Year: 2015

High accolades for speech, language, and hearing contributions

High accolades for three KPBSD employees who receive praise and recognition during the Alaska Speech–Language-Hearing Association (AKSHA) conference, October 16-17, 2015, in Anchorage, Alaska!

“The speech-language pathologists working in the KPBSD are incredible,” said Clayton Holland, director of pupil services. “It is wonderful that Cynthia Detrow, Judy Gonsalves, and Amy Hogue were recognized for their outstanding contribution to their profession in Alaska. They each bring so much to the table in the terms of expertise, hard work, collaboration, and service to students. I consider it an honor to work with them individually and with the entire group of speech and language pathologists in our district.”

KPBSD October 2015 AK Speech award (1)
Judy Gonsalves, Cynthia Detrow, and Amy Hogue receive high accolades for contributions that make a difference!

Judy Gonsalves, West Homer Elementary
AKSHA Sourdough: Long-Term Dedication and Outstanding Contributions in Speech Language Pathology and, or Audiology—Judy Gonsalves

This award recognizes an Audiologist and, or SLP who demonstrates long-term dedication to issues in the state, advocacy, leadership, or outstanding clinical practice.
Judy Gonsalves is the Speech-Language Pathologist for grades third through sixth at West Homer Elementary School and has been for the past 12 years. Ms. Gonsalves began 30 years ago as an itinerant SLP in Bristol Bay, flying out to 11 different villages to give services to Alaskan students. Recalling her experience, she said, “I always packed an apple, granola bars and a book for when I got weathered in, and worked hard to keep the audiometer warm in the bush planes on cold winter days!” After filling in for an SLP on maternity leave, she found herself in need of a job and returned to school for her Type A certification, then taught third grade for 15 years. Keeping up her Type C certification, she was able to apply for her current SLP position in Homer. Besides working in the school, she is also active in the community through the Homer Council on the Arts, Homer Friends of the Library, and the KBBI public radio station.

Cynthia Detrow
Red Lantern: Outstanding Contributions in Rural Alaska by an Audiologist and, or a SLP—Cynthia Detrow (Kenai Peninsula Borough School District)

This award recognizes the unique challenges many AKSHA members work under to provide services to those in our rural areas.
Cynthia Detrow took the initiative to pursue providing a distance delivery speech program to the remote sites in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. “By providing telespeech services from another location in the district, Ms. Detrow is able to offer more consistent, efficient, and effective services to students living in hard-to-reach rural areas of the district,” noted Clayton Holland, Director of Pupil Services with KPBSD. “We no longer need to worry about the weather preventing the delivery of services to students.” Cindy, also, travels to the peninsula’s village schools on a rotating basis to provide on-site assessment, collaboration with school staff and parents, and direct services to students. Cindy’s blended approach of distance delivery combined with on-site work has led to therapy that is mutually beneficial to all involved, creating cost benefits for the district while also maximizing the effectiveness of services. Cindy’s work has also inspired other district specialists to use distance technology to provide services, attend meetings when otherwise weathered-out, and link students in remotes sites with students in other locations in the district for educational purposes.  Detrow highly deserves recognition with AkSHA’s Red Lantern Award for her outstanding contribution to speech-language service delivery in rural Alaska.

Amy Hogue, President’s Award

Amy Russell, president of the Alaska Speech-Language Hearing Association, selected Amy Hogue for her President’s Award. She said the following: “Amy has made many contributions to our association. Many therapists in the Kenai area have joined our association at the encouragement of Amy. She has also been a great AKSHA ambassador to her employers at the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. Amy has served on our ASKHA board for many years. Currently, she is our Communication Chair and has been for almost four years. She has been a key contributor to our current website and has become our Wild Apricot specialist, as we navigate and figure out all that the company has to offer our association’s website. If you ask her to do something, it’s done without a second reminder and done quicker than you even thought possible. If you’ve ever received an email from AKSHA, Amy was probably the one who hit the ‘send’ button.”
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#GoldenStory
KPBSD October 2015 AK Speech award (2)

Resources: KPBSD Community Budget Development Meeting

The district is facing a fiscal gap for our 2016-2017 budget. We are prioritizing the programs and services we will be able to offer in our schools. The district may need to make difficult decisions depending upon the level of funding we receive from the state and borough. I encourage the public to use this meeting as an opportunity to learn about this fiscal reality, and to think in terms of what we can do differently to produce a balanced budget. – Sean Dusek, superintendent
 

Budget development - Dusek FY17 PRESENTATION FINAL_Page_01
Action # 1: Review facts and figures
Click to read the October 15, 2015 PowerPoint KPBSD FY17 Budget Development Meeting Presentation by Sean Dusek, superintendent, and Dave Jones, assistant superintendent of instructional support. And, you might want to navigate to this page to watch a video of the presentation–it’s a link in the FY17 budget development section.
Action # 2: Learn what site councils asked and see summary from October 15, 2015
Review site council questions from the October 15, 2015 discussion and KPBSD administration responses, together with a summary of site council feedback from the budget development meeting discussions and ideas. Both of these documents were presented to the school board on November 3, 2015, during a worksession.
Action # 3: What do you think?
Contribute your thoughts about the KPBSD budget and offer feedback about areas of the budget that can be reduced or should be expanded, and suggestions about solutions to our funding shortfalls. What matters, what doesn’t? Contribute your ideas to KPBSD: Online public comment form. Responses will be collected and shared with the board of education in November and December, 2015.
Budget development - Dusek FY17 PRESENTATION FINAL_Page_03
 
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Title VII Indian Education meeting is October 8, 2015

News Release, October 2, 2015 | Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictTitle VII Indian Education Meeting is October 8, 2015
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Title VII Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting – Interested tribal elders, community members, students and parents are encouraged to participate. 
The Title VII Advisory Committee is comprised of parents and guardians of Title VII students who have been appointed by school site councils.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Borough Assembly Chambers,
Borough Administration Building
144 North Binkley Street, Soldotna, Alaska 99669
The KPBSD Title VII, Indian Education Program, supports Alaska Native and American Indian students for a successful experience throughout their K-12 schooling years. The Title VII Program is designed to assist and support students’ academic achievements, social and emotional development, and cultural awareness in the classroom. KPBSD Native students will be supported and enabled to receive an educational foundation, and given the skills to respond successfully with adults, situations, circumstances, activities and opportunities in school and life.
Over 114 Alaska Native Tribal affiliations are represented in the nearly 1,200 identified Native students in the KPBSD Title VII Program.
Agenda includes

  • Outreach in schools to identify all students who quality for Title VII services, online form
  • Review of past priorities and outcomes in 2014-2015; Set 2015-2016 priorities
  • Project Grad

Please RSVP to Maribeth Snell, MSnell@KPBSD.k12.ak.us
Questions? ContactConrad Woodhead, KPBSD Native Education Program Coordinator, CWoodhead@KPBSD.K12.ak.us, 907.235.8671; or Tim Vlasak, Director of Federal Programs and Assessments TVlasak@KPBSD.k12.ak.us, 907.714.8829
KPBSD webpage: Title VII Indian Education
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Suggest or contribute a story online link: http://bit.ly/SuggestKPBSDstory
 

Eleven KPBSD Title VII schools designed and created unique banners for their schools as well as a banner representing the collective Native pride that exists in KPBSD. This project was made possible by a Youth Cultural Heritage grant from Alaska State Council on the Arts. Title VII Indian Education Meeting is October 8, 2015
Eleven KPBSD Title VII schools designed and created unique banners for their schools as well as a banner representing the collective Native pride that exists in KPBSD. This project was made possible by a Youth Cultural Heritage grant from Alaska State Council on the Arts.

Teens can meet college representatives at Kenai Peninsula College Fair

News ReleasePrint
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
Soldotna, October 2, 2015—Peninsula high school students have an opportunity to meet representatives from more than 40 educational institutions

Tuesday, October 20, 2015
10:00—1:00
Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska

Choosing a college takes time and effort so KPBSD is making it easier for students to dream for and plan their future education path by inviting college representatives to come and meet with students here on the Peninsula. The sixth annual Kenai Peninsula College Fair is free, and no appointments are needed.
KPBSD juniors and seniors will attend with their schools. Connections, IDEA and Cook Inlet Academy students can sign-in at the door.
Students and parents can learn more about scholarships, loans, state and federal financial aid programs at the Financial Aid booth.
KPBSD students must sign-up with their school counselor to attend; transportation is provided.
Confirmed educational institutions: Alaska Bible College, Alaska Christian College, Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, Alaska Job Corps OA/CTS, Alaska Pacific University, AVTEC – Alaska’s Institute of Technology, California Baptist University, Central Washington University, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University, Colorado Mesa University, Colorado State University, Eastern Washington University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Fort Lewis College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Idaho State University, Institute of American Indian Arts, Kenai Peninsula College, Lincoln College of Technology, Linfield College, Mayville State University, Northern Arizona University, Northern Industrial Training, Oregon Coast Culinary Institute, Oregon Institute of Technology, Pacific Lutheran University, South Dakota State University, Southern Oregon University, Southwestern Oregon University, St. Olaf College, The Art Institutes, The College of Idaho, The Master’s College, UAA College of Engineering, Universal Technical Institute, University of Alaska – Anchorage, University of Alaska – Fairbanks, University of Alaska – Southeast, University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Idaho, University of Portland, Willamette University.
2015 college fair flyer
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KPBSD students will Drop, Cover, and Hold On at 10:15 am

News Release, October 1, 2015 | Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

KPBSD schools ShakeOut on October 15

All K-12 schools in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will participate in the Great Alaska ShakeOut “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” earthquake drill on Thursday, October 15, 2015, at 10:15 a.m.

2015 ShakeOut_Global_JoinUs_160x600KPBSD students and staff join more than 69,000 Alaskans who have already registered to participate. Dave Jones, assistant superintendent of instructional support, said, “We need to be prepared for incidents we hope never happen, but if they do, we can minimize the danger to our students, staff, and community.”
Earthquake preparation and the proper “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” technique is valuable safety education for our students and employees. We will also practice a radio check-in to the district office from each of our schools following this earthquake drill.
Alaska schools, families, and businesses are also encouraged to participate by signing up at
Resources, including audio clips for the drill, are available online at http://www.shakeout.org/alaska/ 

News Release, October 1, 2015: Great Alaska Earthquake Drill is October 15
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Suggest or contribute a story online link: http://bit.ly/SuggestKPBSDstory
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How-to invest millions in public education on the Kenai

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District News ReleasePrint
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
Does a quality education and the future success for every young person living on the Kenai Peninsula matter to you? 
Yes? ... please participate in the budget development meeting which takes place at 23 KPBSD school sites on Thursday, October 15, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. Here are three reasons why:

  1. Up front learning about how KPBSD is crafting a multi-million dollar budget in response to the fiscal reality impacting all aspects of state government and funding for public education
  2. Give your feedback about areas of the budget that can be reduced or should be expanded, and suggestions for legislators about solutions to our funding shortfalls. What matters, what doesn’t?
  3. Q & R: question and response opportunity

“The district is facing a fiscal gap for our 2016-2017 budget,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “We are prioritizing the programs and services we will be able to offer in our schools. The district may need to make difficult decisions depending upon the level of funding we receive from the state and borough. I encourage the public to use this meeting as an opportunity to learn about this fiscal reality, and to think in terms of what we can do differently to produce a balanced budget.”

Parents, staff, students, business partners, community members, and elected officials are invited to attend the budget development meeting on Thursday, October 15, 2015, 6:00 p.m., via MS Lync, at any of these KPBSD school sites:

Cooper Landing – Room 4; Homer Middle School – Library; Hope School – Sandra Barron’s classroom; Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science – Library; K-Beach Elementary – Room 18; Kenai Alternative School- Front office; Kenai Central High School – Library; Moose Pass School – Katie Abraham’s class; Mountain View Elementary – Library; Nikiski Middle – High School – Library; Nikolaevsk School – Library; Ninilchik School – Library; Port Graham School – Secondary classroom; Seward Elementary School – Library; Skyview Middle School – Library; Soldotna Elementary – Library; Soldotna High School – Library; Soldotna Montessori School – Office; Soldotna Prep School – Library; Sterling Elementary – Mrs. Van Slyke’s room; Susan B. English School – Commons; Tebughna School – Room 6; and Tustumena School – Library.
money“Our annual budget is one of the most important things we do each year,” said Dave Jones, assistant superintendent of instructional support. “We want to give our parents, staff, students, and community members a chance to learn about our budget, participate in the process, and offer input. The meeting on October 15 will be an important step in the process to develop the FY17 budget. We hope to see a large turnout at all our schools across the district.”
Participant input will be synthesized and presented to the KPBSD school board during November and December board meetings and worksessions.
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Budget cuts

News Release: National Blue Ribbon for Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District News ReleaseBlue Ribbon logo
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
Soldotna, September 30, 2015—U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recognized Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science [Kenai, Alaska] as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School. Based on overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups for making progress, 335 schools are honored as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School.
One of the 15 charter schools recognized nationally, and one of three schools in Alaska to receive this distinguished honor in 2015, Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science in Kenai, Alaska, joins nine other schools in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) to achieve the National Blue Ribbon School excellence designation.
“This honor recognizes your students’ accomplishments and the hard work and dedication that went into their success,” Duncan said in a video message to the awardees. “Your journey has taught you collaboration, intentional instruction, and strong relationships in school and with your community. You represent excellence—in vision, in implementation, and in results—and we want to learn as much as we can from you.”
COVER 1 Kalideoscope School of Arts and Science“I’m honored our school has been recognized,” said Robin Dahlman, principal. “This is a reflection of a vision shared by dedicated teachers, staff, students, families and community members to personalize integrated learning for all students. We look forward to continuing to provide excellence in all we pursue with children’s learning and development.”
“We are very proud of Kaleidoscope and what they are doing for students in our district,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “The staff, students and parents should be commended for all of their hard work to make this school such a wonderful place for kids. Congratulations and keep up the great effort!”
The U.S. Department of Education will honor all 285 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony on November 9-10, 2015, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. Each school will receive an award plaque and a flag as symbols of their accomplishments. In its 33-year history, more than 8,000 of America’s schools have received the coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award.

COVER 2 BLUE RIBBON BULLETIN BOARD
Students arrive at school on September 30, 2015, and discover the U.S. Department of Education is recognizing their accomplishments and the hard work and dedication that goes into their success!

Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science is one of four charter schools in the KPBSD. With forty-three diverse public schools spanning 25,600 square miles on the Kenai Peninsula, Sean Dusek, superintendent, explains, “In my opinion our diversity is an asset that all of us should embrace. While this diversity makes the management of our district challenging, it is the best thing to offer for our nearly 9,000 students.”Alaskan families can choose to send their students to these KPBSD public schools:

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This and all KPBSD media releases are online at this web page: http://bit.ly/MediaPublicRelationships
Suggest or contribute a story online link: http://bit.ly/SuggestKPBSDstory

KPBSD Key Communicators

People move in the direction of their conversations and seek accurate stories and information about the school district. 

KPBSD Key Communicators help people in their local communities learn more about KPBSD, while also assisting the school district to learn and understand more about what people think, feel, and know. The concept is to promote a continuing exchange between Key Communicators and the school district, creating a loosely connected group of parents and citizens for two way communication.
People move in the direction of their conversations; KPBSD Key Communicators will be kept informed through email messages, media releases, and news from the KPBSD district office communications.

Key Communicators

Opportunity

KPBSD formed a network of people who are interested in our schools in order to cultivate positive relationships with the school district and in our diverse communities. Conversations happen every day in school parking lots, at the grocery store, via social media, and so forth. The idea is that our Key Communicators will be kept informed about school district initiatives, issues and celebrations through email messages, media releases, and newsletters from district office communications. Together we will broaden community advocates and help share the golden stories that happen everyday in our schools and district.

Commitment

Key Communicators are asked to simply read the emails and information sent from KPBSD Communications, and potentially share any misconceptions, perceptions, or concerns they hear with KPBSD communications. If a particular issue arises, we may opt to ask you brief questions, utilize an area gathering, advocate or testify with legislators and community members depending on the topic, or broaden our understanding by directly contacting Key Communicators. Your name and contact information will not be published online anywhere as a contact for your school. Participation in Key Communicators is open, with no time frame limit. An annual survey will be conducted to determine shifts needed to grow positive and effective communications.

Meet and Greet

Key Communicators, district leadership, school board members, and any interested school staff are invited to gather informally for a meet and greet. This is an opportunity to meet face-to-face, connect, ask questions, and learn a bit more about things that are happening in the school district and with Key Communicators.
Three dates take place in September 2015, one each in the Central Peninsula, Seward area, and Southern Peninsula, with additional times throughout the 2015-2016 school year.

  • Thursday, September 10, 2015, Seward Middle School library, 5:30-6:30 PM
  • Tuesday, September 22, 2015, Soldotna High School library, 5:30-6:30 PM
  • Monday, September 28, 2015, Homer Middle School library, 5:30-6:30 PM

Action

In early 2014, school principals nominated 2-3 people in their school community and provided Pegge Erkeneff, communication liaison, with the name, context, connection, or position in the community, and contact information including email, address, and telephone. Every year, principals and school board members offer additional names, and everyone interested in KPBSD schools are welcome to attend area gatherings.
If you are interested in becoming a KPBSD Key Communicator, please email Pegge Erkeneff, communications liaison, at Communications@kpbsd.org.
people working together

Homer High School student to represent Alaska at the Grand Ole Opry House

Falcom Greear, Homer High School
Falcom Greear, Homer High School

When he was five, his music teacher inspired him. Fast forward eleven years, and Falcom Greear, now a sophomore at Homer High School, hasn’t stopped singing, and videoconferences via Skype nearly every week with his retired music teacher, who lives in Mississippi. She has been his inspiration and helped guide his love of music since he attended McNeil Canyon Elementary school in Homer, Alaska. There is a lot to talk about now, as Greear practices more than an hour a day in preparation to represent Alaska and sing during the NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles performance in Nashville, Tennessee.
Greear is working with his ensemble director, Kyle Schneider, Homer High School and Homer Middle School director of choirs, to prepare for the October 25 – 28 trip. One of three students selected from Alaska, the 673 students will perform on the world-famous Grand Ole Opry House stage, “known for creating one-of-a-kind entertainment that’s been referred to as the ‘home of American music,’” according to the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) website. The performance will take place during the 2015 NAfME National In-Service Conference.
“Selected students are currently rehearsing a challenging repertoire in preparation for performing under the baton of five of the most prominent conductors in the United States: Ann Howard Jones (Mixed Choir); Jung-Ho Pak (Symphony Orchestra); Eugene Migliaro Corporon (Concert Band); and Sherman Irby and Todd Stoll (Jazz Ensemble),” writes NAfME in a news release. “All conductors have received top honors in their field and will spend several days rehearsing with students before the concert.”
A sophomore, in his free time Falcom teaches Zumba classes, occasionally telling his students, “sing if you want to!” The Broadway musicals, All that Jazz and Chicago are his favorites, and Greear believes, “If you have a goal, go for it! Whatever you are passionate about brings you joy.”
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News Release: Mediation Concludes

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictPrint
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
Mediation Concludes

Soldotna, September 22, 2015—The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) was unable to reach a tentative agreement with Kenai Peninsula Education Association (KPEA) and Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association (KPESA) through the mediation process, which took place September 21 – 22, 2015.
A meditator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) met with all three parties and exercised shuttle diplomacy between the groups, which in essence means conveying questions, supposals, and information seeking to find areas of compromise. Everything that took place during mediation remains confidential, and mediation was closed to the public.
The KPBSD bargaining team is analyzing and reviewing what transpired in the mediation process.
Unless all parties agree to return to face-to-face negotiations, the next step in the collective bargaining process is advisory arbitration.
KPBSD employees continue to work under contracts which expired June 30, 2015. When the new fiscal year began on July 1, 2015, all eligible employees did receive salary and wage movement on the predetermined salary and wage schedules.
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