Parents at Academy Charter School in Palmer, Alaska, are grappling with the potential loss of valued extracurricular programs as the school redirects funds to address a lawsuit filed by Natalia Romanova, a parent challenging the school’s volunteer hours policy. The litigation has already resulted in a court-ordered re-enrollment of Romanova’s son, identified as G.S. Now, due to the reallocation of funds, the school may need to suspend activities like Taekwondo, fitness classes, vocal lessons, dance instruction, and the Art & Sketch program, which enrich the educational experience for many of the school’s 280 students.

The loss of these activities would crush the hearts of the kids and destroy a huge part of the culture of the school.

The lawsuit, initiated in August 2025, centers on Romanova’s objection to the school’s requirement that families complete a designated number of volunteer hours. Her legal action contends that that the volunteer policy requirement is a barrier to her son’s enrollment and unduly burdens low-income families and single parent households, of which she is neither. Romanova, who co-owns 13 properties in Mat-Su with combined annual property taxes exceeding $115,000, resides in a 12,000-square-foot mansion near the Butte, and drives a 2025 Lincoln Nautilus.

A temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunction were issued this month. The court’s ruling mandated G.S.’s immediate re-enrollment at Academy Charter while the case proceeds.

The financial burden of the lawsuit has prompted school administrators to consider significant budget adjustments. These enrichment programs are funded through a $195 per-student contribution at the beginning of the year.

“The loss of these activities would crush the hearts of the kids and destroy a huge part of the culture of the school.” said local parent Megan Craig, who has two children enrolled at Academy and volunteers to coach the cross-country running and track programs.

Compounding the school’s challenges is a dispute with the Mat-Su School District over legal representation. Academy Charter, operating under the district’s oversight, requested district counsel to defend the lawsuit. The district declined, claiming it was not properly notified of the complaint. However, records show that the legal filing was sent via certified mail to both Principal Barbara Gerard and the district office on the same day in August 2025. Delivery receipts confirm both parties received the mailed documents within 48 hours.

Phone logs further indicate that the Assistant Superintendent, Kendra Bartz contacted the school on the day the complaint arrived, discussing its contents with Austin Grimes, who is the current Assistant Principal. Grimes received a certified copy addressed to Gerard but left it unopened as she was out of state, adhering to protocol, as it was intended for the principal. Academy Charter officials have contested the district’s stance, noting that the call and delivery records demonstrate timely notification did indeed happen, by certified mail. The district has not publicly addressed these discrepancies.

I love this school and if this lawsuit causes the high school project to be delayed or stopped, the school community will be very upset. This whole thing is ridiculous.

The Watchman spoke briefly with Superintendent Randy Trani, who said “he would not comment on any ongoing litigation involving the MatSu Borough School District.” When the Watchman clarified that the entire point of the call was to clarify why the District was not a party to the lawsuit and had neglected to help protect the school from a frivolous lawsuit, he admitted the MSBSD was not actually involved in the lawsuit, and only responded “but we might be someday.” The district’s stance on leaving Academy Charter school undefended against a frivolous lawsuit by the Northern Justice Project sends a clear and chilling message to other charter schools within the district.

After speaking with Trani, the Watchman contacted School Board president Kathy McCollum, who was unaware that the school district had directed their attorneys to send the following response to Principal Barbara Gerard’s counsel currently now representing the school: Ashley Sundquist:

—District takes seriously its obligations including under Section 11(b) of its the contract governing operation of Academy Charter School and does maintain insurance as required. However, the self insured retention for the District’s public entity insurance policy is $750,000 per occurrence, so that policy does not start until a claim against a covered entity reaches that amount.

The district’s umbrella insurance only kicks in once damages exceed $750,000 and the school has virtually no funds set-aside for any unexpected legal kerfuffle, and certainly nowhere near the requisite sums. Later in the same emailed response –

The District will not be defending the position that it understands The Academy Advisory Board, Inc. to be taking in the Romanova litigation.

–Lea Filippi

The School District has thus far abandoned Academy to the legal wolves, though not with any formal consent of the School Board, which has historically proven itself to be one of the most supportive School Boards in the nation with respect to expanding and cooperating with Charter Schools.

Romanova, pictured here in public, has amended the complaint, revising the initial demands. It now seeks a formal statement from the school declaring the volunteer hours policy “unconstitutional” as well as requesting reimbursement for attorney’s fees. As each Northern Justice attorney flies up to Alaska from their offices in California to meet in-person for litigation and hearings the costs will soar. Total costs are unknown but are estimated to be well over $100,000 by the conclusion of the matter. The original filing, which focused on G.S.’s ineligibility to enroll due to unmet volunteer hours, has evolved into a broader challenge to the policy’s legality. The injunction, detailed in a court draft, requires G.S.’s reinstatement at his appropriate grade level with academic support, while prohibiting retaliation against Romanova or others involved. The next hearing date has not been set as the legal process unfolds.

For Academy Charter parents, the lawsuit’s impact extends well beyond finances. “The volunteer policy is the mortar that the bricks of our school were built with. Take that away, and taekwondo, dance, and art and Academy would be just a shell of itself. It would be devastating,” said Sierra Dorman, a mother of three at Academy.

The school’s parent advisory council will next meet on Oct. 14 to discuss legal costs and other measures, projected to surpass $100,000 before the matter is concluded. School officials have discussed the possibility of setting up a GoFundMe to help with the burgeoning costs. The potential loss of programs has also sparked concern among families who selected Academy Charter for its robust offerings and school culture, and who are now afraid to see the construction of the high-school derailed due to the pressures this lawsuit may generate.

“I love this school and if this lawsuit causes the high school project to be delayed or stopped, the school community will be very upset. This whole thing is ridiculous.” said Jordan Viera, active volunteer mom with two boys enrolled at Academy.

Already having complied with the court order, Romanova’s son is back in school but without the formal volunteer requirement that other parents readily agree to.

Michelle Reynolds had the following to say regarding volunteer hours: “The reason this school is so successful is because of parent involvement, our leadership, and the requirements involved. I’ve been an academy parent almost 10 years, and its the same letter every year, with a reminder after first semester, and newsletter reminders monthly. We have a school that is leading in charter schools, not only in Alaska but in the nation for a reason!“

Billy Long, an Academy parent and a long time advocate of the school agreed.

“A contract matters,” he said. “You agree to the volunteer terms each year, and the terms define the policy and the consequences. This woman should be ashamed of herself and the example she is setting for her son.”

The outcome remains uncertain, as do the policy changes that may be implemented, but for now, parents are left weighing the potential loss of the rich educational experience they value against the costs of a legal battle driven by one woman’s challenge to a 30-year old, longstanding and agreed upon policy.

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