[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6365690,"mediaKeyId","2159861-2794ec6eecdf1d411e0e9b83307a7f98","parentId",2159861,"title","Residents warn closing small, rural schools will harm students, services and local businesses","audioSeconds",1537,"startMs",333000,"endMs",1870000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159861-2794ec6eecdf1d411e0e9b83307a7f98&start=333&end=1870","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159861-2794ec6eecdf1d411e0e9b83307a7f98/thumbnail_333000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6365690/Alaska/Residents-warn-closing-small-rural-schools-will-harm-students-services-and-local-businesses","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365690-9b77de780cb87f9a5dfee10fcef819d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770537024&Signature=XxT32cEvTSDOPA0waijK46zISvUG~puZkkYudu9VpmLf62Kk7Z3wgfrLs8W3Xmm5JpAKd36mkCm7Je~eWC1P6jL2tbiC-6v61i6cB~7Y9am47CX0EALlMd80OZsAWTTmKdgyDO4ofPphZRZf3xcRBfZLG4SI7f~nXLhLFBzhak14d8dim-ob5l6EyK97nNP8-aaIwocX2N1gFpz9-~COVVjjG-iBABvHcmrd1drVPoifs3jfWHgsFWzFRFiFV-2o6GmaRwE~BnLh-zByX2fVolKGwkTk7a74vNpYo5UJ4mk8LbYHJSEpEJkJYJusJsQmitad6TC3WhGZSF7aVoGY8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-29T00:46:01Z","article","Dozens of parents, teachers, principals and business owners delivered emotional testimony Feb. 2 opposing proposed consolidation plans that would close or reconfigure several small and rural schools in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

The testimony covered multiple schools under consideration — Hunter, 2 Rivers, Salcha, Midnight Sun and others — and centered on student welfare, community identity and secondary impacts such as increased transportation time and harm to local services.

Why it matters: Witnesses said small schools provide trauma‑informed supports, close adult‑student relationships and place‑based learning that cannot be replicated quickly at larger schools. Testifiers warned closures would increase absenteeism, disrupt special‑education services and force some families to leave the district or choose non‑district homeschool providers.

Examples from testimony:

- Hunter: Audra Hull, a Hunter teacher, disputed district claims about building systems and enrollment declines, saying the borough (not the district) is responsible for major building systems and that Hunter’s decline was smaller than presented. She told the board about students facing incarceration, foster care and unstable housing and asked the board “How are we supposed to accept this?” Frank Hendrickson, another Hunter teacher, and parents said many Hunter families work multiple jobs and may not attend hearings, contributing to underrepresentation of their views.

- 2 Rivers: Allison Wylde, principal of 2 Rivers, described place‑based homestead programming, community partnerships (including Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District and Porter Hill Farm), added a bus stop that increased out‑of‑area enrollment by about 10%, and pursuit of grants ranging from $5,000 to $300,000 for agroforestry and hydroponics projects. A 2 Rivers parent survey presented by Summer McMillan (37 responses from 70 enrolled students) reported that 35% of families said they would homeschool outside the district if 2 Rivers closed; 18.9% said they would enroll in another district school; 8.1% would send kids to Weller.

- Salcha: A mix of current and former Salcha students and staff said enrollment declines cited by the administration are smaller than presented and raised questions about how the district accounted for small‑school allocations, transportation effects and military family movement near Eielson Air Force Base.

- Midnight Sun and special‑education services: Several parents emphasized services for students with high needs at Midnight Sun, including a teacher who implemented the LAMP Words for Life program for a nonverbal student. Parents said transferring those students risks losing staff with specific skills and relationships built over years.

Economic and service impacts: Jasmine Wicks, a TRICARE‑contracted doula and small‑business owner, said consolidations would make it impractical for many entrepreneurs and service providers to operate because of longer daily commutes and childcare constraints. Testimony argued small schools anchor local communities and support volunteers, after‑school activities and local fundraising.

Transportation and capacity: Mary Dean Stevenson and other speakers warned of longer bus rides and additional route costs if rural schools closed. Stevenson estimated current routing uses six buses for 2 Rivers and said closures could require additional buses; Summer McMillan and others asked the district for a school‑level budget breakdown, saying the website only showed a single aggregated number without staff/operations detail.

Process concerns and calls to action: Multiple witnesses urged the board to delay votes, requested additional work sessions, and asked residents to testify to the legislature (HB 69) for increased base student allocation. Several speakers urged the board to explore alternatives — scaled‑back local programming, charter or community‑run models, grant pursuit and partnerships — rather than immediate closures.

Ending: Testifiers closed by asking the board to preserve small and rural schools or, at minimum, to invest time in alternative proposals that preserve place‑based programs and local supports before making final decisions affecting students’ daily lives.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-01-28 | School Board Public Hearing: School Consolidation","oneSentenceSummary","At a multi‑hour public hearing, teachers, principals, parents and small‑business owners urged the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District to preserve small and rural schools — including Hunter, 2 Rivers, Salcha and Midnight Sun — citing trauma‑informed services, transportation impacts and community economic ripple effects.","taxTitle","Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, School Districts, Alaska","taxId",12912,"location","Alaska","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6365695,"Barnett parents, students and staff urge board to preserve K‑8 magnet model, warn of program losses",0,5220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159861-2794ec6eecdf1d411e0e9b83307a7f98&start=5220&end=5220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159861-2794ec6eecdf1d411e0e9b83307a7f98/thumbnail_5220000.jpg","/articles/6365695/Alaska/Barnett-parents-students-and-staff-urge-board-to-preserve-K8-magnet-model-warn-of-program-losses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365695-75f38087d2e86c3b6d901e2c9d7aab26/orig.mp4?Expires=1770537024&Signature=Tqg~gcBC-WC5Z7IN1UyTarlNZLzscwwfzLFOVlcAZLVa6TBlh1R8EQwtiNyCjuViu~FKb0QwIQ1YVGFec2twSGdfLhLwuiHTenPyeO0fepJc7pALv3tF4LF5HkUQMQJNOiZvCid2jYvpmFkTH-aD4AWlgW-h2mCfhSoTWGi07l7VvFnA9h-5Gx6NVlAn6pR4JC18w1s8JrADMDVP0cIgQ~a4FYnj-L9QXveMzRQ0rhMpXc1uHzvwrCq1L4Y78D9f0wDfKya9k35VmR6nIiGYAo3rdqG-AmMwh6I9~tSkjKEknaaw4YanEAx5LgGlI~1hfNq4m9FzbvVz~abu35wItw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parents, students, teachers and community members urged the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District school board on Feb. 2 to preserve Barnett Magnet School’s K‑8 structure and warned that converting Barnett to K‑5 would erode the school’s magnet model and its middle‑school programming.

Why it matters: Testimony emphasized that Barnett’s K‑8 model provides mentorship opportunities, specialized electives and continuity that families choose through the district’s lottery. Speakers said converting the school to K‑5 would displace middle‑school students and risk losing programs that draw students back to the district.

What witnesses said: Christina Reid, Barnett’s music teacher, said Barnett serves 416 students and that the school has a long wait list each year. Reid warned that eliminating middle grades would “have a detrimental impact on what makes Barnett Magnet so attractive and successful,” including year‑round programs such as orchestra, robotics, band and the school musical.

Parents and students described mentorship and cross‑grade programs: Clara Cooper, an eighth grader, described being a TA and said older students serve as mentors for younger children; Tumi Trastason, a Barnett parent and Ryan Middle School science teacher, told the board removing middle school would “profoundly change the nature of the school” and could push families to alternatives outside the district.

Evidence and program losses cited: Testimony listed several programs that could be affected, including Science Olympiad (which has qualified for national competition), robotics teams, debate and a school musical. One teacher and several parents noted that a disproportionate number of Barnett students participate in special programs: Reid said 29% of Barnett students are socioeconomically disadvantaged and roughly 100 students are in an IEP or 504 plan.

Logistics and capacity concerns: Testifiers raised questions about where displaced middle‑school students would go and warned that receiving middle schools already face overcrowding. Several speakers said they had not seen a district fiscal note showing savings or costs from changing Barnett’s configuration.

Calls for process and transparency: Multiple speakers asked the board to give the community more time for deliberation and for the district to publish a detailed fiscal analysis of any K‑5 conversion before a final decision.

Ending: Barnett supporters asked the board to preserve the K‑8 magnet model, noting the school’s role in attracting families districtwide and warning that the district could lose enrollment (and revenue) if parents seek alternatives outside the district.

","At a public hearing, Barnett Magnet School parents, students and staff opposed a proposed change to K‑5, saying removing grades 6–8 would dismantle a successful K‑8 magnet model and eliminate extracurricular and academic programs.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":78,"_43":89,"_45":89,"_47":90,"_49":91,"_51":92,"_53":93,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":94,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":95,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6365700,"Parents and community leaders push to convert Pearl Creek Elementary into STEAM magnet to boost enrollment",522000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159861-2794ec6eecdf1d411e0e9b83307a7f98&start=522&end=522","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159861-2794ec6eecdf1d411e0e9b83307a7f98/thumbnail_522000.jpg","/articles/6365700/Alaska/Parents-and-community-leaders-push-to-convert-Pearl-Creek-Elementary-into-STEAM-magnet-to-boost-enrollment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365700-d96959e76dab67c388cfd73f94bdd92f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770537024&Signature=Rk4cF1frSDq7avUrr-TWCeNp6qz5m9LQxeTEvPYzAZuVBndpKKzBUpZKwFXAqp0dMmlm7BJUYFINh30LlFwlYajPJews2anKduo9yrErb-DDUbbIgE286FuDfeLsCWhBT18DbV7GI6v1Tz2lQug4~QLFe9z9WMwjoIPmEtOueJWPHsn8oUt39p5gCbQgM9~5UkeWuGKpQxFzYi4Ps-1pmh9VqngTDFxZtpauw-HodI5IfM8h0Z1BkO-ThwM8PpFCEoZk7iyioT-jDEYfK7F-cAOfnKpToTc1TnWoWl5fWei3mRPZDiY0tOZFCpgw5U2AkZ4IhAYqbQOnXtQE~fCJ8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","More than a dozen parents, educators and community members urged the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District school board on Feb. 2 to transform Pearl Creek Elementary into a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) magnet school as an alternative to closing neighborhood schools.

Proponents said a magnet conversion could increase enrollment from outside the district, open new grant opportunities and help the district recapture students who have chosen homeschool or private options.

Why it matters: Supporters argued the district’s budget shortfall forces difficult choices and that growing enrollment through a magnet program could bring new state and federal dollars into the district. They also said Pearl Creek’s location, green space and community partnerships make it a practical candidate.

Christina Turman, a Pearl Creek parent, said transforming the school “is a move that deserves serious consideration” and estimated that “a hundred new students pencils out to about a million dollars,” attributing the figure to increased per‑student revenue under the current funding model. Turman said a magnet school could preserve Pearl Creek as a neighborhood school while drawing students districtwide.

Solomon Pomerantz, who testified in favor of keeping neighborhood schools open, recommended the board work with the borough to submit capital improvement projects that would address maintenance concerns raised about Pearl Creek. He said the borough owns school buildings and funds major maintenance through its capital improvement program and that Pearl Creek has lower operating costs compared with some other schools.

Naomi Pomerantz, who identified herself as a pediatrician, told the board converting Pearl Creek into a STEAM magnet would build on existing community partnerships and increase access to STEAM education across Fairbanks, and she urged development of before‑ and after‑school childcare to support working families.

Other testimony supported the magnet idea with a mix of local data and community outreach: one speaker said a recent parent survey showed strong interest, including families currently outside the district; another said Pearl Creek already has high community engagement with programs such as NASA GLOBE and nature‑based learning.

Opponents and caveats: Not all speakers supported a magnet conversion. Jen Gunderson, a Pearl Creek parent of 10 years, said a new school‑of‑choice could “exacerbate the inequity amongst our schools” if students who can provide transportation disproportionately benefit. Several testifiers asked for more detailed, school‑level budget breakdowns and for the district to provide clear enrollment projections and fiscal notes that show how a magnet conversion would affect the overall budget.

What the board heard about funding: Testimony repeatedly encouraged the board to pursue grant funding and private partnerships if the district supported a magnet conversion. Witnesses referenced federal magnet school grants and USDA/NIFA funding possibilities; speakers urged the district to pursue those sources rather than rely only on closure savings.

Next steps and context: Multiple speakers asked the school board to delay final votes and allocate time to develop the magnet proposal and its fiscal plan. Several people also encouraged residents to testify to the state legislature about increases to the base student allocation (HB 69), which was announced at the start of the hearing as an opportunity to affect the district’s long‑term funding.

Ending: Proponents of a Pearl Creek STEAM magnet told the board the proposal is already attracting out‑of‑district interest and asked the board to treat the idea as a districtwide growth strategy rather than a single‑school fix.

","Speakers at a Fairbanks North Star Borough School District public hearing urged the board to convert Pearl Creek Elementary into a STEAM magnet school, arguing the change would draw out‑of‑district students, unlock grant funding and help stabilize district finances.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents warn closing small, rural schools will harm students, services and local businesses

Barnett parents, students and staff urge board to preserve K‑8 magnet model, warn of program losses

Parents and community leaders push to convert Pearl Creek Elementary into STEAM magnet to boost enrollment