School Board round-up: Teacher employment and curriculum

During the April 16 Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) school board meeting, members approved of several actions,

First up, the school board approved the re-employment of Type-M teachers. More simply put, the MSBSD approved the request to issue employment contracts for all returning Type M regular education teachers who are in good standing with the MSBSD as part of the annual budget approval process. This is a request for approval to issue contracts in advance of the statutory deadlines for automatic reemployment that exist in Alaska Statute 14.20.145.

If the Board were to not approve this request, contracts will be held. However, individuals would have received contracts for the subsequent school year after the last day of the school year unless otherwise notified of non-retention or layoff consistent with AS. 14.20.140. The administration has, as a part of the budget process, confirmed that there is sufficient FTE to issue the contracts being recommended for approval in the projected FY 2026 budget.

The contract approval request was passed unanimously by the school board.

The MSBSD school board also approved the Art, Music, and Physical Education Curriculum, which was first presented during the March 19, 2025 work session.

Typically in elementary schools, the programs are offered as part of “specials,” which rotate daily

Next steps include information about curriculum writing teams provided to teachers, and Professional Learning for all teachers will occur in Fall, 2025 as well as ongoing support throughout the school year.

The curriculum adoption was passed unanimously by the school board.

The next school board meeting will be held May 7, at 6 p.m. at the MSBSD Administration building in Palmer.