School Business Partnership

In 1995, the ARRC developed a partnership with Government Hill Elementary School in Anchorage. Railroad employees help tutor students with various educational skills. The school has developed an annual science fair, whereby Railroad employees also participate. Each year, the Railroad provides an annual back-to-school picnic for all the students, teachers and parents of the school. Railroad employees prepare and serve all the hot dogs, drinks and other events while the students, parents and teachers have an opportunity to interact with each other.

In addition, the Railroad has had a long standing partnership arrangement with the School Districts in both Anchorage and Fairbanks and the career centers of both school districts. A hallmark of this partnership has been the Tour Guide program through which high school students are trained each spring to become Tour Guides on the summer passenger trains.

The Tour Guide program has resulted in numerous positive letters from people all over the country that have taken the train while on a trip in Alaska. The tour guides have received high marks for knowledge, friendliness and quality customer service.  This program has been one of the most successful school business partnerships nationally. In fact, the Alaska Railroad was presented with an award by the National Partners in Education for this partnership arrangement.

SBP links

School Business Partnership Website

Government Hill Elementary School Website