Union leader and parents urge school board to form special education committee amid staffing, funding and liability concerns

At the Oct. 7 meeting of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District board, Danette Peterson — speaking both as president of the Fairbanks Education Association and as a parent of a special‑education student — urged trustees to form a school board special education committee to focus on compliance, staffing, liability and funding.

Peterson said certified and classified special education positions are "hard to fill," sometimes remaining vacant for entire school years and producing chronic understaffing that affects students’ access to services. She told the board she has seen educators leave the district and the profession because of unsustainable workloads; she also said federal visa changes and fees complicate recruitment of international educators who historically filled some roles.

Why it matters: Special education staffing and funding affect the district’s ability to meet individual education program (IEP) requirements and maintain state and federal compliance. Trustees said they heard the concerns and suggested administration consider possible structures — including a board‑level committee — to focus attention and coordinate solutions.

Key points from testimony and board response

- Staffing and recruitment: Peterson said the district designates many special education positions as "hard to fill." She described turnover, fatigue and injuries among staff and said vacancies have hampered students’ ability to integrate into classrooms.

- Liability and safety: Peterson cited borough risk reports that show educator injuries and argued additional supports are needed to reduce liability and provide students appropriate supports.

- Funding: Peterson said state special‑education funding undercounts students needing supports, creating a shortfall district leaders and the borough assembly must cover. She urged a committee to advise the board on staffing, compliance and funding strategies.

- Board reaction: Trustees thanked Peterson; several board members encouraged administration to study the idea and to return with options. Trustee Tim Doran suggested the board could be briefed informally or the administration could convene a short working group and then report back.

Quotes

"Compliance, staffing, liability, funding" — the four areas Peterson listed as reasons to create a board special education committee.

Ending

Board members indicated they will direct administration to consider the proposal and return with information; no formal board action establishing a committee was taken at the Oct. 7 meeting.