The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District board reviewed a proposed bullying resolution during a Dec. 1 work session and asked administration to tighten wording before placing it on a regular meeting agenda.

Board President Burgess opened the session noting the diversity committee drafted the policy and that the board would consider edits. Several trustees recommended deleting references to the “diversity committee” so the resolution reads as a district commitment rather than a committee product. “I think it should be just, FNSB SD deleting diversity committee because it's no longer the committee,” Mister Doran said during discussion.

Trustees debated substantive phrasing. Miss Carol Hubbard asked whether items listed in the resolved clause—counseling, peer support programs and safe spaces—are already in place; Dr. Minor of the administration said, “I would say that it doesn't introduce anything new. Counseling's a pretty broad term,” and described counseling as including teacher, principal and school counselor interventions and restorative practices already used districtwide.

Members disagreed about a sentence that commits the district to supporting “students who are both victims and perpetrators.” Mister Doering said the clause could be confusing and recommended deleting or rewording it to avoid an unintended dichotomy for families; Miss Maple and Miss Julian defended keeping the language to emphasize support for all students. Trustees also questioned a line that “ensures ongoing evaluation of the programs,” noting evaluation work is typically administered by staff. Mister Doran suggested removing the evaluation sentence or changing “ensures” to a softer term such as “encourages and supports.”

Board members agreed the resolved section is lengthy and repetitive and asked administration to break and tighten the language into clearer, shorter resolved statements. Dr. Minor said he would circulate a revised draft to trustees and work with President Burgess to place the resolution on a future regular agenda, aiming for the first meeting of the next semester.

The board took no formal vote on the resolution at the work session. The next steps are a revised draft from administration and placement on a regular meeting agenda for a possible formal action.