North Slope Borough and North Slope Borough School District v. State of Alaska, Department of Education and Early…

Summary

The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court’s denial of a trial de novo and the Department of Education and Early Development’s denial of school‑bond reimbursement. It held that the Superior Court did not abuse its discretion, that the hearing officer correctly applied a deferential reasonable‑basis standard, that the Department’s interpretation of the statutory equal‑payment requirement was reasonable, and that neither the doctrine of substantial compliance nor equitable estoppel required reimbursement.