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State Board of Education advances Mt. Edgecumbe land sale, Eagle Academy Charter School expansion, and approves other business

Tags: special 

Jennifer Arseneau, Manager of Education and Public Programs at the University of Alaska’s Museum of the North speaks to State Board of Education and Early Development members and DEED staff on August 25, 2021.

This week the State Board of Education and Early Development met in person in Fairbanks where in addition to a regular quarterly business meeting, the board also learned more about programs and operations of Yukon-Koyukuk School District, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District and University of Alaska.

 

In its business meeting, the State Board approved the Department of Education and Early Development’s FY2022 budget, authorized the Commissioner to negotiate and enter into an agreement to sell property associated with Mt Edgecumbe High School, approved an application to amend the charter for Eagle Academy Charter School, and approved the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) Teacher Preparation Program.

 

The Mt Edgecumbe land sale would sell Lot 15A on Japonski Island in Sitka to the City and Borough of Sitka for development of a new seaplane base; the sale is subject to a Final Best Interest Decision.

 

The amended charter for Eagle Academy Charter School in the Anchorage School District allows the school to add 7th and 8th grade beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.

 

The approval of the UAS School of Education educator preparation program is a continuation of approval. Alaska state law requires Alaska’s educator preparation programs to meet or substantially meet the standards of the Council for Accreditation of Educator Program (CAEP) to be considered for state approval. The Board’s continuation of the approval follows CAEP accrediting the UAS initial-licensure level and advanced level programs in Spring of last year. The CAEP accreditation is valid through Spring 2025. The Board’s approval of the UAS program is valid through June 30, 2025.

 

The Board held two executive sessions. One reviewed the performance of DEED Commissioner Dr. Michael Johnson, and the second discussed the FY2023 budget priorities for DEED.

 

The next convening of the State Board will be a virtual work session on September 22, 2021.