Anchorage Will Seek Bids For Former School Building

The city plans to issue a formal request for proposals in October to lease the former Campbell STEM site.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Administration

Anchorage Will Seek Bids For Former School Building

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Should residents have more influence over how local government repurposes closed public school buildings?

Anchorage officials will open formal bidding for the lease of the former Campbell STEM Elementary School in October. The city is working to ensure the unused site continues to provide public benefit.

Why it matters

The effort to repurpose the building follows a period of administrative stalemate between the Anchorage Assembly and the school board. Tensions over committee structures and legal authority have complicated the transition of the property.

The property includes more than 64,000 square feet of building space situated on a parcel exceeding 7 acres. Officials previously closed a Request for Interest period that yielded seven responses.

The players

Anchorage Assembly

This is the primary legislative body for the Municipality of Anchorage that oversees municipal operations and policy decisions.

Anchorage School Board

This organization holds exclusive authority over the management and operations of the local public school district under Alaska law.

Campbell STEM Preservation and Education Foundation

This group was formed in April 2026 to contest the closure of the elementary school building.

The details

The municipality is moving forward with a Request for Proposal process despite ongoing disagreements between the Anchorage Assembly and the school district regarding committee oversight. A recent lawsuit filed by the Campbell STEM Preservation and Education Foundation challenging the school closure was dismissed last month.

August 2026: An ad hoc school closure committee held its first meeting.
September 18, 2026: The Assembly and School Board convened for a joint meeting.
October 2026: Officials will solicit formal bids for the property lease.
January 2027: New tenants are expected to occupy the building.

Roadmap

The challenge of repurposing the Campbell STEM site reflects a broader tension in municipal planning regarding the management of decommissioned public infrastructure. This process highlights how state-level legal frameworks can complicate the transition of property between local school boards and city administrations.

Residents in the area can expect continued municipal discussions regarding the future use of the 7-acre site throughout the fall. The eventual selection of a new tenant will determine how the building is integrated back into the local community's daily life.

The takeaway

The upcoming bidding process marks a significant step toward stabilizing the future of the former school site. Community members should stay informed about the November meeting to learn how potential new tenants might affect the neighborhood.

What happens next

The school board ad hoc committee is scheduled to meet again in October, and the Anchorage Assembly will host a third community meeting in November to discuss the ongoing closure process.