to measures of enrollment, population and home growth, support of specialty teaching positions, number of combined classes and course offerings, levels of access to sports and activities, and building conditions. The School Board is faced with tough decisions as it supports the delivery of quality education to its students. Insufficient funding, declining local population numbers and reduced enrollment in public schools are real and challenging.

Mr. Holleman couldn’t be more right. The district needs Bear Valley on its team — this school shines bright. Last year, our students achieved the highest AK STAR test scores in the district. Sixty-five percent of Bear Valley students achieved advanced/proficient scores in language arts and even higher in math, with 71% of students achieving advanced/proficient scores. Compare these scores in both subjects to 35% in ASD and 31% in the state of Alaska. Every single one of our teachers is certified and qualified to teach their class. We have full-time teachers in PE, music and in the library. We have no combined classes and maintain a current waitlist of 43 students. The Bear Valley PTA has leveraged the generous contributions of its engaged parent base, in both time and funds. This year’s PTA operating budget of $100,000 is supporting library updates, classroom technology, a supplemental math curriculum and outdoor learning equipment. The Bear Valley Community Association is a strong, innovative partner offering on-site before and after care to 118 students as well as sports, language and enrichment programs, and summer camp. This fall, BVCA started a pilot pre-K program, raising our enrollment capacity above the reported 69%. It rents and utilizes several classrooms, paying ASD $15,000 annually.

Our building is in good shape. Over the past decade, voters have continued to support bond-funded improvements to sustain the life of the building for 20 to 25 years, even as recently as last year.

The district also claimed that growth projections are an issue for our school. Local realtors, appraisers and contractors report the opposite. Bear Valley and the upper hillside are driving new construction growth, outpacing the development and new home growth in other parts of Anchorage.

Supporters of Bear Valley have spent the past week poking holes throughout the rightsizing rubric. The district’s data has inaccuracies and omissions that need correcting. Twice, Bear Valley Elementary was awarded the National Blue Ribbon for academic excellence. Our school is an example of best practices at play and well-utilized resources. If student academic achievement is the priority of the School Board, the critical questions are what are schools doing that is exceptional and how can we replicate those best practices in times of limited resources? The Bear Valley team always has room for those who want the best for Anchorage’s students — play with us, not against us.

Evelyn Carlson lives in Anchorage with her family. She serves as treasurer for the Bear Valley PTA board.

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