Education

Assembly member Willy Dunne, speaks in support of education at the Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Education dominates assembly meeting

Talk of education dominated public comment at Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting. Employees of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District have been negotiating a… Continue reading

Assembly member Willy Dunne, speaks in support of education at the Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Schools briefs for the week of Feb. 4, 2019

Schools briefs for the week of Feb. 4, 2019

What’s happening this week in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Schools briefs for the week of Feb. 4, 2019
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a news conference in Juneau, Alaska, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Borough to lose $1.4 million under proposed Dunleavy education cuts

School district says it can’t afford cut to education

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a news conference in Juneau, Alaska, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
School buses drop students off at Thunder Mountain High School on Monday, Sept. 21, 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Gov’s bills includes $20M slash to education

The money was already approved.

School buses drop students off at Thunder Mountain High School on Monday, Sept. 21, 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Fifth-graders at Soldotna Elementary school worked on pottery projects this week for a fundraiser that will buy new playground equipment for the school on Thursday, in Soldotna. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Getting their hands dirty

Students create pottery for school fundraiser

Fifth-graders at Soldotna Elementary school worked on pottery projects this week for a fundraiser that will buy new playground equipment for the school on Thursday, in Soldotna. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kachemak Selo Middle-High School building sits against a backdrop of the ridge separating the village from the Kenai Peninsula Borough road system on Aug. 30, 2018 in Kachemak Selo. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Borough works to extend state grant agreement for K-Selo

The $10 million grant the borough received from the state expires June 30.

The Kachemak Selo Middle-High School building sits against a backdrop of the ridge separating the village from the Kenai Peninsula Borough road system on Aug. 30, 2018 in Kachemak Selo. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen, left, listens to Dr. Steve Atwater, Executive Dean of the Alaska College of Education, during an interview at the University of Alaska Southeast on Friday, Aug. 3, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska’s teachers are leaving at much higher than the national average. Here’s what’s being done about it.

Alaska has a teacher problem.

University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen, left, listens to Dr. Steve Atwater, Executive Dean of the Alaska College of Education, during an interview at the University of Alaska Southeast on Friday, Aug. 3, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows incoming University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor Dr. Cathy Sandeen. (Photo courtesy University of Alaska)

Around campus: Still time to register for KPC fall classes

Registration still available for the fall semester There’s still time to secure seats in KPC classes that will be offered in the upcoming fall semester.… Continue reading

This photo shows incoming University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor Dr. Cathy Sandeen. (Photo courtesy University of Alaska)
Kenai Central High School sophmore Riley Graves demonstrates a magnetic rake he built to pick up buried metallic debris on Kenai’s north beach on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Metal objects present danger on Kenai beaches. A student’s idea may help the city clean it up

Dipnetters, children, and anyone walking barefoot on Kenai beaches this summer may be less likely to step on a nail, screw, wire, lost tent stake… Continue reading

Kenai Central High School sophmore Riley Graves demonstrates a magnetic rake he built to pick up buried metallic debris on Kenai’s north beach on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough approves K-Selo school bonds

Voters will get to decide the future of a new school for the students of Kachemak Selo in the fall. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly… Continue reading

Kenai Alternative High School graduate Larissa Pittman hugs school secretary Jacquelynn Tomrdle at the high school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. Kenai Alternative High School provides more flexible edcuation for students who struggled in traditional high school environments, scheduling classes around jobs, children and life circumstances to help students achieve their high school diplomas. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Alternative graduates walk own paths to diplomas

Before they all walked away with a diploma Tuesday, the administrators at Kenai Alternative High School made sure each of the students felt individually recognized.… Continue reading

Kenai Alternative High School graduate Larissa Pittman hugs school secretary Jacquelynn Tomrdle at the high school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. Kenai Alternative High School provides more flexible edcuation for students who struggled in traditional high school environments, scheduling classes around jobs, children and life circumstances to help students achieve their high school diplomas. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
After accepting his diploma, River City Academy graduate Maxwell Mock shakes hands with Kenai Peninsula School Board member Marty Anderson during River City’s graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Monday, May 21, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion).

River City Academy graduates nine

The nine River City Academy students who turned their tassels at a Monday afternoon graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex spoke about the… Continue reading

After accepting his diploma, River City Academy graduate Maxwell Mock shakes hands with Kenai Peninsula School Board member Marty Anderson during River City’s graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Monday, May 21, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion).
Kalifornsky Beach Elementary first-graders Maddi Redder (left) and Brayden Gregory prepare to rig a beam to a shop crane during their class’ field trip to Alaska Crane Consultants on Monday, May 7, 2018 on Kalifornsky Beach road. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Students try their hands at heavy equipment at Alaska Crane Consultants

Kristi Felchle’s first grade class at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary added a hands-on element to their recent lesson about work and the community: Taking a field… Continue reading

Kalifornsky Beach Elementary first-graders Maddi Redder (left) and Brayden Gregory prepare to rig a beam to a shop crane during their class’ field trip to Alaska Crane Consultants on Monday, May 7, 2018 on Kalifornsky Beach road. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Legislature approves flat schools budget, but no increases may force cuts

The Alaska Legislature on Wednesday approved a $1.2 billion budget for public schools in the next fiscal year. With a 31-9 vote, the Alaska House… Continue reading

School board changes K-Selo school site selection

Spurred by a fear of landslides, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education has officially revised their site selection for a new school… Continue reading

School district, unions exchange initial contract offers

A little more than a year after they concluded collective bargaining, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and its teacher and staff unions are back… Continue reading

Borough to propose bonds for new K-Selo school

Kenai Peninsula Borough voters may be asked to take on revenue bonds to fund a new school for the remote Old Believer community of Kachemak… Continue reading

The Soldotna Montessori Charter School food pantry is located on the corner of North Binkley Street and East Park Avenue, right across the street from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Hall building. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Students hope to keep food pantry full

Sixth graders at Soldotna Montessori Charter School have something they want everyone to know. It’s not that they spend their lunch time planning out community… Continue reading

The Soldotna Montessori Charter School food pantry is located on the corner of North Binkley Street and East Park Avenue, right across the street from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Hall building. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir

Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir

Since the start of the school year, the Kenai Central High School choir has been singing. From the chambers during Borough Assembly meeting, to Soldotna… Continue reading

Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir
Gabriel Dravis sticks a gumdrop on to the gingerbread house he built from graham crackers, frosting, and candy in Stacy Tronnier’s first and second grade class at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science on Friday, Dec. 15 in Kenai, Alaska. Three first and second grade classes at Kaleido- scope made gingerbread houses on Friday to take home for display and/or eating. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Graham cracker architects

Three first and second grade classes at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Sciences made gingerbread houses on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017 to take home for display… Continue reading

Gabriel Dravis sticks a gumdrop on to the gingerbread house he built from graham crackers, frosting, and candy in Stacy Tronnier’s first and second grade class at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science on Friday, Dec. 15 in Kenai, Alaska. Three first and second grade classes at Kaleido- scope made gingerbread houses on Friday to take home for display and/or eating. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)