Wrangell could see another boarding school in the next five years. ANSEP, an accelerated high school program based on University of Alaska Anchorage campus, is interested in building a 400-bed facility on the former Wrangell Institute property.
ANSEP is based at the University of Alaska Anchorage. The curriculum is geared towards science and engineering and gives high school students the opportunity to earn college credits.
ANSEP Vice Provost and founder, Herb Schroder, said ANSEP is opening its first high school in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District in August, but said that’s not enough to serve the 1,200 students he’s engaged statewide. Now he’s eyeing Wrangell as the future site of ANSEP’s first residential school.
“We’re committed to working with the community in Wrangell. What we want to do is build a residential school that would hold at least 400 students from across Alaska,” said Schroder. “When they attend this school, students can earn college credits and graduate from high school in as little as three years. If they want to stay for four years, that’s fine. They can earn credits for degrees in education, psychology, biological sciences, engineering, business management and many others.“
Schroder said he’s been looking for a location for a residential facility for over a year. In February, he presented a proposal to legislators to take over Mt. Edgecumbe boarding school in Sitka. Mt. Edgecumbe faculty was unaware of the proposal until after the fact.
Alaska Department of Education & Early Development Interim Commissioner, Dr. Susan McCauley, said the State Board of Education was not aware of the proposed takeover either.
“He then, did present to the State Board of Education at its March meeting and talked about the idea of a general ANSEP residential school. He indicated at that time he would not be pursing that scenario with Mt. Edgecumbe,” said McCauley.
Wrangell’s Borough Manager, Jeff Jabusch, said the Assembly is looking into including ANSEP’s proposed school into development plans for the 130-acre institute property about five miles south of town.
“It was perfect timing because we were looking at the institute site. We have a consulting group that’s working with us to develop that. This in the early stages was a component, an education facility out there. There’s a lot of things we have to work out,” said Jabusch.
Jabush said the design firm, Corvus Design, will present two or three new designs for the property on June 13. The public will be able to comment on those designs.
Herb Schroder said he plans to be at that public hearing, and at the borough’s June 14 regular meeting.
Besides a possible ANSEP high school, the designs include a senior assisted living facility, single-family housing, apartments and retail space.
