2026-10-19 | School Board Work Session: Pearl Creek STEAM Presents

The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Board held a work session on October 19, 2026, to hear the Pearl Creek STEAM Academic Policy Committee’s proposal for a K–6 charter school planned for the 2027–28 school year. The proposal describes a STEAM and place-based curriculum incorporating Alaska Native knowledge, community partnerships, and student fieldwork. The Borough Assembly had adopted Ordinance 2026-20-1 authorizing a lease of the former Pearl Creek Elementary building, contingent on a signed charter contract with the district; the proposed site includes a roughly 63,000-square-foot facility and surrounding land. The APC also cited a planned NASA STEAM grant with UAF as supplemental support, not a funding source for daily operations.

Board members raised budget and implementation questions, including the proposed enrollment target of 352 students (with a stated viability-to-capacity range of 150–468), staffing and grade-level enrollment limits, and the financial implications for the district. Members requested written clarification and supporting materials, including enrollment and budget scenarios, a detailed breakdown of the estimated $538,000 in facilities costs, and reconciliation of differing budget figures. A board member also referenced a potential district investment approaching $4 million. The work session included no vote, contract award, or final charter approval; the APC was asked to respond to outstanding questions before a subsequent work session.