Mat-Su Borough School District Superintendent Dr. Randy Trani discussed graduation rates, declining enrollment, budget cuts, and a proposed charter school on Valley Edition last week. The district has good news to share. It’s also facing difficult choices.
Trani says the four-year graduation rate in the district is approaching 86 percent. At traditional schools, the rate is above 90 percent. That’s progress. Correspondence schools are a concern. Their graduation rates hover around 72 percent. The district needs to better support students who may be falling behind.
He pointed to the success of graduation coaches. Coaches work with students to keep them on track. That personal connection helped improve graduation rates for Alaska Native students. This shows the difference that individual support can make.
Enrollment in the district is declining. This year the district expects roughly 500 fewer students than last year. The decline is more than double what was anticipated. Even more concerning, the youngest grades have the fewest students. Kindergarten enrollment is about 200 students below the senior class.
Trani says the trend isn’t limited to Mat-Su. Anchorage and some private schools are seeing similar declines. Alaska’s falling birth rate may be part of the explanation. Fewer students mean less funding for the school district. This makes it harder to maintain programs and services.
The district cut more than $10 million and consolidated three schools to balance the budget for this year. Those decisions help financially. However, the effects are being felt. Librarian duties have shifted to other staff. Classified positions have been reduced. The district is rethinking how it provides school nursing services.
This district is looking at a different staffing model for nursing services. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and health aides would handle duties appropriate to their training. The goal is to maintain essential services while controlling costs. Trani says the district must constantly weigh those decisions against a priority for families. They want to keep class sizes small.
The district is considering a new charter school called Adventure Academy. It is connected to efforts to revitalize the Meadow Lakes elementary school building. The school board must decide whether the proposal meets the requirements and serves the best interests of all district students.
Trani supports educational choice. He says it comes with costs. Almost 13 percent of district students attend its seven charter schools. He also noted that almost a quarter of students in neighborhood schools receive special education services. This compares with less than ten percent in charter schools. He worries that expanding choice without addressing how state funding is distributed could put additional pressure on neighborhood schools and their ability to provide required services.
He questioned whether the state’s 60-day deadline for deciding charter applications gives school boards enough time to evaluate decisions involving millions of dollars and student education.
The district is also reviewing mathematics assessment results. It is working to improve achievement, including eighth-grade algebra.
Trani remains committed to the Mat-Su. He believes meaningful academic improvement takes time.
The challenge is clear. How does the district maintain strong schools, smaller classes, student support, and educational choices when both enrollment and funding are under pressure? The Mat-Su School District will continue to face these challenges in months and years ahead.
The full interview with Superintendent Trani is on bigcabbageradio.org. Go to Podcasts then Valley Edition.
We have posted our interviews with candidates on our website. Go to Podcasts then Elections- Forums and Information. Early voting for the November election starts today. Find information on the borough ballot propositions on matsu.gov/elections. If you vote absentee, you have to request ballots from the borough and the state.
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Mike Chmielewski reported this Page Two article and yours truly, Lee Henrikson produced it. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Monday October 19, 2026.