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 supporter. Community organizers asked the board to follow the state’s 60‑day timeline for reviewing charter applications and to provide the specific assumptions behind district cost estimates for keeping Pearl Creek open as a charter.

Several speakers pressed the board to do more to help non‑tenured teachers displaced by consolidation. "We must do better by them," said Danette Peterson, who described non‑tenured staff being directed to reapply through the district hiring portal and encountering lost or incomplete records. Multiple speakers said interviews have required teachers to use personal time and that application materials previously submitted were not always visible to hiring principals.

Students and alumni of North Star Middle College urged the board not to close that program. Student speakers said the program allowed them to take University of Alaska Fairbanks courses and earn college credits, improving college readiness and opportunities for students who are first in their families to attend college.

Superintendent Dr. Minor responded to the testifiers by citing existing labor agreements that constrain transfer procedures. "Section 4,500 of the Fairbanks Principals Association negotiated agreement states, in collaboration with the superintendent, each building principal will recommend each staff member's assignment to his or her building and shall make the determination regarding each staff member's assignment within the building consistent with the agreements between the district and the FEA or ESSA," Dr. Minor said, adding the district has reached an agreement on transitions for tenured staff and continues to meet with unions about supports for non‑tenured teachers.

Haley Esig, a Pearl Creek advocate, challenged board members who said local rules limit timing: "A district policy should never supersede a state mandated timeline," she said, urging the board to explain the district’s assumptions about the costs of a charter conversion and the so‑called hold harmless calculations.

What the board did: the meeting record shows the board accepted the meeting agenda and later adopted Policy 1240 (School‑Connected Organizations); both votes were carried by the board (vote details below). No formal board action on the Pearl Creek charter application or on changes to transfer procedures occurred during the meeting; speakers asked the administration and board to engage further and provide specific cost and policy clarifications.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: "Move to adopt the agenda with consent items." Outcome: carried. Recorded roll call produced 11 yes votes; no no votes were recorded.

- Motion: "Move to approve second reading, public hearing, and adoption of policy 1240, school connected organizations." Outcome: approved. Recorded roll call produced majority yes and was announced as carried by the chair.

Next steps and context

Many commenters asked the board and administration to meet directly with the Pearl Creek organizing group to review assumptions and draft a lease so the charter application can include firm facility costs. Speakers also asked administration and unions to streamline how non‑tenured displaced teachers can access vacancies and interview without repeatedly losing previously uploaded materials. Board members and administration said they will continue meetings with unions and noted statutory and contractual limits on reassignment procedures.

The board did not take a formal vote on any charter or school‑closure reversal at the March 4 meeting. Public testimony was closed before business items continued.