Parents and teachers press Fairbanks board to reconsider school-closure process, request review of Pearl Creek charter application

Dozens of parents, teachers and students told the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Board on March 4 that the district should allow community groups to move forward with charter and magnet plans after the board voted to close several elementary schools.

Public testimony focused most heavily on a proposed Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School and on district handling of transfers for non‑tenured teachers affected by recent school consolidations. Speakers asked the board to start a building lease process for Pearl Creek so the community can include concrete facility costs in its charter application, and urged the district to provide more direct support for displaced non‑tenured staff.

The parental advocates said Pearl Creek’s charter application grew from earlier magnet efforts and cited the district’s own budget materials in arguing Pearl Creek was relatively low cost to operate. "Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School is a proposed elementary school with an emphasis on the integration of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics through an interdisciplinary and inquiry based approach," said Amy Skraba, who identified herself as a parent and Pearl Creek…