Thomas Fenoseff – Anchorage School District

As the senior director of capital planning and construction for the Anchorage School District, Thomas Fenoseff is a leader with a clear vision and a strategic mind focused on the big picture and the minor details. Fenoseff oversees a robust program of building improvements and security measures, modernizing facilities, and creating safer, more efficient learning environments for students, teachers, and staff across Anchorage. For Fenoseff, the work is more than just construction; it’s about shaping the future of his community, investing in spaces where students become the doctors, engineers, and community leaders of tomorrow.

With Alaska’s short construction season, project planning and execution require precise timing and careful management. Fenoseff takes a unique approach to assessing each school’s layout, focusing on adjacencies and learning spaces that benefit students and educators. He strives to maximize every inch of educational space while ensuring safety remains a top priority. Over the past four years, his team has completed around 30 secure vestibule projects, each thoughtfully designed to enhance the security and the learning experience. He says that, overall, the team completes between $40 million and $80 million in construction projects yearly.

“We want to make every school as open and welcoming as possible, but it also has to be secure,” Fenoseff says, noting the delicate balance his team must strike between accessibility and protection.

Securing the district

Security has been at the forefront of Fenoseff’s work since 2019, when the Anchorage School District launched its secure vestibule initiative. In an era where school safety is a significant concern, this project introduces secure entry points in schools throughout the district, a step that’s essential given the escalating number of threats schools face. Some of these projects are straightforward, but others involve redesigning entire office spaces to accommodate security vestibules. These secure areas, outfitted with real-time vetting technology, ensure that unauthorized individuals can’t freely access the school’s interior, protecting elementary school students in closed campuses where all doors remain locked during school hours.

In addition to the vestibules, the district has invested in advanced access control measures. Staff members use fobs to enter the buildings, allowing specific programming that tracks each entry and exit—a streamlined and affordable alternative to traditional keys, which pose a security risk if lost. Fenoseff’s team has also expanded their camera network, deploying high-definition cameras and intrusion detection systems that send alerts if a door or window is left open, especially crucial in Alaska’s frigid winters, where a simple open window could lead to frozen pipes and costly repairs. The district has implemented visitor management software that screens visitor IDs for potential security risks, helping to keep schools secure without sacrificing a welcoming atmosphere.

Better campuses, better education

With Anchorage’s aging school buildings—many over 37 years old and some dating back to the 1950s—updating the infrastructure is a pressing concern for Fenoseff. In one school, relics of a past era remain, including a coal chute that once served as a heating source. The district has over a billion dollars in deferred maintenance, including a backlog of roofing replacements, upgrades for energy efficiency, and modernized HVAC systems that can be centrally monitored to improve air quality. Fenoseff’s team has significantly progressed in upgrading these systems, deploying digital controls and new technology to manage energy use and air quality more effectively.

Funding is always a challenge, and Fenoseff’s department relies almost exclusively on bonds from the municipality, with up to 95% of capital improvement funding sourced this way. In Alaska, where there are no state or sales taxes, the bulk of funding comes from local property taxes, making bond season—a series of community meetings and engagements each year—a critical time for Fenoseff. He emphasizes the importance of these investments, reminding residents that they’re helping build a future where today’s students grow up to become skilled professionals who will support the people who vote on these bonds.

The Anchorage School District, a vast network with over 84 schools and 90 buildings, spans an impressive nearly 2,000 square miles—about the size of Delaware—and currently manages a substantial roster of construction and planning projects. The district is juggling 33 active construction projects valued at $68 million alongside 36 projects in the planning phase, estimated at $11 million. Among these, Fenoseff says two high-profile initiatives stand out for their community impact and forward-looking design: the replacement of Inlet View Elementary School and  Ursa Major Elementary School.

Inlet View Elementary, originally built in 1957, is undergoing a transformative $50 million replacement. After a thorough life-cycle cost analysis, it was clear that replacing the aging structure would be more sustainable than retrofitting it. The new school is being constructed adjacent to the old building, allowing uninterrupted learning during the transition. Once completed, the old structure will be demolished, and the new facility will open in Fall 2026.

Ursa Major Elementary School, which sits on a Joint Base Elmendorf – Richardson military installation, has also captured community attention. Severely damaged in the 2018 earthquake, the school’s replacement is being funded through an 80% grant from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, which supports public schools on military bases. With an anticipated completion date in 2027, the project has generated excitement since the district hasn’t replaced a school since 2009. Currently in the early design stages, Ursa Major’s replacement reflects a crucial investment in a resilient, safe learning environment for the community’s children.

Serving his community

Fenoseff’s background has equipped him well for this work. A former combat engineer with a degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, he spent his military career honing his leadership skills and gaining experience that he now applies in serving his community. He says leadership is vital in any setting, whether in an organization, a family, or a country. He’s spoken at several conferences on leadership and engineering, sharing his insights and passion for service. For Fenoseff, the military-to-education transition felt natural, thanks partly to his family roots—his parents were teachers, and his brother works as an engineer in the private sector.

Despite his extensive responsibilities, Fenoseff is quick to credit his team.

“My success is their success; my story at ASD is not as interesting without them,” he insists. Thomas leads a team of dedicated project managers, construction inspectors, and support personnel focused on providing the best learning environments for Anchorage.

With supervisors like Edie Knapp, the district’s construction supervisor with almost 30 years in the district, he knows he’s in good hands. Larry Morris, the planning and design supervisor, keeps the design of schools at the forefront of the evolving educational needs of the community. Rachel Molina Lodoen, the department’s project support supervisor, precisely manages budgets, allowing him to focus on the larger vision without getting lost in the numbers.

Fenoseff has also worked to strengthen the district’s internship program, bringing on several interns each summer from the University of Alaska Anchorage’s construction management program. Many of these young professionals go on to join his team full-time, a testament to the effectiveness of his mentorship and commitment to fostering the next generation of industry talent.

Fenoseff understands that everyone loves a new building but also sees the importance of lifecycle cost analysis in evaluating when renovations are a better investment. Every decision is weighed carefully, balancing the district’s immediate needs with long-term sustainability. For Fenoseff, it’s not just about bricks and mortar; it’s about building safe, welcoming spaces where Anchorage’s students can thrive and where the community feels confident sending its children. Through careful planning, an eye for detail, and a commitment to leadership, Fenoseff is helping to shape the Anchorage School District and the future of the Anchorage community.