The Mat-Su Borough School Board honored 83 district retirees at the start of their work session on Wednesday. The retirees had a combined total of 1,584 years of service.
The board room was packed with retirees and their families and friends. A slideshow celebrated each retiree with their photo, career highlights, and years of service.
Superintendent Randy Trani called each retiree forward by name. School Board President Kathy McCollum greeted each of them with a certificate. Several long-time employees drew cheers and applause from the crowd.
The board members discuss issues at work sessions. They vote on the issues at regular board meetings. The issues that followed the celebration of the retirees were serious.
Board members tackled the district budget and the hard choices ahead. They must solve a $28 million budget deficit and plan for an $18 million state contribution that may or may not arrive.
They looked at two budget scenarios. One with the $18 million state contribution approved by the legislature, and one without it. Superintendent Trani reminded the board that the money is subject to the governor’s veto. The track record is not great for receiving the funds. The governor has vetoed four education funding bills since taking office.
The $18 million would cover everything from charter school costs and student transportation to rebuilding the district financial reserves if it arrives. 30 classroom teaching positions are on the chopping block if the governor vetoes the funds.
The board then addressed the buildings left empty by the closure of three schools.
Glacier View School will become a community center.
The Larson Elementary School building will become the new home of Birchtree Charter School. The picture for Birchtree is complicated, though. Voters approved a $26 million bond to build a new school for Birchtree. However, the borough has delayed releasing the bonds for sale due to budget pressures. It has up to five years to do so.
To complicate things, the lease for Birchtree’s current site expires this year. Under state law, charter schools have the right to occupy vacant district buildings. So, the Waldorf-inspired school will begin moving into the vacated Larson school building by August 1.
Options for Meadow Lakes Elementary School building are under discussion.
The board continued work on the proposed School Safety and Security Policy. It would allow trained and certified volunteer staff to carry concealed weapons on school grounds.
The board is working through legal, insurance, and law enforcement details. And, the community remains divided on the proposal. The policy is expected to come up for a vote at the regular board meeting on June 3.
It was a night that moved from celebration to hard choices — and for the Mat-Su Borough School District, more hard choices lie ahead.
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That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Friday, May 29, 2026.
(photo courtesy of Mat-Su School District: Physical Education teacher Nancy Blake celebrates retirement with Goosebay staff after 31 years of service in the Mat-Su.)