{
  "story": {
    "slug": "the-valley-closed-three-schools",
    "headline": "the valley closed three schools",
    "deck": "Three Mat-Su Valley schools won't open their doors this fall, and the reason is a 28 million dollar budget gap.",
    "url": "https://thedailyalaska.com/story/the-valley-closed-three-schools",
    "section": "Politics",
    "area": null,
    "published_at": "2026-06-24T20:00:00+00:00",
    "updated_at": "2026-10-02T06:24:21.55916+00:00",
    "body_md": "The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District will close three schools for the 2026 to 2027 school year as it faces a 28 million dollar budget shortfall. Meadow Lakes Elementary and Larson Elementary in Wasilla, and Glacier View School in Sutton, will not reopen this fall.\n\nAbout 415 students and dozens of teachers and staff will move to other schools in the district, and some families will face longer bus rides as a result.\n\nThe Mat-Su is the fastest growing area in Alaska, yet full-time enrollment in the district is sliding. More families are choosing homeschool and correspondence programs, and about one in six students in the district now learns that way. Those programs bring in less funding per student, so revenue has not kept pace with the district's growing population.\n\nThe district cut around 160 positions last year. The superintendent says that without these three closures, the district would face another 225 cuts, and even this round of closures will not fully close the gap. Rising health insurance costs alone added about 6 million dollars to the shortfall.\n\nThe school board considered other options, including cutting sports programs or moving to a four day school week, and rejected both. For now, the three buildings in the Valley will sit empty starting this fall.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/education/2026-06-17/alaska-districts-close-12-schools-this-year-amid-severe-budget-cuts",
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  "envelope": {
    "story_id": "9a820162-c54e-45fd-b3d7-8be238695376",
    "slug": "the-valley-closed-three-schools",
    "summary": "The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District is closing Meadow Lakes Elementary, Larson Elementary (Wasilla) and Glacier View School (Sutton) starting the 2026-2027 school year due to a 28 million dollar budget shortfall, affecting about 415 students and dozens of staff.",
    "key_facts": [
      "Three schools close for 2026-2027: Meadow Lakes Elementary, Larson Elementary (Wasilla), Glacier View School (Sutton)",
      "About 415 students and dozens of staff must move to other schools",
      "District faces a 28 million dollar budget shortfall",
      "About one in six students now learn via homeschool or correspondence programs",
      "District cut around 160 positions last year; without closures, another 225 cuts were projected",
      "Rising health insurance costs added about 6 million dollars to the shortfall"
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "a": "Meadow Lakes Elementary and Larson Elementary in Wasilla, and Glacier View School in Sutton, starting the 2026-2027 school year because the district faces a $28 million budget shortfall.",
        "q": "Which three Mat-Su Valley schools are closing?"
      },
      {
        "a": "About 415 students, along with dozens of teachers and staff.",
        "q": "How many Mat-Su students will have to move schools?"
      }
    ],
    "claims": [
      {
        "claim": "The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District is closing Meadow Lakes Elementary, Larson Elementary, and Glacier View School starting the 2026-2027 school year.",
        "confidence": "sourced",
        "source_url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/education/2026-06-17/alaska-districts-close-12-schools-this-year-amid-severe-budget-cuts",
        "source_label": "alaskapublic.org"
      },
      {
        "claim": "The district faces a 28 million dollar budget shortfall.",
        "confidence": "reported",
        "source_url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/education/2026-06-17/alaska-districts-close-12-schools-this-year-amid-severe-budget-cuts",
        "source_label": "alaskapublic.org"
      },
      {
        "claim": "About 415 students will be affected by the closures.",
        "confidence": "reported",
        "source_url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/education/2026-06-17/alaska-districts-close-12-schools-this-year-amid-severe-budget-cuts",
        "source_label": "alaskapublic.org"
      },
      {
        "claim": "The district cut around 160 positions last year and projected another 225 cuts without the closures.",
        "confidence": "reported",
        "source_url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/education/2026-06-17/alaska-districts-close-12-schools-this-year-amid-severe-budget-cuts",
        "source_label": "alaskapublic.org"
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    "locations": [
      {
        "area": "Mat-Su",
        "kind": "facility",
        "name": "Meadow Lakes Elementary"
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      {
        "area": "Mat-Su",
        "kind": "facility",
        "name": "Larson Elementary"
      },
      {
        "area": "Mat-Su",
        "kind": "facility",
        "name": "Glacier View School"
      },
      {
        "area": "Mat-Su",
        "kind": "city",
        "name": "Wasilla"
      },
      {
        "area": "Mat-Su",
        "kind": "city",
        "name": "Sutton"
      }
    ],
    "people": [],
    "organizations": [
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        "kind": "school",
        "name": "Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District"
      }
    ],
    "event_dates": [
      {
        "date": "2026",
        "label": "School closures take effect"
      }
    ],
    "story_status": "scheduled",
    "what_changed": null,
    "keywords": [
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      "meadow lakes elementary",
      "larson elementary",
      "glacier view school",
      "alaska school budget cuts",
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    ],
    "disclosure": "Produced with AI assistance, narrated with Slav Lund's voice clone with his consent, and reviewed by a person before publishing.",
    "generated_at": "2026-10-01T05:27:32.039+00:00",
    "reviewed_at": null,
    "updated_at": "2026-10-02T06:24:21.55916+00:00"
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