Education

From left to right: Landon Vyhmeister, Jared Vyhmeister, Jamie Hyatt, Emily Warix, Jacob Topp and Isaac Johnson are photographed before their graduation ceremony at Cook Inlet Academy in Soldotna, Alaska on Sunday, May 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Cook Inlet graduates 6

“I’m just looking forward to new adventures and just a new chapter in my life.”

From left to right: Landon Vyhmeister, Jared Vyhmeister, Jamie Hyatt, Emily Warix, Jacob Topp and Isaac Johnson are photographed before their graduation ceremony at Cook Inlet Academy in Soldotna, Alaska on Sunday, May 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
The Juneau School District, it's headquarters seen here in this Juneau Empire file photo, will receive a portion of Alaska's more than $358 million in federal relief money for schools. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Alaska to receive over $358 million to reopen schools

Reopen “quickly and safely.”

The Juneau School District, it's headquarters seen here in this Juneau Empire file photo, will receive a portion of Alaska's more than $358 million in federal relief money for schools. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
A magnet promoting the Alaska Reads Act released by the state last year sits atop a stack of Alaskan-authored and Alaska-centric books. A shortened session last year meant the bill, announced by Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, didn’t make it through the last Legislature. But there’s a new bill, nearly the same as the old bill, working its way through the Senate. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Reworked reading bill gets 2nd act in Legislature

Still a ways to go.

A magnet promoting the Alaska Reads Act released by the state last year sits atop a stack of Alaskan-authored and Alaska-centric books. A shortened session last year meant the bill, announced by Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, didn’t make it through the last Legislature. But there’s a new bill, nearly the same as the old bill, working its way through the Senate. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
Mike Barnhill, deputy commisioner of the Alaska Department of Revenue, speaks following the drawing of names during the second annual PFD Education Raffle. During the event, state officials and lawmakers wore masks with an education raffle logo. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Roll out the barrel: 2nd annual PFD education raffle held

Four Alaskans win thousands.

Mike Barnhill, deputy commisioner of the Alaska Department of Revenue, speaks following the drawing of names during the second annual PFD Education Raffle. During the event, state officials and lawmakers wore masks with an education raffle logo. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Gary Turner, who recently announced his plans to retire as director of Kenai Peninsula College, addresses the crowd during KPC’s 50th anniversary celebration at the Kenai River Campus on Aug. 25, 2014. (Photo courtesy Gary Turner/KPC)

Kenai Peninsula College head announces retirement

Director Gary Turner will exit at the end of the 2021 academic year

Gary Turner, who recently announced his plans to retire as director of Kenai Peninsula College, addresses the crowd during KPC’s 50th anniversary celebration at the Kenai River Campus on Aug. 25, 2014. (Photo courtesy Gary Turner/KPC)
Lockers and hallways remain empty with schools closed across Alaska to slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus that has prompted a global pandemic, on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

District finalizes school restart plan

The plan gives parents the option to keep children home this fall or send them to classrooms.

Lockers and hallways remain empty with schools closed across Alaska to slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus that has prompted a global pandemic, on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign announcing the closure of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District schools at K-Beach Elementary can be seen on March 26, 2020, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

School board to vote on 1st day for students

Smart Start plan for KPBSD will be sent to Department of Education by the end of this month

A sign announcing the closure of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District schools at K-Beach Elementary can be seen on March 26, 2020, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
In this July 30, 2019, file photo, University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen speaks at a meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Johnsen, the embattled University of Alaska president, has resigned, the university announced Monday, June 22, 2020. The change in leadership was a mutual decision made after Johnsen consulted with the Board of Regents, according to a statement. His biography was immediately removed from the university’s web page. (AP Photo/Dan Joling, File)

Embattled Johnsen resigns as UA president

Johnsen’s resignation announcement came a week after the faculty union demanded he quit.

In this July 30, 2019, file photo, University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen speaks at a meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Johnsen, the embattled University of Alaska president, has resigned, the university announced Monday, June 22, 2020. The change in leadership was a mutual decision made after Johnsen consulted with the Board of Regents, according to a statement. His biography was immediately removed from the university’s web page. (AP Photo/Dan Joling, File)
Playing safety

Playing safety

Activities return to district facilities

Playing safety
Kenai Peninsula College Director Gary Turner speaks to the House Finance Committee members in against cuts to the University of Alaska on Saturday, March 23, 2019, at the Soldotna Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

KPC faces deficit, declining enrollment

Classes will be mostly remote in fall semester

Kenai Peninsula College Director Gary Turner speaks to the House Finance Committee members in against cuts to the University of Alaska on Saturday, March 23, 2019, at the Soldotna Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Brian Mazurek / Peninsula Clarion file John O’Brien, superintendent for the Kenai Peninsula School District.

School superintendent to retire next year

The school board has already begun the superintendent recruitment process.

Brian Mazurek / Peninsula Clarion file John O’Brien, superintendent for the Kenai Peninsula School District.
Photo courtesy of Kelly Martin Thirty duffel bags filled by the Kenai Peninsula Association of Realtors for children in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Students in Transition Program are photographed in December 2018 in Kenai.

Students in Transition continues to provide services

The 18-year-old program helps homeless students and students no longer in the custody of parents.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Martin Thirty duffel bags filled by the Kenai Peninsula Association of Realtors for children in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Students in Transition Program are photographed in December 2018 in Kenai.
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File The Juneau School District’s administration building is at the corner of Glacier Avenue and 12th Street.

Senators weigh extending bond debt moratorium

Bond payments could come back, but at lower rates.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File The Juneau School District’s administration building is at the corner of Glacier Avenue and 12th Street.
Schools are holding fast in a time of deep cuts

Schools are holding fast in a time of deep cuts

There’s more to education than schools.

Schools are holding fast in a time of deep cuts
University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen in 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: State’s budget climate puts value of Alaska’s higher education at risk

Thousands of students could be affected by a governor veto.

University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen in 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Dr. Jim Johnsen, president of the University of Alaska, center, listens to Donna Arduin, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, left and Mike Barnhill, policy director for the OMB, as their continue to present Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget to the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

With state government shutdown looming, university preparing for late, reduced budget

The fiscal year starts in less than two weeks.

Dr. Jim Johnsen, president of the University of Alaska, center, listens to Donna Arduin, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, left and Mike Barnhill, policy director for the OMB, as their continue to present Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget to the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
University officials to consider having one University of Alaska, not three

University officials to consider having one University of Alaska, not three

The schools would have “cookie-cutter” approaches.

University officials to consider having one University of Alaska, not three
Abbe Hensley, of Best Beginnings, shows off her phone case during a hearing for SB 6 in front of the Senate Education Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. The bill is to provide money for prekindergarten education. The case reads: Alaskans for Early Education. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Pre-K funding bill gives them something to talk about

More pre-K for AK?

Abbe Hensley, of Best Beginnings, shows off her phone case during a hearing for SB 6 in front of the Senate Education Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. The bill is to provide money for prekindergarten education. The case reads: Alaskans for Early Education. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Lance Twitchell, Associate Professor of Alaska Native Languages at the University of Alaska Southeast, testifies in front of the House Education Committee in favor of House Bill 24 on Monday, April 1, 2019.

Bill would help immersion school teachers

Professor says it will help preserve Alaska Native languages.

Lance Twitchell, Associate Professor of Alaska Native Languages at the University of Alaska Southeast, testifies in front of the House Education Committee in favor of House Bill 24 on Monday, April 1, 2019.
In this May 2008 photo, the ferry Malaspina heads up Lynn Canal toward Haines and Skagway, Alaska, from Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Deadline extended for proposals for governor’s ferry study after only one applies

Budget for the study increased to a quarter million dollars.

In this May 2008 photo, the ferry Malaspina heads up Lynn Canal toward Haines and Skagway, Alaska, from Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)