Bigger classes, staff cuts proposed for Anchorage schools

And: Man dies after fall during heli-ski trip in Chugach Mountains ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Good afternoon. It’s Tuesday, February 6. In today's newsletter: - The Anchorage School District is proposing cutting an elementary school program for gifted students, [eliminating dozens of teacher positions]( and increasing class sizes for older students beginning next school year. - A man from Europe died Friday afternoon after [a fall on a heli-ski trip]( in the Chugach Mountains near Knik Glacier, a fatality that wasn’t publicly disclosed until this week. - An Anchorage real estate firm estimated the market value of a downtown parking lot at more than $3 million. A city agency voted to [sell the lot to a pair of politically connected developers]( for $1 million less. While not the fanciest steamship on the Seattle-Alaska circuit, the SS Al-Ki was still a fully operational and seaworthy vessel. In this week's column, historian David Reamer delves into the story of the ship built in 1884 that became one of the [legendary vessels of the Klondike gold rush]( entrenched for its early role in the mad dash for mostly illusory fortunes. Anchorage weather It's partly sunny today with a high near 25 degrees. We'll see a mix of clouds and mostly sunny skies over the next two days, before a chance of snow returns to the forecast on Friday. Daytime temperatures will gradually rise from the mid-20s to the low 30s over the course of the week. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Anchorage School District proposes a budget with program cuts, bigger classes and nearly 100 fewer staff positions →]( The cuts, which still need approval from the school board, are meant to offset a major budget shortfall, this year estimated at nearly $100 million. • Related: [Alaska legislators hear from school officials about the impacts of flat funding]( ADVERTISEMENT [Man dies after fall during heli-ski trip in Chugach Mountains →]( Silverton Mountain Guides said the incident occurred near Knik Glacier on Friday afternoon. Alaska State Troopers said they were not notified of the fatality. [2 more Anchorage roofs collapse over the weekend after more snow →]( [At least eight roofs have crumpled during this season’s record rate of snowfall. No on]( has been hurt or killed in this winter’s collapses, and no residential collapses have been reported. [An appraiser told Anchorage its lot was worth $3M. The city sold it to the former mayor for $2M. →]( [The municipal board that approved the sale — and a below-market lease — includes two members with ties to former mayor and former U.S. Sen. Mark Begich.](  (via Alaska Public Media) [As Smith murder trial begins, a new explanation of how digital card showing killing got to Anchorage police →]( When Brian Steven Smith was arrested on homicide charges in October of 2019, police pointed to a sickening video of the hotel room slaying of a woman as the impetus for their investigation. [2 of Anchorage’s 3 emergency warming centers close as low temperatures ease →]( Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson announced the closure of two of the city’s three emergency warming centers over the weekend as temperatures rose above zero degrees, saying the facilities were seeing a decrease in use. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Door plug bolts on Alaska Airlines jet likely missing, NTSB report on blowout says →]( [Brent Sass, aboard a sleek new sled, wins Yukon Quest Alaska →]( C[ouple injured in Anchorage residential fire have died, family says →]( [Man accused of bringing Kodiak brown bear cubs to Florida faces numerous charges →]( [Trump not immune from prosecution in election interference case, US appeals court says →]( [Appeals court weighs whether to let Biden’s approval of Willow oil project stand →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States