Education

Kenaitze Indian Tribe Education Director Kyle McFall speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Charter school proposed by Kenaitze Indian Tribe given approval by school board

The application will next be forwarded to the State Department of Education and Early Department

 

Suzanne Phillips, who formerly was a teacher at Aurora Borealis Charter School, speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Aurora Borealis charter renewal clears school board

The school is seeking routine renewal of its charter through the 2035-2036 school year

 

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the KPBSD Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, June 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board considers ‘hypothetical’ 4-day calendar, asks for community survey

Included in the work session notes is a potential calendar describing weeks running from Monday to Thursday starting in August 2025

 

Aurora Borealis Charter School parents fill every seat and spill from the doorway during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Charter Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board work sessions to tackle charters, 4-day week, cellphone policies

During work sessions Monday and Tuesday, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education will discuss several high-interest topics including a proposed four-day school… Continue reading

Aurora Borealis Charter School parents fill every seat and spill from the doorway during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Charter Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Teams assemble towers during the Spontaneous Challenge portion of the Mind-A-Mazes competition at Skyview Middle School near Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Putting their minds to the test

District youth compete in annual engineering, problem-solving competition

Teams assemble towers during the Spontaneous Challenge portion of the Mind-A-Mazes competition at Skyview Middle School near Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Parents and supporters of Aurora Borealis Charter School fill the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Charter Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Parents and supporters of Aurora Borealis Charter School fill the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Charter Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Administrative Secretary Nikkol Sipes administers oaths of office to Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education members Kelley Cizek and Sarah Douthit on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. Cizek was reelected to represent Sterling and Funny River, Douthit was elected to represent Kenai during the Oct. 1 municipal election. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Administrative Secretary Nikkol Sipes administers oaths of office to Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education members Kelley Cizek and Sarah Douthit on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. Cizek was reelected to represent Sterling and Funny River, Douthit was elected to represent Kenai during the Oct. 1 municipal election. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula College Director Cheryl Siemers speaks at a celebration of the 60th anniversary of Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula College celebrates 60 years of instruction

The college celebrated its anniversary during its annual open house last week

Kenai Peninsula College Director Cheryl Siemers speaks at a celebration of the 60th anniversary of Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce, left, and committee Chair Jason Tauriainen participate in the first meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Four Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce, left, and committee Chair Jason Tauriainen participate in the first meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Four Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kelley Cizek speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD reverses budget cuts after Dunleavy approves one-time funding increase

The additional funding KPBSD will receive includes around $11.4 million in per-student money and $740,000 for student transportation.

Kelley Cizek speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Deena Bishop and Gov. Mike Dunleavy discuss his veto of an education bill during a press conference March 15, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

State correspondence allotment program to continue unchanged

Alaska Supreme Court sides with state, overturns Superior Court ruling that called program ‘unconstitutional’

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Deena Bishop and Gov. Mike Dunleavy discuss his veto of an education bill during a press conference March 15, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy is pictured with members of the House Majority after signing the fiscal year 2025 budget bills on June 27 in Anchorage. From left to right: Reps. Stanley Wright, Tom McKay, Thomas Baker, Craig Johnson, Kevin McCabe, Julie Coulombe, and Laddie Shaw. (Photo provided by Office of the Governor)

Dunleavy signs budget with most education funding intact

Dunleavy cut nearly $12 million that was set to go to school districts, including KPBSD, in outstanding pandemic relief funds

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is pictured with members of the House Majority after signing the fiscal year 2025 budget bills on June 27 in Anchorage. From left to right: Reps. Stanley Wright, Tom McKay, Thomas Baker, Craig Johnson, Kevin McCabe, Julie Coulombe, and Laddie Shaw. (Photo provided by Office of the Governor)
Clayton Holland, superintendent of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, speaks during a meeting of the Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, June 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Holland to remain KPBSD superintendent

Clayton Holland will remain the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s superintendent through June 2027 after the district’s Board of Education on Monday approved a new… Continue reading

Clayton Holland, superintendent of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, speaks during a meeting of the Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, June 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Zen Kelly, president of the board, speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s School Board in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, April 15, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board directs KPBSD to begin restoring cut positions

The board had previously advanced and approved a budget based on “the worst-case scenario” of no additional funding for the state

Zen Kelly, president of the board, speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s School Board in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, April 15, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce, left, and committee Chair Jason Tauriainen participate in the first meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Four Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

4-day school week committee adjourns

The committee will deliver recommendations to school board in July

Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce, left, and committee Chair Jason Tauriainen participate in the first meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Four Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kachemak Bay Campus 2024 graduates prepare to enter commencement at the campus on May 8, 2024, in Homer, Alaska. (Emilie Springer/ Homer News)

Kachemak Bay Campus confers degrees to Class of 2024

The commencement was held Wednesday in Pioneer Hall in Homer

Kachemak Bay Campus 2024 graduates prepare to enter commencement at the campus on May 8, 2024, in Homer, Alaska. (Emilie Springer/ Homer News)
A graduate of Kenai Peninsula College gives a thumbs up as graduates proceed into the 54th Annual Kenai Peninsula College Commencement Ceremony at Kenai Central High School on Thursday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Never be afraid to be a new you’

KPC grads take step toward future in commencement ceremony

A graduate of Kenai Peninsula College gives a thumbs up as graduates proceed into the 54th Annual Kenai Peninsula College Commencement Ceremony at Kenai Central High School on Thursday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce speaks in support of borough and school district budget collaboration during a borough assembly meeting on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly sets school funding floor

The roughly $56.2 million amount is less than the $58.2 million requested last month but is more than what the borough gave the district last year

Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce speaks in support of borough and school district budget collaboration during a borough assembly meeting on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, speaks in support of debating an omnibus education bill in the Alaska House Chambers on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, speaks in support of debating an omnibus education bill in the Alaska House Chambers on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)