Alaska Legislature Approves $148 Million for School Repairs, Leaving Most Requests Unfunded
Governor Mike Dunleavy’s signature is required before the funds for the 2027 fiscal year can be disbursed to address leaking roofs, failing foundations and systemic inequities in the state’s education funding model.
The Alaska Legislature has approved a budget allocating more than $148 million for school construction and maintenance in the 2027 fiscal year, a significant increase from the $40 million allocated in 2026. The allocation, which awaits Governor Mike Dunleavy’s signature by early June, covers approximately 13% of the $1.12 billion requested by school districts to address deteriorating infrastructure, including leaking roofs and failing foundations. If signed, this represents the largest allocation for school infrastructure in more than a decade.
The funding increase follows reporting by KYUK, ProPublica and NPR that documented severe health and safety crises in schools used for public education. State Senator Lyman Hoffman, a Democrat representing the largest rural school district, stated that education funding "bubbled to the top" despite statewide budget shortfalls. However, Kuspuk School District Superintendent Madeline Aguillard noted that while she appreciates the funding, the deficit is so large it will take a long time to reach "enough."
Rural school districts are almost entirely reliant on state funding because residents in those communities do not pay taxes to help fund education. In contrast, urban districts often have access to local tax revenue and more staff to hire professional grant writers. Education Commissioner Deena Bishop acknowledged flaws in the ranking system, noting that wealthier urban districts with grant-writing resources fare better than remote rural districts. More than half of the projects approved for funding this year are in urban school districts.
The Sleetmute K-12 Jack Egnaty Sr. School was identified as a "poster child" for infrastructure issues, with reports of severe structural damage, bat infestations and health hazards. Lawmakers reduced the funding for a $36.5 million Galena City School District renovation to spread funds to more projects, prioritising a larger number of repairs over a single high-priority site.
A one-time grant program to help defray rising heating fuel costs for rural schools was made permanent, starting in 2028. This measure was led by State Senator Löki Tobin, who chairs the Senate Education Committee. Governor Dunleavy has previously used his veto power to cut state investment in public school infrastructure, though there is no indication this year that he will not sign off on the current budget.
