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

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.