Officials unveil five-year strategy as growth pressures mount

This rendering shows the proposed new digital scoreboard planned for Fairbanks Local Schools' stadium. The scoreboard will be funded entirely through donations from Scotts Miracle-Gro, Memorial Health and Union Rural Electric. The district hopes to have it installed before the first home game on Aug. 28. (Graphic submitted)

Fairbanks’ Carson Shope carries the ball against Triad during a 2025 game. Shope is one of the returning starters for the Panthers for the 2026 campaign, which begins Thursday at Colonel Crawford. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)

Members of the Fairbanks football team are from left, front row, Daniel Bailey, Noah Mullett, Carson Shope, Reid Phelps, Cooper Phelps and Jackson Thomas; second row, Liam Kelly, Joseph Hatfield, Leo Winner, Brennan Peffer, Aiden Haffner, McClain Burns and Caleb Hoffman; third row, Max Winner, Carter Woody, Camden Rall, Lucas Berlin, Vinny Morton, Nevan Moore, Will Griffey and Connor Bjorkgren; fourth row, Casen Rankin, Grayson Burns, Raymond Alley, Koalton Willie, Caden Wills, Corin Burns, Graham Thompson, Landon Wright, Gauge Hutchinsand Robert Francis; fifth row, Grant Burns, Griffin Baum, Drystan Conley, Christian Sheets and Brody Kelley; sixth row, assistant coaches Mike Mays, Tjay Kemmere, Keenan Chapman, head coach Dave Carroll, assistant coaches Morgan Cotter, Kyle Whaley and Sean Diefenderfer. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sarah Vollrath)

Seniors on the Marysville High School football team are from left, front row, Aloysius Roseburrough, Reagan O’Dell, Rivers Hodges, Brycen Luelleman, Cooper Foughty, Carter Shank and Evan Beany; second row, Brady Watkins, Deacon Henry, Mo Saidy, Trevor Helmuth, Landon Wimmers and Colin Wimmers; third row, Oscar Olding, Owen Harbold, Shane Brickner, Carter Dunn, James Stevenson, Allen VanHassel and Keefer Stackhouse. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sarah Vollrath)