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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

 

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)

Aurora Borealis Charter School renewal application advanced

They will next be heard during a Nov. 4 work session of the school board

 

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)

KPBSD Committee hears charter applications from Kenaitze, Aurora Borealis

Both groups were asked to bring more information to Oct. 21 meeting

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)
A map shows the original property boundary (in red) of Nikiski North Star Elementary and the boundary of the new property (in yellow) the borough is set to purchase. (Courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Borough to buy property adjacent to Nikiski North Star for possible development

Nikiski North Star is on a 28-acre parcel bounded by private land and Salamatof Lake

A map shows the original property boundary (in red) of Nikiski North Star Elementary and the boundary of the new property (in yellow) the borough is set to purchase. (Courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough)
Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, May 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board hears bond update, seeks way forward for Soldotna schools

Central to the conversation was the increased cost of reconstruction of Soldotna Elementary School

Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, May 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche speaks to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during their work session in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly gets update on 2022 bond package projects

Voters approved a $65.55 million bond package to address a list of 10 critical maintenance projects around the school district

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche speaks to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during their work session in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Students sit down to read books on the first day of the school year at Tustumena Elementary School in Kasilof, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Right back into the swing’

Students return to KPBSD schools for 2024-2025 year

Students sit down to read books on the first day of the school year at Tustumena Elementary School in Kasilof, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
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)
An arch marks the entrance to the Church of St. Nicholas on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Nikolaevsk, Alaska. In rear, cars are parked in front of a building that has been used this school year as a makeshift classroom for families part of a home-school cooperative. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikolaevsk, Forest School charters not moving forward

Nikolaevsk’s application sought a school with closer adherence to the practices of Nikolaevsk’s Russian Old Believer community

An arch marks the entrance to the Church of St. Nicholas on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Nikolaevsk, Alaska. In rear, cars are parked in front of a building that has been used this school year as a makeshift classroom for families part of a home-school cooperative. (Ashlyn O’Hara/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)
Screenshot Graduates of Seward High School leave the gym at the end of their graduation ceremony on Wednesday.

‘Give people something to talk about’

Seward High School graduates 30

Screenshot Graduates of Seward High School leave the gym at the end of their graduation ceremony on Wednesday.
Nikiski Middle/High School graduates throw their caps into the air at the conclusion of a graduation ceremony in the school’s gym in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski graduates ‘will always be a part of each other’s stories’

The graduates celebrated their time together and took a moment to anticipate the bright futures that lie ahead

Nikiski Middle/High School graduates throw their caps into the air at the conclusion of a graduation ceremony in the school’s gym in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Students of Kenai Alternative High School proceed into a graduation ceremony in the school’s gym in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Alt grads take ownership of their lives, told ‘make it into something spectacular’

The school graduated 19 students Tuesday

Students of Kenai Alternative High School proceed into a graduation ceremony in the school’s gym in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Students of Kenai Central High School celebrate at the end of their graduation ceremony in the school’s auditorium in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, May 13, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central grads look to future in a changing world, urged to ‘make it change for the better’

The Class of 2024 graduated Monday

Students of Kenai Central High School celebrate at the end of their graduation ceremony in the school’s auditorium in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, May 13, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
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)
Jylann Green, Aaliyah Bookey and Isabel Thomas watch Dr. Curt Wisnewski as he shows off some x-rays at Kenai Veterinary Hospital in Kenai, Alaska, on Job Shadow Day, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. (Michelle Duffield/Peninsula Clarion)

Local businesses host Kenai Central students for Job Shadow Day

Students are connected to local businesses to spend a day shadowing jobs paired to their career interests

Jylann Green, Aaliyah Bookey and Isabel Thomas watch Dr. Curt Wisnewski as he shows off some x-rays at Kenai Veterinary Hospital in Kenai, Alaska, on Job Shadow Day, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. (Michelle Duffield/Peninsula Clarion)
Image via weseeyou.community

5 tips for creating a culture of caring in our high schools

Our message: No matter what challenges you’re facing, we see you. We support you. And we’re here for you.

Image via weseeyou.community
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Jessie Soyangco, right, leads a class of kindergarteners in dancing to a remix of the “Little Einstein’s” theme song at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science in Kenai on Thursday.

Dance, dance diamonds

Diamond Dance Project co-director Jessie Soyangco is in-residence at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science this week and next

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Jessie Soyangco, right, leads a class of kindergarteners in dancing to a remix of the “Little Einstein’s” theme song at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science in Kenai on Thursday.
Dianne MacRae, Debbie Cary, Beverley Romanin and Kelley Cizek participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education candidate forum at Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board candidates wrap up forum series

The forum was the eighth in a series hosted by the Clarion and KDLL ahead of the 2023 elections

Dianne MacRae, Debbie Cary, Beverley Romanin and Kelley Cizek participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education candidate forum at Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)