Parents and teachers are speaking out as the Anchorage School District considers closing two elementary schools — Lake Otis in Anchorage and Fire Lake in Eagle River — as part of a new “rightsizing” plan.

At recent community conversations meetings, emotions ran high as families pleaded to keep their schools open.

“The teacher at Lake Otis that teaches my daughter specifically was so welcoming,” said Jackie Higgins, a parent at Lake Otis Elementary. “We have created a community there, and now all of a sudden, to have to uproot her into another school, it’s almost unacceptable.”

The district says enrollment has dropped by about 7,000 students over the past 15 years, prompting the need to consolidate schools and resources.

“The district is to consider consolidating resources for the purpo

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