Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Tim Daugharty speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD launches conversation on $17 million deficit

The district says overcoming the deficit without heavy cuts would require a substantial increase to the BSA.

 

Students embrace Aubrie Ellis after she was named National Outstanding Assistant Principal of 2025 by the Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals at Mountain View Elementary School in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mountain View assistant principal earns national recognition

Aubrie Ellis named Alaska’s National Outstanding Assistant Principal of 2025.

 

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes presents information on the district’ fiscal year 2024 budget at Kenai Central High School on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD to hold community budget meetings in Homer, Kenai and Seward

The school district prepares budgets for fiscal years that run from July 1 to June 30

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes presents information on the district’ fiscal year 2024 budget at Kenai Central High School on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 in Kenai, 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, Dec. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kelley Cizek speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board mulls community survey for possible 4-day week

The board considered a set of surveys gauging from staff, parents and older students

Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Shannon Ferguson speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna on Monday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Contract for Soldotna school consolidation design OK’d

The borough is seeking a consultant to create a plan to renovate existing school facilities

Shannon Ferguson speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna on Monday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education Vice President Jason Tauriainen speaks during a meeting of the board in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of education hears from schools about more restrictive cellphone policies

Existing policy says that devices shouldn’t be used during classroom instruction or other district-supervised activities

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education Vice President Jason Tauriainen speaks during a meeting of the board in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 3, 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)

School board looks to create more restrictive cellphone policy

Their use is currently permitted as long as it doesn’t “interfere with the educational process or with safety and security”

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)
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

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)
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

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)
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

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)
Students sing “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” at Mountain View Elementary in Kenai, Alaska, during a celebration of Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mountain View Elementary recognizes Veterans Day

During a celebration of Veterans Day at Mountain View Elementary School on Monday, a sea of elementary schoolers peered back at more than a dozen… Continue reading

Students sing “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” at Mountain View Elementary in Kenai, Alaska, during a celebration of Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The cast of “Annie” rehearse at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central hits the big stage with ‘Annie’

The production features actors from Kenai Central and Kenai Middle School

The cast of “Annie” rehearse at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski takes a selfie with Rose Burke at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Burke won the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest and will travel to Washington, D.C., in December to light the tree. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Connections student to light U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

Rose Burke, 9, won the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest and will travel to Washington D.C.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski takes a selfie with Rose Burke at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Burke won the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest and will travel to Washington, D.C., in December to light the tree. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
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)
Chair Patti Truesdell speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education Charter School Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Chair Patti Truesdell speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education Charter School Oversight Committee 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)
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)