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wormeguy.bsky.social
Don
@wormeguy.bsky.social
810 followers 640 following 2.4K posts
Studying parasites and frozen frogs in the Arctic.

"and his behavior toward authority is highly
unusual and most inappropriate."

Interests: Parasites, Pedagogy, Politics, and Packers.

The postings are my own & do not represent the University of Alaska.
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wormeguy.bsky.social
I should not be shocked that Vance doesn't know it's vanilla extract and uses corn syrup in her bourbon pie.

Yet here I am. Why is she like this?
November 27, 2025 at 3:59 AM
wormeguy.bsky.social
2 people were murdered in Fairbanks on Saturday.

Neither has received as much attention as the ore haul.
November 24, 2025 at 9:54 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
The things you see in Fairbanks.
Snow dog machine
November 23, 2025 at 3:24 AM
wormeguy.bsky.social
Of course she picked up this today
November 22, 2025 at 12:43 AM
wormeguy.bsky.social
Safeway this morning
No Turkeys in freezer case No Turkeys in freezer case No Turkeys in freezer case
November 21, 2025 at 8:02 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
I am happy to say I haven't been to ACRC in years.
November 21, 2025 at 5:22 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
Eaglexit just submitted their proposal to the local boundary and commission to detach from Anchorage.

The schools would be only charter schools. 16 charter schools run by an APC with little school board oversight.
www.eaglexit.com/k-12-education
November 18, 2025 at 10:55 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
I am listening to the Fairbanks Borough Assembly meeting tonight.

I am interested in this ordinance.
November 14, 2025 at 4:50 AM
wormeguy.bsky.social
Any errors are minor things we can fix.

Ducking the school board process and approving our appeal at the state level is the real local control.

Force the duly elected school board members to open our charter school.
The record shows that the Pearl Creek Academic Policy Committee submitted a complete, standards-aligned, and fiscally sound application developed through collaboration among educators, experts, and community members. Every element—educational program, budget, facility plan, admissions, and governance—meets statutory requirements. The cited “deficiencies” are either legally unfounded or minor implementation details that could have been resolved through the ordinary contracting process. The Board instead relied on non-statutory concerns and procedural irregularities, contrary to Alaska law and the collaborative spirit that charter review requires. This charter was built through thousands of volunteer hours by teachers, parents, and community members who believe in strengthening—not abandoning—public education. We are ordinary Alaskans who have worked in good faith to create a school aligned with our region’s scientific, cultural, and environmental character, and the petition with over 415 signatures gathered in under 12 hours affirms both the feasibility of this school and the substantial community demand behind it. We believe deeply in local control of education, and there is nothing more local than parents, teachers, and students working together to design a school that meets community needs. The Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School represents that ideal and is rooted in collaboration, focused on student success, and aligned with Alaska’s educational values. Accordingly, DEED should reverse the Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board’s denial and approve the Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School as substantially compliant with Alaska law. If any minor clarifications are needed, they can be directed as state-level conditions precedent to opening, not as barriers to authorization. A remand to the same Board would only prolong the delay and undermine legislative intent. We respectfully request that the Commissioner reverse the denial and approve the charter as substantially c…
November 12, 2025 at 8:33 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
"The regulation’s focus is on the charter
school's viability, not on potential impacts on district budgets or staffing. "

Fuck you, you can't deny our charter for increasing class sizes in neighborhood schools. We'll poach district students because we can.
The Board’s decision to deny the Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School based on alleged “significant adverse financial and operational impacts” is both legally impermissible and unsupported by substantial evidence. Neither AS 14.03.255 nor 4 AAC 33.110 authorizes a school board to deny a charter school application on the grounds that approval might negatively affect the FNSBSD’s finances or operations. Under 4 AAC 33.110, a school board’s responsibility is to review whether the charter school itself is financially viable and operationally sound. The regulation requires applicants to submit a written budget summary and financial plan that identifies (A) the charter school’s funding allocation and assignable costs, and (B) the method by which the school will account for receipts and expenditures. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that the proposed charter can operate responsibly within its allocated resources—not to shield the district from perceived fiscal inconvenience or competition. The regulatory framework makes this distinction clear. While a school board has discretion to request additional information, its authority to deny an application is limited to circumstances where the charter fails to meet the specific statutory and regulatory requirements. The regulation’s focus is on the charter school's viability, not on potential impacts on district budgets or staffing. If the Legislature had intended to allow denials based on perceived adverse financial or operational implications to a district, it would have said so explicitly. The absence of such language confirms that those considerations fall outside the lawful scope of review. Despite this, the Board relied on speculative and subjective claims such as the suggestion that PCSC might cause a “two-student increase in PTR districtwide” to justify its denial. These assertions are unsupported, inflammatory, and irrelevant. PCSC’s application contains a complete, balanced budget based on publicly available dat…
November 12, 2025 at 7:08 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
Even if we don't properly staff this building, the district sometimes does this so we should be able to never have nurses or custodians.
The Board’s criticisms apply standards that are not used in its own schools. Many FNSBSD schools function without full-time nurses, share custodial staff, and operate within tighter budgets. To hold PCSC to a higher threshold is inequitable and inconsistent with state law governing charter authorization. The PCSC budget is complete, transparent, and fiscally sound. It was built using verified data, professional review, and best fiscal practices. The record demonstrates a responsible, evidence-based plan that meets every statutory and regulatory requirement. The Board’s finding of “material deficiency” is unsupported by evidence and should be reversed
November 12, 2025 at 7:05 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
We didn't budget for custodial services, SpEd teachers, lunch ladies, school nurses, or a principal but we can fix at least the principal later.

We don't need volunteers, we'll be just fine as-is without these positions.
The omission of the principal’s salary in the draft budget is immaterial and easily corrected. The attached Exhibit 1 is an updated budget including this line item, which remains balanced and fiscally sound. A single administrative salary within a $4 million budget does not affect overall viability. The Board’s suggestion that the school would rely on volunteers for staffing is factually incorrect and misleading. The final operational model does not depend on volunteers to fill any staff positions. All required positions (teachers, aides, administrative support, and custodial services) are fully budgeted and funded. Like all charter schools within FNSBSD, PCSC encourages community involvement as a cultural strength, not as a substitute for professional labor. The assertion that volunteerism compromises fiscal or operational stability is a conclusory claim made by Board members who either misunderstood or misrepresented the budget. The PCSC plan is fully staffed, fiscally responsible, and operationally sound. The personnel plan aligns with district practice. Many FNSBSD schools operate with trained health aides rather than full-time nurses. PCSC’s plan follows this model and includes all required medical training and compliance with state medication rules. Custodial services are fully funded within the facilities budget and will be contracted consistent with other district charters
November 12, 2025 at 7:03 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
Actually budgeting to run the building as a school for a little over twice the costs to mothball the facility is fiscally responsible and not in any way unrealistic.
The PCSC budget is fiscally responsible and transparent. It reflects realistic assumptions grounded in current data, not conjecture. This is further supported by the Borough’s current fiscal data, which shows that Pearl Creek’s building costs are consistent with, and substantially below, PCSC’s projected lease budget. Mayor Hopkins stated: “The Assembly will be asked to approve an ordinance appropriating $122,000 for Pearl Creek Elementary utility and IT/security costs when it takes over the school on Dec. 1. The 62,982-square-foot building’s utility costs alone are estimated at $12,000 a month.13” These figures align precisely with PCSC’s budgeted lease and maintenance projections and confirm the prudence of the application’s fiscal assumptions. The budgeted $271,250 line item for facility lease and maintenance, therefore, provides ample cushion for actual operating expenses, further refuting any claim of material error or fiscal unsoundness
November 12, 2025 at 7:01 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
Our lottery plan to allow in neighbors, former students, grandkids, and then immigrants isn't illegal and helping out your family and friends before the needy is actually quite equitable. We're amazing people!

bsky.app/profile/worm...
Our proposed admissions policy reflects that same understanding. It was informed in part by federal nonregulatory guidance under Title V, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which explicitly recognizes that charter schools may establish reasonable categories of automatic or prioritized admission consistent with state law.12 Reliance on that guidance was both appropriate and prudent. The United States Department of Education’s interpretation of federal charter school policy has long guided Alaska’s charter framework, including charters approved by this same District. That guidance reinforces, rather than contradicts, the legality of our approach. The Board’s decision to treat these identical provisions as unlawful in our application, while simultaneously approving them in every other charter, constitutes selective enforcement. It reflects not a genuine statutory conflict but a shifting standard applied uniquely to this school. The proposed admissions process was developed in good faith to ensure equitable and transparent access to a community-based public school and, like all charter policies, would remain subject to refinement. The finding of noncompliance with AS 14.03.265(b) is unsupported by law, precedent, or consistent administrative practice and should therefore be reversed.
November 12, 2025 at 6:59 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
Our plan for professional development may contain errors and lack details, but these can be fixed later.
The Board’s assertion that the PCSC application “lacks a clear plan for professional development” is both overstated and unsupported by law. The application fully satisfies 4 AAC 33.110(a)(8), which requires only “a description of and schedule for staff development activities,” a standard that includes but does not mandate detailed professional development scheduling or vendor identification. Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School Appeal Page 10 The APC readily acknowledges a minor clerical inconsistency in the application: at one point, it referred to professional development occurring “quarterly,” and elsewhere to “three professional development days.” This is a non-substantive variance: both reflect the same intent—to provide structured, recurring professional development aligned with the FNSBSD calendar and collective bargaining agreements. Such a clerical inconsistency cannot reasonably form the basis for denial of an otherwise complete application. The charter expressly commits to providing STEAM-specific professional development for staff, in full compliance with negotiated agreements and district standards. The application identifies multiple professional development pathways, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) alignment, NASA GLOBE, and Project One Tree, and commits to annual, high-quality training opportunities. These are well-recognized, evidence-based frameworks consistent with the proposed instructional model and Alaska’s statewide academic standards. Further, no statute or regulation requires a charter applicant to identify specific program names, presenters, or funding sources at the time of application. Such details are inherent to implementation and are routinely developed post-approval in collaboration with the district. By demanding a level of specificity beyond what Alaska law requires, the Board imposed an unauthorized and arbitrary standard inconsistent with its treatment of other approved charter schools. In sum, the PCSC application provides …
November 12, 2025 at 6:55 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
We're not required to plan to feed children is a helluva a reason to overturn a denial, even then it's the districts job and not ours to fund the lunch program and staff.

Really doing a great job being open and accessible for all children here. Way to go guys!
No Alaska statute or regulation requires a nutrition plan at the application stage; by contrast, transportation planning is expressly required, confirming that nutrition is not a condition of approval. The governing statute, AS 14.03.255, and the implementing regulation, 4 AAC 33.110, make no mention of nutrition or food service planning in connection with charter authorization. This silence is significant: when the Legislature and Department of Education intend to impose an application requirement, they do so expressly, as demonstrated by the explicit mandate for a transportation plan in 4 AAC 33.110(a)(19). The absence of any corresponding provision for nutrition confirms that no such requirement exists. The PCSC application nonetheless demonstrates operational readiness. The administrative manual identifies on-site kitchen facilities “that could be used to provide lunch,” consistent with District practice and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Following a verbal request from administrators, the APC confirmed that it will utilize District Nutrition Services—the same arrangement used by nearly all existing FNSBSD charter schools. Under that system, District Nutrition Services provides menus, delivers state-reimbursable meals, and ensures that students eligible for free or reduced lunch receive those services without interruption. The Board’s insistence on pre-approval staffing plans and budget lines for nutrition operations misapplied the law and contradicts standard practice. Those operational details are addressed after authorization during contract implementation and are neither required by statute nor included in the approved contracts of other district charters. By treating post-approval administrative coordination as a condition precedent to authorization, the Board imposed an extra-statutory barrier inconsistent with both legislative intent and its own precedent. In short, there is no legal requirement for a nutrition plan in a charter school applicat…
November 12, 2025 at 6:53 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
We didn't budget for more student aides and special education because we don't know how many students will actually need IEP's.

What the fuck? It's impractical to plan ahead now?
The educational plan also includes detailed mechanisms for student assessment beyond those required by law, including performance-based tasks, portfolios, exhibitions, and family showcases, satisfying 4 AAC 33.110(a)(5). The inclusion of these tools demonstrates a comprehensive system for measuring student growth and engagement aligned with 4 AAC 33.110(a)(6) and (a)(7). The PCSC application explicitly commits to full compliance with IDEA, Section 504, and all state requirements under AS 14.30.180 and 4 AAC 52.090–.140. It details procedures for accommodations, individualized supports, and collaboration with families and community agencies. The school will employ certificated special education teachers and paraprofessionals in accordance with actual IEP numbers once enrollment is finalized. Requiring pre-hiring before identifying student needs would be impractical and contrary to sound fiscal and educational practice. The proposed staffing model is flexible and fully compliant with federal and state law; if caseloads exceed projections, staffing will adjust accordingly. These implementation details are not lawful grounds for denial.
November 12, 2025 at 6:51 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
Of course we won't have any student transport, but we have the right language blaming the district if that happens so you should approve our appeal
he Board’s finding that the Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School application “lacks a transportation plan” is unsupported by Alaska law or regulation. Neither AS 14.03.255 nor 4 AAC 33.110 requires a finalized or detailed transportation plan prior to charter approval. The PCSC application’s adoption of the FNSBSD’s transportation policy and its commitment to coordination and flexibility fully satisfy all applicable legal requirements. The law contemplates that transportation, like facilities and contracts, will be formalized during implementation, not pre-approval. The transportation plan included in the PCSC application directly adopts the FNSBSD’s own transportation policy, Board Policy 3540, which governs charter schools. That policy, consistent with AS 14.09.010, provides transportation for charter school students on a “space-available” basis.3 The PCSC plan faithfully reflects this framework: it commits to collaborating with the FNSBSD on bell times to maximize use of existing routes. It explicitly acknowledges that if the FNSBSD elects to provide transportation funding rather than direct service under the statute, the APC will adjust its operations accordingly. In short, the plan mirrors the FNSBSD’s governing policy and state law, nothing more, nothing less. The Board’s critique rests on speculation rather than statutory authority. It faults the application for failing to identify shuttle capacity or assign specific route costs, matters that only the FNSBSD can authorize and control. A charter school cannot design or contract for bus routes before approval, nor can it compel the FNSBSD to expand transportation infrastructure. By penalizing PCSC for following the very policy framework that the FNSBSD itself adopted, the Board effectively objects to its own procedures.
November 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
Another argument:
We may have suggested violating union contracts, but it's really the districts fault and this is just more evidence they hate us. We should get approval then we'll fix it.
Many of the Board’s critiques mischaracterize ordinary application content as “errors.” For example, the Board requires applicants to identify a proposed principal and teachers willing to serve, yet it then lists the inclusion of those names as a “flaw.” The Board thus objects to provisions that appear in its own template and that it has previously endorsed. These inconsistencies highlight the absence of a good-faith, collaborative process—one that is expressly required by Board Policy 935.2, which envisions constructive negotiation and refinement between applicants and the Board rather than adversarial rejection. Moreover, the contract accompanying the application is a proposed contract, a starting point for discussion, not a finalized agreement. Under AS 14.03.255(c)(15), the charter law explicitly authorizes “other requirements or exemptions agreed on by the charter school and the local board.” The statute contemplates negotiation and mutual adjustment, not pre-emptive disqualification. Any perceived inconsistencies or minor drafting errors could readily have been resolved through conditional approval or amendment during contract review, as has been routinely done for other Fairbanks charter schools.
November 12, 2025 at 6:47 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
Their first argument:
Sure, we don't have a lease secured, but it doesn't matter. The mayor, who's our friend, definitely thinks this will go through.

This ignores that the borough assembly must approve any lease, not the mayor.
The Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School’s facility plan fully satisfies the statutory requirements of AS 14.03.255(c)(7), which mandates that a charter application include “a location and description of the facility.” The statute does not require an executed lease at the time of application. The legislative and regulatory framework emphasizes planning and feasibility, not binding legal commitments, recognizing that a finalized lease becomes relevant at the contracting stage after approval, not before. Requiring otherwise would impose an unnecessary financial burden on applicants and discourage innovation, contrary to the purpose of Alaska’s Charter School Act. Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School Appeal Page 4 PCSC identified a specific, existing, and purpose-built public school facility—the former Pearl Creek Elementary at 700 Auburn Drive—and provided a detailed description and a written plan for its use, operations, and maintenance. The FNSBSD is giving the building over to the Fairbanks North Star Borough (“FNSB” or “Borough”) on December 1, 2025. PCSC has been working with the Borough to do as much as possible without formal approval to ensure it can operate out of 700 Auburn Drive. The Borough and PCSC cannot fully execute a lease until it is an approved charter school and until December 1, 2025. It would be unrealistic to require a fully executed lease with an entity that cannot yet exist. Despite this, PCSC and the Borough are working together to prepare for PCSC's approval and the handover on December 1, 2025, to make the transition as smooth as possible. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner recently reported on this appeal and the facility, noting Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins’ explicit public commitment to supporting Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School’s access to the building. Mayor Hopkins stated: “I’ve been meeting with them (Pearl Creek charter academic policy committee) to make sure if that charter school moves forward, they can get access to that building through a l…
November 12, 2025 at 6:44 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
Here is my letter.

Text is in the Alt-Text. Please feel free to copy it and use it as a starting point.
I am writing in opposition to this appeal. The application as-is presents many fatal flaws including an illegal lottery, budgeting issues, and a lack novelty. The charter is not a need, does not fill a void that currently exists in the district, and replicates many STEAM efforts already present. This charter would cost the district money and result in increasing PTR as the premise of the charter is to poach former Pearl Creek students from current neighborhood schools. This could result in school closures. Approving this appeal would mean local control and any school closures by school districts can be overturned by parents simply if they are unhappy with the districts decision. School districts are limited in how they can handle budget cuts. School closures are one of the few remaining levers for the Fairbanks school district. If any closure results in a charter school opening the next year then we no longer have the ability to close schools. Second, Pearl Creek Charter APC failed to attend the school district administration's presentation and the vote on the charter application. They provided no public testimony after their initial charter application presentation and refused to participate in the application from there on. That is not behavior that should be rewarded. You should deny this appeal because approving it would mean encouraging any charter to duck local control and just wait for their appeal to DEED. An approval would mean limiting local control. Sincerely  Don Larson
November 12, 2025 at 6:35 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
If you are against larger class sizes, opening a school only the well off can attend, or AI slop then please take the time to write both the DEED commisioner and state board in opposition of the Pearl Creek charter application appeal.

deed.commissioner@alaska.gov
deed.stateboard@alaska.gov
Exciting News! We’ve officially submitted our appeal to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development! You can read the full appeal submission at: https://www.pearlcreeksteamschool.com/.../082672... This is the next important step toward making Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School a reality for our community. Our team has poured their hearts into this, and we couldn’t be more proud of what we’re building together: a hands-on, curiosity-driven school where kids explore, question, create, and thrive. The strong community support behind this effort has been incredible, and it continues to show just how much Fairbanks families believe in creating more opportunities for our kids. Stay tuned as we continue on this journey. The future of education in Fairbanks is bright, innovative, and happening right here at Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School!
November 12, 2025 at 6:15 PM
wormeguy.bsky.social
A guy in Kodiak shot himself in the groin after attempting to stack a loaded shotgun on top of another gun. Genius.
On November 9, 2025, at 11:24am, Alaska State Troopers received a report of a 38-year-old male that had been shot with a shotgun and was transported to a local hospital in Kodiak in stable condition. Investigation determined that he placed his shotgun in the bed of his pickup on top of another firearm and ultimately caused a loaded shotgun to negligently discharge striking him in the groin area. There is no suspicion of foul play.
November 11, 2025 at 6:39 AM
wormeguy.bsky.social
Mayor Grier Hopkins is relying on the Pearl Creek charter's appeal to be successful. He plans on locking the borough into a long term lease that has yet to be negotiated to save his neighborhood school that he attended as a kid.

www.newsminer.com/news/local_n...
November 11, 2025 at 2:20 AM
wormeguy.bsky.social
Happy Halloween!
November 1, 2025 at 2:15 AM