The Anchorage School District is holding a series of "listening sessions" this week to get the public's input on how it should deal with a projected $22 million budget shortfall for the 2015-2016 school year.
At current funding levels, the ASD has projected shortfalls of $22.5 million, $22 million and $28 million for the next three years, respectively, district spokeswoman Heidi Embley said Monday.
Three open-format sessions will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at Anchorage schools. Anyone can attend the meetings.
The idea is to give students, parents and community members the opportunity to speak directly to the school board at the beginning of the budget process, Embley said.
"We want the public to weigh in on where the district should focus or not focus funding," she said.
In a recent budget projection, the district said it expects to lose a total of more than 700 positions over the next three years without funding increases, according to Embley.
The meetings will be held:
• 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 29 at Wendler Middle School
• 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at Alpenglow Elementary School
• 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at Lake Hood Elementary School