Jharrett Bryantt
Superintendent · Anchorage School District
35 articles · 20 transcripts · 24 clips
Affiliations
Anchorage teacher tells school board two behavior staff have quit since September
A Tyson Elementary teacher told the Anchorage School Board two behavior support staffers quit since she testified in September, and asked what's changed.
Anchorage superintendent says April school bond should stay under $60 million
Anchorage schools chief Jharrett Bryantt wants April's bond kept under $60 million, despite $136 million in identified projects. Voters rejected a $79 million bond last April.
Anchorage School Board will pick interim superintendent from within ASD, vote in November
Want to be Anchorage's interim superintendent? You'd better already work for ASD. The board is taking internal applicants only, through Oct. 30.
Anchorage School Board votes to raze Abbott Loop, return Westpark on a nonbinding pledge
The school board will spend $3.96 million to knock down Abbott Loop and hand the city three properties. The Westpark payback is a pledge, not a guarantee.
Anchorage School Board asks Assembly to reject electing most members by district
The Anchorage School Board voted 6-1 to ask the Assembly to kill a plan to elect most board members by district before voters ever get a say.
Proposed rules would let Alaska schools bill Medicaid for any eligible student
Alaska schools could bill Medicaid for therapy and behavioral health care for any eligible student, not just kids with disabilities. Comments due Nov. 6.
ASD Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt says he will leave for Virginia district
Anchorage School District Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt will leave for a Virginia superintendent job in early 2027, leaving Alaska's largest district to find new leadership during budget planning.
Anchorage School Board backs public school scholarship groups under new tax credit
The Anchorage School Board voted 7-0 to back scholarship groups for public school students under the new federal tax credit, with guardrails against vouchers.
Anchorage mayor's office wants closed Abbott Loop Elementary demolished, school officials say
“the vision from the municipalities then would be to redevelop that land for housing, and in exchange we would provide West Park”
Anchorage schools list nearly $18 million in urgent repairs ahead of April bond
“We're not making decisions tonight.”
Anchorage School Board keeps control of closed-school planning after lawyer advises against Assembly task force
A school board member wanted the Assembly in on what happens to empty schools. The district's lawyer said no, so Assembly members get seats but no votes.
Anchorage schools model a $9 million budget gap for fiscal 2028
Anchorage schools project a $9 million fiscal 2028 gap after reserves and assumed energy relief. Officials say underlying cost growth is closer to $40 million.
Anchorage officials fail to agree on shared school-closure committee
The Assembly and School Board could not agree on giving both bodies votes on a school-closure committee. The existing board-led panel remains.
Anchorage School Board spends $3 million on classrooms, deepening next year's deficit
Anchorage's school board voted to spend the $3 million on students this year. Next year's hole grew to $9 million and 20 fewer teaching jobs survive.
Anchorage teachers say losing building subs cost them prep time and safety
Anchorage teachers told the school board what losing building subs cost them. The board restored $3.7 million — without promising the subs come back.
Spend $3 million on students now, or save it for next year's hole
Anchorage's school board is deciding whether to spend $3 million on tutoring and staff this year or bank it against a deficit projected above $45 million.
Two closed Anchorage school buildings head back to municipal hands
Two closed Anchorage schools, Abbott Loop and Campbell STEM, are set to return to the municipality, moving their fate from the School Board to the Assembly.
Anchorage school district proposes splitting $32 million in one-time state money
“that means that approximately $32 million in additional one-time funding is coming to the district”
Anchorage band teacher tells school board he now teaches 330 students a day
Anchorage band teacher Dan Whitfield teaches 330 students daily after the district cut a part-time director position, leaving classes of 45 to 83 students with no jazz band or extra help.
Anchorage's surplus school buildings could bring in money, the district says
Anchorage school officials say surplus buildings could generate revenue, among them Campbell STEM, closed in February and the subject of a dismissed lawsuit.
Anchorage's school board says closures won't fix the budget; residents aren't so sure
“it's less about the school closures generating a huge influx of revenue”
Anchorage schools will open a new listening effort with a $42 million shortfall
“my intent is for ASD Listens not to be a tactical band-aid on really deep-rooted problems. It's not intended to just be a survey.”
Anchorage will ship contaminated concrete to Oregon after the state tightened disposal rules, adding $850,000
Anchorage's school board approved $850,000 to ship contaminated school concrete to Oregon after the state tightened its rules on disposing of banned PCBs.
The Anchorage School Board pledges no more closures next year, but one member says the last three were never explained
The Anchorage School Board pledged no closures next year as an olive branch to a grieving community, though one member says the last three went unexplained.
Anchorage School District adopts a single English curriculum for grades 6 through 10
“which would delay the curriculum, which would mean that students wouldn't have these high-quality materials next school year. It would also deter us from being able to implement a pilot implementation in the spring.”
An Anchorage board member proposes a one-year pause on school closures
“about a $40 million structural shortfall”
Anchorage board won't reopen a school it may not have fully closed
Anchorage School Board rejected a motion to reopen Campbell STEM Elementary with new state money, but revealed the school may not be legally closed yet, creating a potential opening for reversal.
Anchorage School Board balks at a $2.8M curriculum buy members hadn't seen
“we do have a looming $40 million structural shortfall for the next fiscal year. That's largely because the FY27 budget budget was partly balanced with a small amount of one-time funds, and healthcare costs, utilities, and wages continue to rise. It's incredibly important that we're mindful that each recurring cost we add, such as a salary, will grow the shortfall”
Anchorage School Board adopts class size policy under state mandate
Anchorage School Board voted unanimously to adopt state-mandated class size limits of 23 for elementary and 30 for middle and high school. • The board also adopted smaller evidence-based targets it cannot currently afford, requiring annual cost analysis to document the funding gap.
ASD projects $40M FY28 deficit — two months after voters rejected school bond and tax levy
Anchorage School District projects a $40 million deficit for fiscal year 2028 on top of $90 million in earlier cuts, after voters rejected a $12 million tax levy and $79 million bond in April.
Anchorage schools adopt regional nurse model, will pull nurses from schools with fewer medical needs
Anchorage schools will reassign nurses from schools with fewer medical needs to cover schools with students requiring tube feedings or diabetes management, responding to a shortage that left some schools without staff.
ASD claims state funding bill comes too late
“So that bill, House Bill 263, which was passed by the legislature, it could mean up to $37 million for ASD. That's the good news. But the bad news is that it's conditional on the revenue commissioner assessing whether Alaska has generated enough revenue. And he has a deadline of August 31st. And as member Blakely shared, that's far too late because that's literally after the school year has started.”
Seven Western Alaska typhoon evacuees graduate from Anchorage schools
Seven students evacuated from Western Alaska villages after ex-Typhoon Halong in October 2025 graduated Monday from Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School after completing their senior year there.
School Board Reverses Course on Calendar After Community Backlash
The Anchorage School Board moved the 2026-27 start date back to August 19. The change follows community outcry over subsistence conflicts.
Anchorage budget crisis mirrors national school funding squeeze
Anchorage School District approved closing three elementary schools and cutting over 500 staff positions to address a $90 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2027.
