[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6091558,"mediaKeyId","2860815-89b53c3d932bf36c327ef9029becafa1","parentId",2860815,"title","School board adopts K–12 art and world language curriculum; district hears proposals for music, PE, health, CTE and elementary science","audioSeconds",284,"startMs",3661000,"endMs",3945000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2860815-89b53c3d932bf36c327ef9029becafa1&start=3661&end=3945","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2860815-89b53c3d932bf36c327ef9029becafa1/thumbnail_3661000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6091558/Alaska/School-board-adopts-K12-art-and-world-language-curriculum-district-hears-proposals-for-music-PE-health-CTE-and-elementary-science","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091558-aafbfc51e7096515c6d68f54118fdf74/orig.mp4?Expires=1775453308&Signature=PGoWeV-qwiCldyQLu7ab34EqaRSgKBPn99VdqqXclEFBgjYHRVqSqtIb08tO7dCDyiqcP6okbkq4uCC5VWWjsZRheD~GNLcbBWBU~M3rCOpBr~rT3lIT~CKK0Pv60C2WHqqw1A1y0ovcY6~mUEQS93P0HuFeNstZd5SFUc~~~gtYiFEzEFoZ5CfIf5k4uWUU629ETGtiBUB0pkS9nHx3ezXdlFn4xmmXqnDYg2dQoIyeBFwajHWlsm2CN7F7tEM8Gi4LO0OED~xcWxpUqyaFuvxCFBbHwVi1tBKrxUoZ3hWJkR1-nrnXzDCI4SBHCSzCwdWxtzyN~hyAapVuIgSW~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-02T06:41:07Z","article","The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District school board on April 1 approved adoption of the proposed K–12 art and world language curriculum and received presentations and committee recommendations on several other curricular packages, including music, physical education, health, career‑technical education (CTE) pathways in education and agriculture, and an elementary science program under consideration.

The vote: The administration recommended adoption of the art and world language package and the board approved the motion after the public‑testimony period closed. The motion was moved and seconded on the record and passed by the board.

What was presented: Curriculum staff and committee members described substantial format updates and new course proposals across disciplines:

- CTE (education and agriculture): Andrea Wade, the district CTE presenter, said the proposed education pathway would use the Educators Rising curriculum to provide middle‑school and high‑school coursework, leadership and dual‑credit options and encourage internships. The agriculture pathway would use the CASE (Agricultural Science Education) materials, include a middle‑school plants-and‑animals course and five high‑school course options (intro to agriculture; animal health and veterinary science; production and management; plant science; food science, safety and marketing). Wade also said pilot courses have run at West Valley and North Pole high schools.

- Music: The music draft consolidates repeated standards, creates an “elementary ensemble” to cover multiple prior elementary classes, and adds clearer level names at middle and high school (beginning/intermediate/advanced) and two new courses at the high school level (mariachi and modern band). Committee members said the rewrite reduced the adopted document’s length and clarified scheduling and level vocabulary for counselors.

- Physical education and health: The district reported a major reformatting. Notable changes included separate, grade‑specific integrated health/PE courses for grades 6, 7 and 8 or an option to offer a mixed “middle school PE” course while ensuring health topics are delivered at each grade. The health curriculum added human growth and development and expanded units on mental health, healthy screen time and, at high school, a new identity unit. Board members and committee members also praised a student recommendation to add naloxone training; administrators confirmed the district maintains naloxone kits in schools as required by state policy.

- Elementary science (Twig): District staff said Twig Science rose to the top of a multi‑year review. The district paused purchasing earlier because of funding constraints; committee members recommended adoption so materials are ready when funds become available.

Why it matters: The presentations reflect several years of committee work, teacher review and public comment. Staff said the work addresses changes since earlier adoptions (for example, sixth grade’s move to middle school), aligns with standards (including SHAPE standards for PE) and adds middle‑school course structure to support scheduling and student placement.

What’s next: The board adopted the art and world language curriculum at the meeting; the other packages were presented, discussed at length and will move forward through the curriculum process and to future board action as required by policy and the curriculum calendar.

Ending: Board members thanked curriculum writers and committee members for extensive public outreach and review; several members noted the volume of public comment and asked the administration to ensure archived course lists remain easy for principals and teachers to reactivate if local interest and staffing allow.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-04-01 | School Board Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District school board on April 1 approved adoption of the proposed K–12 art and world language curriculum and received presentations and committee recommendations on several other curricular packages, including music, physical education, health, career‑technical education (CTE) pathways and an elementary science program under consideration.","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":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6091551,"District nears contract with ABM for evening custodial services; costs and board approval questions raised",636,6644000,7280000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2860815-89b53c3d932bf36c327ef9029becafa1&start=6644&end=7280","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2860815-89b53c3d932bf36c327ef9029becafa1/thumbnail_6644000.jpg","/articles/6091551/Alaska/District-nears-contract-with-ABM-for-evening-custodial-services-costs-and-board-approval-questions-raised","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091551-8ae894c21b8a418693de58f45a4b5d91/orig.mp4?Expires=1775453308&Signature=EHLyQmvQT7jOHGZlMTH7V0MWbi~-ngJgo-Wp31ZAqNit2QfSsMFVdL93dfZUvOziBPH2BzuR6fLYostDddfhLPNVsd7otmv~rGUpc2b-JvM69lmNcxn9fJduBDenQlzkR5Mysadmx6VDOfqCBJy2huq3ONvKekwN0ja7n1tyILflX~FkaQkR4S3L-UiLpMSt9A4RwDYR6sf3Qb0xZYHv-3KqW09r2VFaFYAmoB2d2xWOT-UL38fat9~eN37vRttHuiYm8DtHvKyu9QzaQM8kHj-hFObROmmoOtsUns2e-s8DlBkVPK6i4~LPsLyxHRiwBRnTCmqt8fi90wd9ny106A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fairbanks North Star Borough School District operations staff reported to the board on April 1 that the district is near completion of a cooperative‑purchase contract with ABM to provide evening custodial services district‑wide.

Contract and cost estimate: Chief Operations Officer Andy DeGraw and facilities director Jay Carreon reported the cooperative agreement would set a contract value of approximately $4,074,000 for the district’s evening custodial services and estimated roughly $2.6 million in general‑fund savings plus $300,000–$400,000 in risk‑fund savings (workers’ comp/insurance) compared with the cost of continuing district‑run evening custodial operations. The district said it is using a cooperative solicitation initially issued by Paradise Valley Unified School District (Arizona) to contract under established terms and to avoid issuing a new RFP on an accelerated timeline.

Operational details: The contractor would provide initial deep cleaning district‑wide, maintain ISA K‑12 cleaning standards for evening work, supply evening cleaning equipment and consumables for contract scope, and offer supplemental services and weekend building rental support. The district said it will retain daytime custodians (25 positions preserved) and keep separate storage/staging areas for contractor and district custodial materials. Temporary services provided at eight buildings during the procurement phase have produced positive feedback from building administrators, district staff said.

Board questions and issues raised: Board members asked procurement and legal questions about cooperative contracts, the selection process, vendor autonomy and the lead agency. Procurement staff (Emily Propper) said the co‑op model gives the district autonomy to execute its own contract terms while piggybacking on the lead solicitation’s terms; the lead agency named in the solicitation was Paradise Valley Unified School District. Members also questioned several contract provisions: an equipment amortization clause that could require reimbursement for unamortized equipment if the contract is terminated without cause; a standard vendor provision restricting direct hiring of contractor employees unless they are hired through open district postings (a section in the contract addressing costs if a contractor employee is hired by the district); and the contract’s change‑order provisions that would allow price adjustments if labor market conditions changed.

Policy and process debate: Several members queried whether the co‑op contract required separate board approval under district procurement policy. Administrators cited board policies (440.14 and 440.1) that allow cooperative purchasing and permit purchase orders without additional board action when policy criteria are met. Some board members said the scope and dollar value merit a formal board action; others said the board had previously directed the administration to pursue custodial outsourcing and that reopening the decision would be inappropriate. The board asked administration to provide further cost breakdowns, clarify holiday schedules, confirm how weekend building rentals and elementary activities would be covered, and provide more detail on employee transition and HR implications.

Next steps: Administration said it would provide requested clarifications and historical cost and risk‑fund breakdowns. The administration reported that ABM has been providing temporary services at selected schools and district sites as the contract terms were finalized, and staff said they would return with the contract and requested clarifications.","Fairbanks North Star Borough School District operations staff reported on April 1 they are near a finalized cooperative‑purchase contract with ABM for evening custodial services, with an estimated contract cost of about $4.07 million and projected general‑fund savings of roughly $2.6 million plus $300K–$400K in risk‑fund savings.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6091554,"Board discusses memorandum prioritizing any BSA increase for smaller classes; members push Barnett add‑back and counselors",3167,7763000,10930000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2860815-89b53c3d932bf36c327ef9029becafa1&start=7763&end=10930","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2860815-89b53c3d932bf36c327ef9029becafa1/thumbnail_7763000.jpg","/articles/6091554/Alaska/Board-discusses-memorandum-prioritizing-any-BSA-increase-for-smaller-classes-members-push-Barnett-addback-and-counselors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091554-6ac416e8d2a14a61b6c25b2d1a785a19/orig.mp4?Expires=1775453308&Signature=Mi3z0bzYvFtZaBgnmbrb-xlIOUx8rVv3YHOKzgnqT3cy7qJ56vC51~pelxiX1okL0GD1M5D81Wvw4fOxgd1sR~GjqEOjVjXAY5H5Hrho7xFIXV2gQDwdpbrgZ4RQZFKp12olcwtOtVA8TlAZbQJ28RL4hJmK7VsINSP3j~GMKkzGIZZL35wUX9xDSQFmxHl9rqIT2NiQSNU6I8ojEiEX6nq2YPVsqxN~D71W46xklPc-R2Y9otLX3R-CaCi8GSyOBl2m93wBo7iBAx7gdvJQT0PZ3x5GRIw2dF3TKXBMSbuyIliqoKQR-xSc930QwadcYo-kU7iGJ8Sa4wkc4k~XqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the April 1 meeting the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District board discussed a memorandum that would commit any additional state revenue above the baseline BSA to reducing pupil‑teacher ratios (PTR) and restoring student‑facing programs.

The memorandum: Board member Bernice Hardy presented a draft memorandum—modeled on a recent Anchorage board memo—that, if the legislature enacts an increase to the Base Student Allocation (BSA) and additional per‑pupil transportation funding, would prioritize those funds for PTR reductions and classroom restorations. The document included an attachment listing “PTR add‑backs” and other potential reinvestments, and a historical PTR table showing how target class sizes have changed over time.

Board discussion and priorities: Several board members called for specific, high‑priority restoration items to be highlighted: multiple speakers recommended adding a 2.5 full‑time equivalent (FTE) teacher restoration for Barnett (a magnet school), restoring high‑school counselors (board members proposed 2.5 high‑school counselor FTE), and considering charter school funding adjustments if additional funding is one‑time rather than permanent. Miss Julian and others stressed the scale of PTR growth over the last decade: district target PTRs have moved from the low‑20s toward the high‑20s and low‑30s in secondary grades, which they linked to declining enrollment and families choosing correspondence programs.

Money and timing: The memo referenced a proposed $1,000 BSA increase in state legislation and an estimated district revenue increase of about $5.6 million at that level; board members noted that transportation funding and the precise BSA level matter to the math. Members asked the administration to prepare a prioritized add‑back list and a five‑year summary of cuts that directly affected students to attach to the memorandum. Superintendent Dr. Minor said administration could provide historical cuts and cost estimates but requested a practical scope (staff suggested five years was feasible).

Process: Board members agreed to work in a shared Google Doc (the memorandum is publicly available) to propose edits and to return the item for formal action after the board refines priorities and the administration prepares the requested supporting documentation. Several members said the memorandum is primarily an advocacy tool for the legislature, and urged a focused, clear ask rather than multiple scenarios.

Ending: The board paused further action on the memorandum to allow members to add comments and for administration to produce the historical cuts and cost breakdowns. Members emphasized PTR reductions and the Barnett add‑back as top local priorities should the legislature fund a significant BSA increase.","At the April 1 meeting the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District board discussed a memorandum that would commit any additional state revenue above the baseline BSA to reducing pupil‑teacher ratios and restoring student‑facing programs.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6091563,"Parents, APC members press board to meet on Pearl Creek charter; legal deadline cited",2454,1282000,3736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2860815-89b53c3d932bf36c327ef9029becafa1&start=1282&end=3736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2860815-89b53c3d932bf36c327ef9029becafa1/thumbnail_1282000.jpg","/articles/6091563/Alaska/Parents-APC-members-press-board-to-meet-on-Pearl-Creek-charter-legal-deadline-cited","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091563-893f468440a76d2f39a24182a4ae3d01/orig.mp4?Expires=1775453308&Signature=gi1bB6eHuGrSjSu3AuGz8CS6VpTMGydKEIt2OaQ6eUxs7JulCOXkIWTdEDEV3h0HHMOSJiSWrprqUn~coxfmayXsRB50t1ftglMmylJWbHHsbggJT5yE9m3DOoWxVshQo9C7qQABaZfh~tjw7b5ftlSk3nfzSiOp-6FEY7O3TzgRpMb9R1repJEuPinsZu2bKOoFxOoRF5iW5VmqtPbLr3urOQYibPLD3GFoo~HPxRVBNLq-zp5EJ2o0cw5KQM1gd6Ur1dxIs~9KLkJtymvOLvZXejdhLHbTP6Dfg02Tmo9ZG0pkElTaF2YY3i4Gj5Za~GHEHMo8j9O9-ELZ8SPfrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the April 1 Fairbanks North Star Borough School District school board meeting, parents and members of the Pearl Creek charter application committee urged the board to meet with them and review the charter’s financial calculations before issuing a decision.

Members of the Pearl Creek application committee and parents told the board they want the district to compare numbers openly and meet to discuss the differences they say exist between the district’s cost estimates and the charter’s own accounting. “Please don’t write us off,” APC member Lou Frenzl said, urging the board to allow the groups to sit down “and explain our numbers and have you openly and transparently explain yours.”

Why it matters: Pearl Creek’s proposed charter follows the closure of the neighborhood school. The applicant group says its financial analysis shows a different result than the district’s and that a refusal to meet risks losing families to other options. Board member Bernice Hardy warned the board of a statutory requirement: AS 14.03.250, she said, requires a written board decision approving or denying a charter application within 60 days of filing and that the board must issue findings of fact and conclusions of law in that written decision. Hardy told the board that, under that timeline, a written decision would be due April 18.

What speakers asked for and what the board said: Parents requested a meeting to walk through the charter accounting line by line and asked the district to give the charter committee a chance to explain its approach. APC member Lou Frenzl emphasized that the parents were “a community solution driven by respect for the district’s challenges” and asked the board to preserve options that he said would keep families in the community.

Board members noted differing roles: Superintendent Dr. Minor and board leadership also discussed the process for legal advice and meetings with counsel. President Burnett and Dr. Minor characterized a recent attorney meeting as administrative; Hardy said the statute requires the board itself to issue the decision in writing and urged the board to meet that deadline.

Next steps: Board members and the administration agreed to bring more information back to the group. The public testimony and the statutory reminder mean the board will either need to publish a written decision with findings within the statute’s timeline or publicly explain how it will comply with the 60‑day requirement.

Ending: The public comment portion of the meeting closed after several parents and APC members pleaded for a transparent review and a chance to present their calculations to district staff and board members.","Multiple parents and a Pearl Creek APC member urged the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District board to meet with the charter applicants and review the charter’s finances; a board member cited AS 14.03.250 and a 60‑day statutory deadline for a board decision.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6091546,"Superintendent updates on redistricting, out‑of‑attendance lotteries and spring testing; family informational nights scheduled",468,2922000,3390000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2860815-89b53c3d932bf36c327ef9029becafa1&start=2922&end=3390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2860815-89b53c3d932bf36c327ef9029becafa1/thumbnail_2922000.jpg","/articles/6091546/Alaska/Superintendent-updates-on-redistricting-outofattendance-lotteries-and-spring-testing-family-informational-nights-scheduled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091546-a4e467d19a0146b5347b7f088f68748c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775453308&Signature=dG07Uk9edAl2kbrYCZGiMcV-ClGc5gZAyJYZ2PYkVTBBScrG-2MRKdEx86p2X0pYxBr7icQBRcnAhZQWJhHY9qmL4l3QfwqvrQSBG5ltAMYwMkvokVqLZ~OOOPqUpvoHb4tqbuBZZ4~2euzUL2DR~8wTIyELH3v6Relh038lO59TBWAD2rosCys0qaIoHV06bFPqYdRaD3R~iIBPx93g4JY6lfuAJXH7faG59G29AJ-IwBLY0flmKnZF6FpmFglAUtIZCU2n-5hWE6eP~3hCMttQ-5kycT6kpF2BShLqqhMPgOA149SxojFvAxl-nLAzKgAkd9cmFgE2mE~R7tvTng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Dr. Minor used the April 1 meeting to update the board on the district’s redistricting communications, out‑of‑attendance (OAA) lottery windows and a range of spring events and assessments.

Redistricting and OAA lotteries: Dr. Minor said the district distributed its redistricting plan to families and extended some OAA lottery windows to give impacted families more time to apply. Posted lottery deadlines are May 9 for kindergarten through fifth grade OAA applications, April 18 for sixth through eighth, and April 18 for ninth through twelfth. The district will give current‑year impacted students additional priority on OAA wait lists for one year; administration emphasized that priority does not guarantee placement but adds wait‑list preference. The district is hosting family information nights for communities affected by closures and new boundaries: Pearl Creek on April 9 (6–7:30 p.m.), Midnight Sun on April 10 (6–7:30 p.m.), and 2 Rivers on April 16 (6–7:30 p.m.).

Assessments and student activities: Dr. Minor reviewed the AK STAR testing windows (middle school March 24–April 4; grade 9 March 30–April 1; elementary April 7–18) and congratulated local teams and events: Discovery Peak won state Science Olympiad and will proceed to nationals, and Effie’s T‑Race continued a long local tradition. The district is also hosting a family writing workshop series in April covering narrative, informational and persuasive writing.

Staff appreciation and community partnerships: The superintendent thanked local business partners who provided staff appreciation gifts and listed several businesses that donated coupons and services. He also noted the district extended efforts to reach special education families and those affected by redistricting via targeted messaging and planned family events.

Ending: Dr. Minor urged families in affected attendance areas to attend scheduled events and use district resources to check new attendance assignments online.","Superintendent Dr. Minor summarized redistricting outreach, extended out‑of‑attendance lottery windows and upcoming family information events for schools impacted by boundary changes, and provided dates for AK STAR testing and district student activities and recognition.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

School board adopts K–12 art and world language curriculum; district hears proposals for music, PE, health, CTE and elementary science

District nears contract with ABM for evening custodial services; costs and board approval questions raised

Board discusses memorandum prioritizing any BSA increase for smaller classes; members push Barnett add‑back and counselors

Parents, APC members press board to meet on Pearl Creek charter; legal deadline cited

Superintendent updates on redistricting, out‑of‑attendance lotteries and spring testing; family informational nights scheduled