Mat-Su assembly member puts possible school closures on Sept. 8 joint agenda

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly and School Board will talk about closing schools next week. No school is named, and no vote is scheduled.

The item on their Sept. 8 joint agenda reads "Projected School Enrollment and Identifying Future Possible School Closures," listed for discussion. It came from Assembly member Stephanie Nowers rather than from the administration, which asked for a budget update on the same agenda.

District officials have already described closures as something the budget may require. Enrollment at neighborhood schools has fallen by 2,153 students since 2018, and elementary buildings are running at 71 percent of capacity on average.

It is one of eight joint items, several of them about school funding.

The meeting starts at 6 pm in the Assembly Chambers in Palmer. Testimony is limited to three minutes a person, and residents can also call 1-855-225-2326 or email [email protected].