Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Nikolaevsk School is photographed on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Nikolaevsk, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

School board approves initial Nikolaevsk charter application

The application will next be forwarded to the State Board of Education and Early Development for review.

 

The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of Education moves to increase school meal prices

In January, the cost of adult meals and elementary student lunches will increase.

 

The cast of Kenai Central High School’s upcoming production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” pose for a photo on Nov. 6, 2025. The play will open on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. Photo courtesy of Travis Lawson

Kenai students prepare to open ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

The play will premiere Friday at Kenai Central High School, with additional showings the following weekend.

The cast of Kenai Central High School’s upcoming production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” pose for a photo on Nov. 6, 2025. The play will open on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. Photo courtesy of Travis Lawson
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board swears in elected members

Mica VanBuskirk and Ash-Lee Waddell were newly elected to the board in October; Patti Truesdell was reelected to her seat.

The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikolaevsk School is photographed on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Nikolaevsk, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

School board continues consideration of Nikolaevsk charter school

The board reviewed the initial charter application on Oct. 20 and will hold another work session and a special meeting before issuing their final decision.

Nikolaevsk School is photographed on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Nikolaevsk, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Ash-Lee Waddell and Gayle Claus, candidates for the District 9 seat of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, answer questions during an election forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI AM 890 on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

South peninsula school board candidates talk funding, future of district

Ash-Lee Waddell and Gayle Claus discussed their takes on multiple issues facing the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in an election forum last week.

Ash-Lee Waddell and Gayle Claus, candidates for the District 9 seat of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, answer questions during an election forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI AM 890 on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Patti Truesdell, Donna Anderson and Shelby Oden, candidates for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, participate in a forum at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Patti Truesdell, Donna Anderson and Shelby Oden, candidates for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, participate in a forum at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Marching Band performs during the Second Annual Kenai Marching Showcase at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Marching Band preps for national contest during weekend showcase

The Kenai band will be traveling to Indianapolis in November to compete at the Bands of America Grand National Championships.

The Kenai Marching Band performs during the Second Annual Kenai Marching Showcase at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board authorizes $1.8 million in new, restored spending

The spending comes in response to the increase in funding received from the state this year.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Brent Johnson speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly calls on school district to fund Ninilchik, Seldovia pools

The pools were defunded as of July 1 but have been kept open temporarily with other funds and community donations.

Brent Johnson speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District IT Manager Jordan Chilson leads a tour of the district’s server infrastructure in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School district highlights importance of E-Rate program during meeting with Murkowski, FCC commissioner

The federal program provides funding for expansion and development of network infrastructure.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District IT Manager Jordan Chilson leads a tour of the district’s server infrastructure in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Fourth grade students work on their new name tags on the first day of the 2025-2026 school year at Nikiski North Star Elementary School in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Giving students their ‘best year yet’

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s 42 schools welcome kids back into classrooms.

Fourth grade students work on their new name tags on the first day of the 2025-2026 school year at Nikiski North Star Elementary School in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District logo. Photo courtesy of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District logo. Photo courtesy of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD reverses some activity stipend cuts, raises fees

The district’s final budget adopted in July called for a halving of all activity stipends.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD responds to restored state, federal funding

After a successful vote of the Alaska Legislature reversed Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of $50 million education funding on Saturday, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School… Continue reading

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, May 13, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board OKs plan to combine Soldotna schools

The vacated Redoubt Elementary facility would house Soldotna Montessori Charter School and River City Academy.

Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, May 13, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Students stand during a protest against the possible closure of Sterling Elementary School along the Sterling Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD board starts talking 2026 school closures

This year, the district closed Nikolaevsk School and very nearly closed Sterling Elementary School.

Students stand during a protest against the possible closure of Sterling Elementary School along the Sterling Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Federal education funding to be released after monthlong delay

The missing funds could have led to further cuts to programming and staff on top of deep cuts made by the KPBSD Board of Education this year.

Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board finalizes budget with deep cuts to programming, classrooms

Multiple members of the board said they were frustrated by the state’s failure to fund education.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)