Board of Education Charter School Oversight Committee Meeting

January 12, 2026

Committee Meeting Minutes-DRAFT

Meeting Location:

144 N. Binkley Street

Soldotna Alaska, 99669

1. Charter School Oversight Committee

A. Call to Order

Chair Daugharty called the meeting to order at 10:06 a.m.

B. Roll Call

Committee Members Present:
Board Vice President Daugharty (Chair)
Board Member Cizek
Board Member Truesdell
Board Member Waddell
Kari Dendurent, Assistant Superintendent
Czarina Voivedich, Director of Finance
Kyle Darbonne, Administrator, Fireweed Academy
John DeVolld, Administrator, Soldotna Montessori Charter School
Cody McCanna, Administrator, Aurora Borealis Charter School
Soldotna Elementary, Marcie Murphy, Administrator Kaleidoscope Charter School
Kim Daniels, Administrator, Tulen Charter School
A quorum was established.
Other Board Members Present:
Board Member Douthit
Board President Tauriainen
Board Member Vadla
Board Member Vanbuskirk
Others present were:
Superintendent Holland
Student Support Services Director Kelly
John Galahan, Principal of Kenai Alternative High School (shares a building with Aurora Borealis Charter School)
Austin Stevenson, Principal of Soldotna Elementary School (shares a building with Soldotna Montessori)
Eric Waltenbaugh, Principal of West Homer Elementary School (shares a building with Fireweed Charter School)

C. Approval of Agenda

The January 12, 2026 Charter School Oversight Committee meeting agenda was approved as presented.

D. Approval of Notes 10-09-2025

The October 9, 2025 Charter School Oversight Committee meeting notes were approved as presented.

2. New Business

A. Aurora Borealis Charter School Amendment Application

Chair Vice President Daugharty opened the floor to Mr. McCanna to present the Aurora Borealis Charter School amendment application. Mr. McCanna, principal of ABCS, requested to start with questions from the committee to the proposed amendment application.
Chair Daugharty called for committee member questions and comments on the application.

Committee members that offered feedback and asked clarifying questions:
Assistant Superintendent Dendurent requested that Mr. McCanna briefly provide an overview of the amended application.
Mr. McCanna provided an overview of the amendment application.
Chair Daugharty called for any further committee member questions or comments.
Committee members that offered feedback and asked clarifying questions:
Board Member Truesdell
Chair Vice President Daugharty
Assistant Superintendent Dendurent
ABC applicants and APC Members that offered comments and answered questions on the proposed amended application:
Mr. McCanna, ABC principal
Laura Beesum, APC member
Assistant Superintendent Dendurent made several recommendations to the applicants regarding the application including, curriculum, honors classes and budget.

ABC applicants and APC Members that offered comments and answered questions on the proposed amended application:
Mr. McCanna, ABC principal

Chair Daugharty called for any further questions and comments on the application from the committee.
Those who offered feedback and asked clarifying questions:
Member Cizek
Member Truesdell
Assistant Superintendent Dendurent
ABC Applicants and APC members that offered comments and answered questions from committee:
Mr. McCanna, ABC Principal
Darren Henry, APC Vice President
Committee members that offered further feedback:
Assistant Dendurent
ABC Applicants and APC members that offered comments and answered questions from committee:
Mr. McCanna, ABC Principal
Committee members that offered further comments:
Member Cizek
Assistant Dendurent
Superintendent Holland
Finance Director Voivedich
President Tauriainen
ABC Applicants and APC members that offered comments and answered further questions from committee:
Mr. McCanna, ABC Principal
Darren Henry, APC Vice President
Committee members that offered further comments and questions:
Member Cizek
Assistant Superintendent Dendurent
ABC Applicants and APC members that offered comments and answered further questions from committee:
Mr. McCanna, ABC Principal
Laura Beesum, APC member
Chair Vice President Daugharty called for any any further questions or comments on the application.
Seeing and hearing none, Chair Daugharty asked the committee if there was any objection from the committee to move the application with the committee's feedback and recommendations from committee and place the application on the February 2, 2026 work session to be reviewed by the full Board of Education.
Assistant Superintendent Dendurent clarified that she would provide further guidance to the applicants as her role as Administrator with oversight over charter schools and be a resource.
Member Truesdell provided comment in support of the application.
Mr. McCanna declared a conflict of interest in providing a recommendation being the ABCS principal and also a committee member. Chair Daugharty ruled that there is a conflict of interest and that Mr. McCanna should abstain from a recommendation on the application.
Laura Beesum asked for clarification regarding curriculum.
Ms. Dendurent would provide the information at a later time.
Committee unanimously approved that the application be moved to the February 2, 2026 work session where it will be reviewed by the full Board of Education.
Chair Daugharty expressed that the applicants and Board should work together moving forward.

3. Adjourn

A. Adjourn

Chair Daugharty adjourned the meeting at 11:07 a.m.