Alaska has 3,600 fewer students than it did 25 years ago, and the Fairbanks school district accounts for two-thirds of that loss. Brandy Harty is a Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board member.

From an initial survey, ACSA said the proposed policy change could affect 20% to 25% of Alaska school districts. ADVERTISEMENT. Anchorage and Juneau schools could be the hardest hit.

The district planned to lay off nearly 50 teachers, but was also able to bring dozens of positions back after Dunleavy signed the budget without vetoing any of the one-time funding for districts.

The district planned its budget around a $500 per pupil one-time increase in state funding — a good guess, considering the $680 per pupil increase in its budget for the next fiscal year.