[{"_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",6212974,"mediaKeyId","3682731-a269fe9a5cca41d40b23a9e39e267890","parentId",3682731,"title","Borough assembly redirects $2.7 million back to schools; Joy Community Center marked for closure pending ordinance","audioSeconds",121,"startMs",5005000,"endMs",5126000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3682731-a269fe9a5cca41d40b23a9e39e267890&start=5005&end=5126","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3682731-a269fe9a5cca41d40b23a9e39e267890/thumbnail_5005000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6212974/Alaska/Borough-assembly-redirects-27-million-back-to-schools-Joy-Community-Center-marked-for-closure-pending-ordinance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212974-6269482a6831b1b665b2979e66ba6b7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771555708&Signature=PjWNJx8AQY3~ECcBzJhnRDOCRksf6AmbsaMNnlvGs5Dlz1r42~p9xVgUQtBs-BKl2U4eerxZ658zuBWyOe~hNrlnLDpdhpNULiDBBuLdAHSOdbfKWrsM6b0SwcUcthv0GPFjRCZeMGiL8DPP~EyRKVSqD06LnKDQVTZfqIu~nVm9Ax1jI7BmlUL0Gx9jq7OB8uml8OKqCLkjk09~A68CR9PWA-cvSjlpXur8Nj8l-8aYdQEn5vlyye3iRGkclOdG0GQgI-fnRV4ptZ1koedFk0mUzDbjMCe5CwXINwDWN-AyMLRuTzm2dujt3299tIb8Hl8cbJpX5hXOEjjAlQYb1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-04T06:13:46Z","article","Mindy O’Neil, presiding officer of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly, told the school board the assembly had completed its budget work and cut roughly $30 million from the mayor’s proposal — including approximately $2.7 million earmarked “for education funding” that the assembly hopes the district will use judiciously.

“Everything that we did cut from our budget, we reinvested back into the school district,” O’Neil said. She emphasized the assembly’s recognition that state funding shortfalls still leave the district with a “very large hole.”

O’Neil also reported the assembly had voted to close the Joy Community Center effective June 30; she said an ordinance before the assembly could keep it open until the end of the year so scheduled contracts and user-group events take place. The assembly has discussed leasing parts of the facility in future and is seeking a transparent public process about the building’s future.

Board members thanked the borough for the surprise allocation and asked whether the assembly planned to continue such funding in future years. O’Neil said continued support would depend on many factors including property-tax revenue and assembly priorities.

Why it matters: The borough’s one-time allocation increases near-term district resources but does not eliminate structural funding gaps tied to state allocations. The Joy Community Center closure is a community facilities decision that could affect summer programming and user groups if the ordinance to postpone closing does not pass.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-06-03 | School Board Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The borough assembly told the school board it had cut about $30 million from the mayor’s budget and redirected roughly $2.7 million to education; the assembly also voted to close the Joy Community Center effective June 30 while an ordinance could extend operations for up to six months.","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},6212979,"Board extends superintendent’s contract through 2027–28; members cite stability and goal-setting",172,7658000,7830000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3682731-a269fe9a5cca41d40b23a9e39e267890&start=7658&end=7830","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3682731-a269fe9a5cca41d40b23a9e39e267890/thumbnail_7658000.jpg","/articles/6212979/Alaska/Board-extends-superintendents-contract-through-202728-members-cite-stability-and-goal-setting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212979-83d4f3303317786c45c2bf26761986cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771555708&Signature=fY4V04DsHw-h68jyNw6Z8gFdFUP1tFNjuXdQ69OU9-7hy1unMTJEMypD~lLGfF8DgZin3tMIs9bdkg8-f68Ktf~lFq0RM7c~4GVziJUqkRQMNAX292fjrn6cvooFb~FbYlA~sTvMz0o-a9dufZsgIUasCndmwlnziIdkRbv40-NKkfsEebTyEagyTeLBfcthj8rjIbTyNWc8oZvK1hMR54WVrWLEpNiVq8owV9UqSp1u-U1An2Yd6nXUMc0OphJi7qyUKkvogMAkC-CWUuTWLoevgXtT5B9POhq43RsQ25DNOa8p5U4KkFJ~U4dsuVELqiMlS88vde-mdBvVjAenyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board voted Tuesday to approve a one-year extension to Superintendent Dr. Luke Meinert’s employment agreement, extending his contract through the 2027–28 school year.

Board member Mr. Doran, who chaired the contracts committee, said the extension provides stability and continuity for the district. “When you have a good superintendent, you want to keep them,” Doran said, adding that a stable leadership helps long-term initiatives and district momentum.

Dr. Meinert thanked the board for its support. In his superintendent’s report earlier in the meeting, he highlighted district academic metrics the administration sees as progress points, including spring reading assessment gains and algebra passage-rate improvements.

Committee members who negotiated the extension told the board the agreement was a reasonable one-year approach under state law limits on multi-year contracts. Board members said the superintendent’s emphasis on measurable annual goals and data-informed decision-making factored into their support.

Why it matters: Superintendent continuity is often cited as a factor in sustained district improvement. The extension was presented as part of a plan to continue strategic work already underway and to maintain leadership stability during a budgetary period that may be affected by state action.","The board approved a one-year extension of Dr. Luke Meinert’s contract through the 2027–28 school year, with members saying continuity helps district planning and praising the superintendent’s data-driven approach.",{"_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},6212983,"School board amends and adopts 2026–27 academic calendar, moves inclement-weather makeup day",552,5337000,5889000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3682731-a269fe9a5cca41d40b23a9e39e267890&start=5337&end=5889","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3682731-a269fe9a5cca41d40b23a9e39e267890/thumbnail_5337000.jpg","/articles/6212983/Alaska/School-board-amends-and-adopts-202627-academic-calendar-moves-inclement-weather-makeup-day","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212983-e1992aadea935591b5a142b59c746c8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771555708&Signature=il8kNvSfSdxfOjuSoiiQ36hgny9TSpqofcXPYR5MKBjcohpppsqCePt6EVCl7DZ-3hfBn~-JTOG0DEVSnsZ8Q~TADxXlBn-mGMiJbA0wcjmPJs4CXJMEWqJodx3L2o4UBs-Gg7PBypQ9w~k2H8tFKXelqLiaJqjL1vQAbcrV2O~jRrkrEVHoo-ueUbTaGRh2t5umW3xZ2qkKVNkJdbbZvEBhRhwWX-MWXvFT2DBoFpFKitT5cmlGf4wjOQD5RZOeNbApWFKb1kciWLU42v0ZP5C4KFvIGc0XxhHm24SqdQhI5PaHeEHfNdfrCooS3-EDkPetdBYPsw7Jmziz4~zvNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board adopted its proposed 2026–27 academic calendar on Tuesday after amending the plan to move an inclement-weather makeup day.

District calendar coordinator Patty Herbie told the board the draft calendar shifted spring parent-teacher conferences earlier to allow intervention time. The district received 709 survey responses on the draft; Herbie said about 50 percent supported the change and the calendar averaged a 3.7 rating on a five-point scale.

Public testimony included Danette Peterson, president of the Fairbanks Education Association, who supported a spring “no school” day but urged the board not to designate that day as the first inclement-weather makeup day because staff and families are likely to make plans. “Pulling back the school holiday could have the following consequences: low student attendance due to families making plans for the extended weekend, staff shortages that lead to concerns about student safety and supervision, especially in light of our sub shortages,” Peterson said.

After discussion, Board member Mr. Burgess moved to amend the calendar removing April 23 as a makeup option and adding May 27 as the inclement-weather makeup day instead. The motion passed on a roll-call vote and the calendar passed as amended.

Board members said they expect the administration to use the adopted inclement-weather order when necessary and to communicate changes clearly to families and staff.

Why it matters: The calendar establishes instruction days, parent-teacher conferences and built-in makeup days. The amendment reflects a tradeoff between giving families a predictable spring break day and the district’s need to preserve flexibility for inclement-weather makeup days.","The board adopted the 2026–27 academic calendar and, after public comment and board amendment, removed an April no-school day from the inclement-weather makeup order and added May 27 as a substitute makeup day.",{"_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},6212987,"Board approves five charter contracts; members urge closer academic oversight",931,7860000,8791000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3682731-a269fe9a5cca41d40b23a9e39e267890&start=7860&end=8791","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3682731-a269fe9a5cca41d40b23a9e39e267890/thumbnail_7860000.jpg","/articles/6212987/Alaska/Board-approves-five-charter-contracts-members-urge-closer-academic-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212987-7c1356f2eb0dd4db8700ddc0b2c234d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771555708&Signature=N2DV6zYcPp0ixoulJ~it96ZPASexMINzmiPzquMN2T6tAI9k3PpcBkqK3S6nuCNzJnAYpqkUlcWSX68OeIEG1FgX8hmBdaahVzziAoEWTTpWqgtPOPN6T3sEW8ajSM4z9Jto0Nu5WjcqNDgsEkt~O8xVErww4bffQ5A2M8il2BQkm~XmiN4PMRgK2jpvRFFLAV6vmgW8CiwhSi0NfePL8MJVSJQ1m1Lxkq~20Rx8NRyRvsKTndnseNMu--yK92lVLedpvqERHwOLQsyTNjiSaSJVf1J3yNxXcbDoYPP9HeNDD76vcQ9stmeDAVE9H0GIkLjnrUk3sMWMMMQjedVvtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board voted Tuesday to approve five charter-school contracts covering fiscal years 2026–2030, adopting administrative agreements for Boreal Sun, Chinook Montessori, Discovery Peak, Effie Cochran and Watershed Charter School.

Board members praised aspects of the schools while also expressing concern about student achievement metrics. Board member Missus Doolian said she supported the approvals but pressed for more frequent accountability reviews, noting that “when I look at Boreal Sun in particular, I’m concerned about the amount of students that are well below proficient, both in math and language arts.”

Several board members cited initiatives the charters are pursuing to improve outcomes. Doolian noted Discovery Peak’s reported partnership with Watershed on a new math curriculum and said she hoped the district would “work with Watershed and see if there’s an opportunity in the future to expand the number of seats” at high-performing schools.

Board members framed the contracts as administrative five-year agreements that sit alongside the ten-year charters granted under state law; Mr. Dorn reminded colleagues that those longer-term charters contain the primary accountability framework while the contracts address operative details such as auditing, enrollment and district support.

Watershed’s contract drew particular praise: Missus Doolian said Watershed has a waiting list and “is doing tremendous things” on academic measures; the board discussed whether to pursue opportunities to expand successful place-based programs in the district.

Why it matters: The approved contracts keep five charter schools operating under district oversight. Board members signaled they will monitor academic performance closely and consider additional check-ins next year for schools with larger populations of students below proficiency levels.","The Fairbanks school board approved five charter school contracts for FY26–FY30. Members acknowledged academic gains at some charters but called for stronger monitoring and more frequent check-ins on reading and math outcomes.",{"_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},6212992,"State commissioner tells Fairbanks board to decide on Pearl Creek charter; parents and residents press for review",1043,885000,1928000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3682731-a269fe9a5cca41d40b23a9e39e267890&start=885&end=1928","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3682731-a269fe9a5cca41d40b23a9e39e267890/thumbnail_885000.jpg","/articles/6212992/Alaska/State-commissioner-tells-Fairbanks-board-to-decide-on-Pearl-Creek-charter-parents-and-residents-press-for-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212992-f7364ecf792f23c0395e3cb501a5aa77/orig.mp4?Expires=1771555708&Signature=Xy1OtBM262mBdGBAMiQuCoH0u6jVgEvdkqzsyHA9OWbv6HErkFwAXTp4n12MpMudM-Tvzg7N5gpPAzo5y9wvCHhinmcYSh8JqgA4W3Lnkm6vaV8p9SDxtrDtFbAl-DFz0Srrbu5asWbAUWeX-SsWOtjba9m9lDCeLo3mxVRRRrj~Rb-DyzpCw7-iE4TDorYMw6Ia-DVY8A53gpMzhhQzQbUWh6HKsaC0IyHxYBjL7kHkFg9jcyv6GShGsQ-PsaKnXftgi0c-t1xugWkw104cp4puBg9O0MbH0l3Jax~WPX5YEEKheXABnpJbCHug4ggjmjK5zjguSGeShFtN4y2ksw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board was urged by dozens of residents on Tuesday to take up and issue a written decision on the Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School’s application after the Alaska Commissioner of Education remanded the matter back to the local board.

Heidi Wood, chair of the Pearl Creek STEAM Academic Policy Committee, read a May 29, 2025, letter from Commissioner Dina Bishop spelling out that the application remand “was issued under the authority granted to the commissioner in Alaska statute 14.03.252(a)” and directing the board to “issue a written decision that includes all relevant findings of fact and conclusions of law.” Wood read Bishop’s language that a failure to act “threatens to frustrate a charter school applicant’s obligation to exhaust its remedies.”

The commissioner’s letter, read into the record, told the board it should not waive board policy but must nonetheless issue a decision on remand under Alaska statute 14.03.250(b). “Again, she’s asking you to do the job you’ve been elected to do. Please do it,” Wood said, reading the letter.

Pearl Creek supporters told the board they had been unable to meet the district’s October deadline because of the timing of school-closure decisions and said the district’s cost estimates for operating the charter have varied widely. Solomon Pomerantz, who said he lives in Goldstream and has worked with the PCSC group, told the board the district had refused a records request for a 30-tab spreadsheet the administration referenced and that district estimates moved from figures in the millions to much larger numbers across different meetings. “We simply wish to understand where these figures are coming from,” he said.

Several testifiers asked the board to meet with the charter organizers and said the district’s refusal to share budgetary detail had fostered distrust. Scott Shire, who identified himself as supporting official review of the application, said “the board’s refusal to review the application over the past several months has incubated community strife.”

Other speakers pressed legal and process arguments. Christina Turman said a board member told her privately that the board would litigate the charter applicants to stall the process; she recounted being told, “All I know is that if we litigate, we can stall your process long enough that your school can’t open.” Turman said that conversation, which she described as having occurred after the group submitted its application, changed her willingness to engage with the district.

Not all public testimony favored the charter. Beth Zerbes, who said she lives in Ester, urged the board to follow its policy and timeline and argued charters in the district have on average had lower diversity metrics than neighborhood schools, citing district dashboard percentages for nonwhite enrollment at several charters.

Board members and the superintendent did not take a formal vote on the application during the public-comment period. Superintendent Dr. Luke Meinert later told the board it had a work session scheduled to prepare an approved budget and that the district must also plan for possible changes from the governor to the state Base Student Allocation. The board’s next procedural steps on Pearl Creek were not announced at the meeting.

Why it matters: The commissioner’s remand and the public testimony put the board in the position of balancing statutory directions from the state, district policy deadlines and strong neighborhood advocacy. If the board issues a written decision that applicants find unsatisfactory, the matter is likely to continue through state and possibly judicial review.","After a letter from the Alaska Commissioner of Education remanded the Pearl Creek STEAM charter application to the local board, dozens of residents urged the Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board to hear and issue a written decision; community speakers raised questions about financial transparency, legal process and equity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Borough assembly redirects $2.7 million back to schools; Joy Community Center marked for closure pending ordinance

Board extends superintendent’s contract through 2027–28; members cite stability and goal-setting

School board amends and adopts 2026–27 academic calendar, moves inclement-weather makeup day

Board approves five charter contracts; members urge closer academic oversight

State commissioner tells Fairbanks board to decide on Pearl Creek charter; parents and residents press for review