{
  "story": {
    "slug": "the-valley-just-lost-three-schools",
    "headline": "the valley just lost three schools",
    "deck": "Three Mat-Su schools won't open their doors this fall, and a 28 million dollar shortfall is why.",
    "url": "https://thedailyalaska.com/story/the-valley-just-lost-three-schools",
    "section": "Life",
    "area": null,
    "published_at": "2026-07-01T20:00:00+00:00",
    "updated_at": "2026-10-02T06:18:22.330247+00:00",
    "body_md": "The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District closed three schools this year, Meadow Lakes and Larson elementary schools in Wasilla and Glacier View School in Sutton, as it faced a 28 million dollar budget shortfall. The closures move roughly 415 students and dozens of staff to other schools in the district.\n\nThe district is the second largest in Alaska, with nearly 20,000 students, but full-time enrollment keeps falling as more families switch to homeschool and correspondence programs. That shift cuts into the funding the district receives, since state funding is tied to full-time enrollment.\n\nDouble-digit increases in health insurance costs added about 6 million dollars to the budget gap, pushing the total shortfall to 28 million dollars.\n\nThe district's superintendent said closing the three schools still wasn't enough to close the budget hole, and the board considered deeper cuts, including dropping sports programs and moving to a four-day school week, before deciding on the closures. The superintendent called the decision a no-win situation and said it was made to preserve teaching jobs.\n\nFamilies with children who attended Meadow Lakes, Larson, or Glacier View will see their kids move to other schools in the district this fall.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/education/2026-06-17/alaska-districts-close-12-schools-this-year-amid-severe-budget-cuts",
        "label": "alaskapublic.org"
      }
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  },
  "envelope": {
    "story_id": "457aed40-ad9d-429d-91ea-49aaeb036c0d",
    "slug": "the-valley-just-lost-three-schools",
    "summary": "The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District closed Meadow Lakes, Larson, and Glacier View schools in 2026 due to a 28 million dollar budget shortfall, moving about 415 students and dozens of staff. Falling full-time enrollment and a 6 million dollar health insurance cost increase drove the gap.",
    "key_facts": [
      "The Mat-Su school district closed Meadow Lakes and Larson elementary schools in Wasilla and Glacier View School in Sutton this year.",
      "The closures move about 415 students and dozens of staff to other schools.",
      "The district faced a 28 million dollar budget shortfall.",
      "Double-digit health insurance cost increases added about 6 million dollars to the shortfall.",
      "The district is Alaska's second largest, with almost 20,000 students.",
      "The board considered cutting sports or moving to a four-day school week before deciding on closures."
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "a": "Meadow Lakes and Larson elementary schools in Wasilla and Glacier View School in Sutton won't open this fall.",
        "q": "Which Mat-Su schools closed?"
      },
      {
        "a": "The Mat-Su school district faced a 28 million dollar budget shortfall driven by falling enrollment and a 6 million dollar jump in health insurance costs.",
        "q": "Why did the district close three schools?"
      },
      {
        "a": "About 415 students and dozens of staff are being moved to other buildings.",
        "q": "How many students are moving schools?"
      },
      {
        "a": "Yes. The board looked at cutting sports and moving to a four-day week before deciding on the closures.",
        "q": "Did the board consider other options first?"
      }
    ],
    "claims": [
      {
        "claim": "The Mat-Su school district closed Meadow Lakes, Larson, and Glacier View schools this year due to a 28 million dollar shortfall.",
        "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 closures move about 415 students and dozens of staff to other schools.",
        "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": "Double-digit health insurance cost increases added about 6 million dollars to the district's budget gap.",
        "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 Mat-Su school district is Alaska's second largest, with almost 20,000 students.",
        "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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        "name": "Wasilla"
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        "kind": "city",
        "name": "Sutton"
      },
      {
        "area": "Mat-Su",
        "kind": "facility",
        "name": "Meadow Lakes Elementary School"
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      {
        "area": "Mat-Su",
        "kind": "facility",
        "name": "Larson Elementary School"
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      {
        "area": "Mat-Su",
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        "name": "Glacier View School"
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    "people": [],
    "organizations": [
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        "kind": "school",
        "name": "Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District"
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    "event_dates": [],
    "story_status": "resolved",
    "what_changed": null,
    "keywords": [
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      "meadow lakes elementary",
      "larson elementary wasilla",
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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": "2026-10-01T05:23:28.195+00:00",
    "reviewed_at": null,
    "updated_at": "2026-10-02T06:18:22.330247+00:00"
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