Fairbanks board rejects Pearl Creek charter

The Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board voted unanimously on Tuesday night to reject the fourth application for the Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School. The application had been submitted to the district more than two weeks prior to the final vote. The proposed school would combine Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math with Indigenous culture education. The Fairbanks Native Association has supported the initiative.

During the meeting, board member Carol Hubbard moved to approve the application for the 2027-28 school year. Board member Naomi Hewitt seconded the motion. The motion failed. The board had previously held work sessions on the proposal on Oct. 19 and Oct. 27. Board President Morgan Dulian stated that the primary concern was the scale of the institution.

The application includes a budget for 352 students. However, the building is designed to hold more than 460 students. Dulian noted that other charter schools in the district typically serve about 200 students. She said the committee did not clarify whether 352 was a hard cap or if enrollment could grow to the building's full capacity. The term soft cap was used during the earlier work session.

Dulian explained that the district is currently managing staffing shortages. She argued that adding a school of that magnitude would create instability across the system. She referenced district cuts made since 2011, which included larger class sizes and reduced programs. She also mentioned a lease ordinance that supports a five-year facility agreement, a detail that concerned some board members.

Dulian emphasized that the denial does not reject the curriculum or the integration of Alaska Native learning models. She noted that approximately 20% to 25% of district students are Alaska Native. She stated the district aims to serve these students better through existing channels like the Effie Kokrine Charter School, which uses elder knowledge and land-based learning.

Sharon McConnell, chair of the Fairbanks Native Association board, spoke in favor of the application during public comment. McConnell served on the school board for almost nine years. She said the association sponsored the original Effie Kokrine Charter School application 21 years ago. She argued the district had not provided sufficient financial justification for opposing the new charter.

April Monroe, a parent supporter, said the decision was not a surprise. She noted that the fourth application contained only minor rearrangements. Monroe disputed the district's financial arguments, pointing to a retracted surplus. She calculated that the school would cost about 1% of the district budget and 6% of the current surplus. She compared the decision to the approval of the Two Rivers Homestead charter, calling the logic inconsistent.

Dulian said the board will issue a written denial for a final vote. The application then returns to the applicants and proceeds to the state board. She said the board is open to discussing an enrollment cap before a new application is submitted. A lawsuit regarding the matter awaits a hearing before the Alaska Supreme Court.