Fairbanks elementary schools face lower enrollment, putting millions in state funding at risk

Enrollment is down by about 300 elementary students at the start of the school year for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District which could result in a decrease of $2.3 million in state funding.

While official student numbers aren’t finalized until after the count in October, Superintendent Dr. Luke Meinert told school board members during Tuesday’s meeting that numbers are lower than the district budgeted for, with total district enrollment being 450 fewer students than last year’s count.

The loss almost cancels out what the district gained when the Alaska Legislature overrode Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s partial line item veto of education funding in House Bill 57, establishing a permanent $700 increase to the per-student funding formula.

The school district created its budget assumi