Year: 2016

Changing school start and end times : community meetings

News ReleaseKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
School start and end times will change in southern peninsula schools served by bus transportation

Soldotna, September 14, 2016—Changes are coming next year, and in order to inform and gather input, three southern peninsula community meetings will take place in September. Discussion centers around the necessary adjustments to school start and end times, modification of bus schedules, and additional implications because of these changes. Parents, KPBSD staff, students, and community members are invited and encouraged to attend a community meeting:

  • Homer area: Monday, September 19, 2016, 6:00 PM, Homer High School

     

  • Ninilchik area: Tuesday, September 20, 2016, 6:00 PM, Ninilchik School

     

  • Anchor Point area: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 6:30 PM, Chapman School

When the school board awarded a ten year transportation contract to Apple Bus, and also approved a change from the current single tier busing to double tier (or two-tier) busing starting in August, 2017, the ramification is that to implement two-tier busing, school start times will need to stagger in order for buses to serve two routes every day. Running two tier busing requires a minimum of 60 minutes between the first and second bus run schedules.
Changes will take place at southern peninsula schools served by bus transportation and include:
Chapman School
Fireweed Academy
Homer Flex School
Homer High School
Homer Middle School
McNeil Canyon Elementary
Nikolaevsk School
Ninilchik School
Paul Banks Elementary
West Homer Elementary
Two-tier busing throughout the rest of the school district has been in place for many years. Southern peninsula schools will collaborate to select new school start and end times.
Next steps
After these preliminary community meetings, school principals will work with district administrators to analyze the input and feedback, then propose school start and end times and create draft bus schedules. Follow up school-based or area meetings may be scheduled, if needed. The district intends to finalize changes for the 2017-2018 school year by early spring, 2017.
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, communications liaison, 907.714.8888
September 14, 2016 News Release
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SURVEY | KPBSD parents, staff, community, students…

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD logo 4c today

News Release
Do you care about educational and resource needs in the KPBSD?


Soldotna, September 12, 2016—KPBSD requests parents, staff, students in 6th grade and above, and community members to provide personal opinions and input about educational and resource needs in the diverse KPBSD through completing an online survey.

The survey offers questions to evaluate programmatic, staffing, and resource needs throughout our district. Survey topics include educational and resource needs within our diverse school communities as well as opportunities to offer personal experiences with the district. Survey responses are anonymous, and feedback will assist the district’s efforts to increase the equity and efficiency in allocating resources to better serve KPBSD schools.

Take the survey now: http://hanoverresearch.KPBSD.sgizmo.com/s3/

The survey will be open through September, 2016

“Our district is committed to listen to the voices of all our constituents as we look to continuously improve and be more efficient. This survey will go a long ways toward how we will implement our instructional model in the future and provide a high quality education for all of our students. Thank you for your participation in this important opportunity for input.” –Sean Dusek, superintendent

KPBSD partnered with Hanover Research to administer this survey. Hanover Research is an independent education research firm based in Washington, D.C., and is in no way affiliated with any other entity or organization. All responses will be kept completely anonymous, and no identifying information will be provided to the district. Similarly, grouped results will not be presented in a way that could potentially allow the identification of any specific respondents (e.g., faculty within a specific grade teaching a specific course).
Questions or difficulties with survey? Please contact Conor Kelly, Hanover Institute, ckelly@hanoverinsights.com.
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, KPBSD communications liaison
907.714.8888
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National Suicide Prevention Week #NSPW16

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An open letter to the community from Sean Dusek, Superintendent  of Schools

September 5 – 11, 2016 is National Suicide Prevention Week #NSPW16. World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10, 2016.
Alaska has a high rate of suicide. In 2014, according to the CDC, our state was ranked second in the nation for death by suicide. In that same year, Alaska was rated the highest in the nation for youth ages 15-24, to die by suicide.
Experts believe that most suicidal individuals do not want to die, and they just want to end the pain they are experiencing. Experts also know that suicidal crises tend to be brief.
Our school district and communities are not immune to this public health issue. In several of our schools, staff and students are planning activities to provide support and educational opportunities for their peers, including the creation of a Wall of Hope. A Wall of Hope identifies positive aspects in the lives of students to highlight why living is important to them.
We work diligently to recognize the warning signs and provide as much support as we can to those in need. Our schools are staffed with caring adults who are there to help. Our teachers and staff receive training on suicide prevention and how to identify warning signs.
While prevention is our first priority, we know postvention is a critical component of a comprehensive wellness program when faced with the tragedy of suicide in a community. Postvention has the ability to ease distress, break the cycle of suicide, and be a preventative measure.
While KPBSD’s overall health and wellness curriculum is in place, a high priority need for our district is further education and supports for suicide prevention. Our goal is to create a network of community mental health providers collaborating to develop a purposeful and coordinated community support that responds quickly and effectively to provide safe havens in response to suicide.
This past spring, several high schools hosted You are Not Alone school assemblies. You are Not Alone is a peer-led youth suicide prevention campaign that includes elements of Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)—an evidence-based training that helps people understand suicide warning signs and how to connect people in crisis to help.
Through a five-year Project AWARE grant, KPBSD will train 125 staff and community members every year on Youth Mental Health First Aid. We are in year two of these trainings. Additionally, KPBSD received the state’s competitive Suicide Awareness Prevention and Postvention Grant (SAPP) and the funds will be used to provide gatekeeper training to staff, students, and any interested community member or organization in the next several years. We will also be developing a suicide awareness toolkit as a community resource.
When suicidal behaviors are detected early, lives can be saved. Please join the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in supporting suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. Together we can reduce the number of lives shaken by a needless and tragic death.

Links

Alaska’s Suicide Prevention and Someone to Talk To Line
Need  to talk ?

phone Call anytime, toll-free:
1-877-266-4357 (HELP)
love or text 4help to 839863
3-11 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday

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News Release: KPBSD Indian Education advisory committee seeks members

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
Indian Education advisory committee seeks parent, student, and staff members to serve

Soldotna, September 7, 2016—Are you interested in setting priorities to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of our 1,200 Alaska Native and Native American students? Is encouraging or assisting our Alaska Native and Native American students to stay in school and pursue further education a value to you?

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Title VI (Indian Education), formerly known as Title VII, seeks parent, student, and staff advisory committee representatives. The qualities desirable in the members of the advisory committee are:

  • Willingness to actively participate
  • Involvement in community affairs
  • Represent the interest of all children in the KPBSD who are eligible for Title VI

Committee members must commit to quarterly meetings, usually held at the KPBSD office building in Soldotna. Remote area representatives participate via Skype for Business.
Seats by Region
Parent Representative A parent is any person who on the date of election for Advisory Committee membership is the parent, acting local parent, legal guardian, or elder of a student currently eligible for Title VI and enrolled in KPBSD

  • Seat A—Region 1 (Tyonek, Nikiski, Kenai)
  • Seat B—Region 2 (Sterling, Soldotna)
  • Seat C—Region 3 (Seward, Moose Pass, Cooper Landing, Hope)
  • Seat D—Region 4 (Ninilchik, Anchor Point, Homer)
  • Seat E—Region 5 (Seldovia, Nanwalek, Port Graham)
  • Seat F—At-large (any region)

Student Representative Any KPBSD Title VI enrolled student

  • Seat G—At-large
  • Seat H—At-large

Staff Representative Any KPBSD employee

  • Seat I—At-large

Seat terms will be staggered in the first year of bylaw implementation:

  • Seats A, B, and C, and seats D, E, and F will rotate on two year terms (except for the first year the bylaws are in effect)
  • Seats A, B, and C will be a one year term in FY17
  • Student Seats G and H will be a one year term
  • Staff Seat I will be a two year term

New members will be voted by a majority of a quorum to accept new members to the Committee, and nominees must be present to be elected.
The KPBSD Title VI Advisory Committee is a requirement of the federal government to receive Title VI funds and assists KPBSD in setting the priorities to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of Alaska Native and Native American student population. The KPBSD Title VI Advisory Committee will also consider and make recommendations as to programs, projects, or other efforts specifically aimed at encouraging or assisting Alaska Native and Native American students to stay in school and pursue further education.

Nominations for membership are due by September 20, 2016, and can be submitted by Region to Conrad Woodhead, KPBSD Native Education Coordinator, at cwoodhead@kpbsd.k12.ak.us. Questions? Please call 907-235-8671.

Links

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This and all KPBSD media releases are online at this web page: http://bit.ly/MediaPublicRelationships

News Release: KPBSD, KPEA, KPESA reach Tentative Agreement

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD schools map 2016
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
KPBSD and the KPEA and the KPESA reach Tentative Agreement

Soldotna, September 7, 2016—The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD), the Kenai Peninsula Education Association (KPEA) and the Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association (KPESA) reached a Tentative Agreement, for a three year contract with certified (KPEA) and classified (KPESA) employees, for the time period July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2018.
The three year negotiated agreement adopts recommendations from the Arbitrator’s report (August, 2016) as is, with the addition of the FY16 bonus for KPESA members as offered by the KPBSD in its April 15, 2016 offer, and other date changes related to the new health care plan.
When the Associations ratify the tentative agreements, they will be presented for final approval by the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education during a public school board meeting.
Sean Dusek, superintendent said:

“I am pleased that we have reached a tentative agreement with our staff. I appreciate the hard work that all of the bargaining teams put in throughout the process. We are now able to move forward together to continue to provide a high quality education for all of our students.”

Link
KPBSD Collective Bargaining* webpage
*includes September 7, 2016 Tentative Agreement, and Advisory Arbitration August 2016 award to KPBSD, KPEA, KPESA documents
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This and all KPBSD media releases are online at this web page: http://bit.ly/MediaPublicRelationships

Time to volunteer on a KPBSD committee?

Are you interested in health and wellness, or sports and cocurricular activities? Indian education? Setting the districtwide school calendar?

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Consider volunteering for a KPBSD committee! Several opportunities are open:

KPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALLThe Kenai Peninsula School Activities Association (KPSAA) is seeking a Parent Representative to serve the remainder of the current term ending with the current school year. Parent Representatives are an important voice on the KPSAA Board, and will seek information from other KPBSD parents to report back to the KPSAA Board at our quarterly meetings. For more information, please contact Tiffany Eck no later than September 9, 2016 via email teck@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or by phone 907-714-8884. Our first meeting is scheduled for September 15, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Soldotna Prep school.
KPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALLThe KPBSD Wellness Committee is seeking nominations for a Parent Representative. The Wellness Committee is responsible for reviewing Board Policy 5141.6 Student Nutrition and Physical Activity for districtwide compliance and seeks input from our schools, parents and community members. The committee meets 2-3 times per year, typically in the central peninsula area. For more information, please contact Tiffany Eck no later than September 15, 2016, via email teck@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or by phone 907-714-8884. The first Wellness Committee meeting will be held on October 4, 2016 at the District Office building from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
KPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALLThe KPBSD Title VI Indian Education advisory committee seeks parent, student, and staff members to serve. Are you interested in setting priorities to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of our 1,200 Alaska Native and Native American students? Is encouraging or assisting our Alaska Native and Native American students to stay in school and pursue further education a value to you? Committee members must commit to quarterly meetings, usually held at the KPBSD office building in Soldotna. Remote area representatives participate via Skype for Business. Nominations for membership are due by September 20, 2016, and can be submitted by Region to Conrad Woodhead, KPBSD Native Education Coordinator, at cwoodhead@kpbsd.k12.ak.us. Questions? Please call 907-235-8671.
KPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALLThe KPBSD is recruiting members to review the 2017-2018 school calendar and make recommendations to the Board of Education for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years. Details and the application can be found here. Questions? Email NBates@kpbsd.k12.ak.us, or call 907-714-8858. Apply by October 3, 2016.

KPBSD Annual Report #golden #iAmKPBSD #innovation

 Thirty two pages of stories and photos offer a glimpse into our diverse district. You’ve got options if you missed the print version:
flip through the online page turning version
view in a PDF format online
download it to your computer or device

FY16 KPBSD Annual Report (1)

 

page turning
Tip: When you see this icon, you can click it to read more story details online. #golden

The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to develop productive, responsible citizens who are prepared to be successful in a dynamic world.

 

News Release: Arbitrator’s Advisory Award

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, communications liaison, 907.714.8888

News Release
Arbitrator’s Advisory Award

Soldotna, August 24, 2016—the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) received the Advisory Arbitration report after two days of Advisory Arbitration, June 1-2, 2016, with the Kenai Peninsula Education Association (KPEA) and the Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association (KPESA).
District administration and school board members are reviewing and analyzing Arbitrator Gary L. Axon’s recommendations.
The Arbitrator’s Advisory award can be viewed or downloaded on the KPBSD collective bargaining webpage, or via the KPBSD homepage from a link in the Community Interest section.
Link:
KPBSD Collective Bargaining webpage
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Cade Anderson | Nikiski Middle-High School #Classof2016

Cade Anderson [Nikiski Middle-High School] #Classof2016
Cade Anderson [Nikiski Middle-High School] #Classof2016
Valedictorian, Cade is a champion for his community, and takes pride in serving his community through mentoring youth in sports and recreational activities at the North Peninsula Recreation Center. The impacts are clear that the children who are mentored by Cade exemplify the highest levels of sportsmanship, teamwork, and compassion for others. Cade’s credibility as an emotionally intelligent leader was solidified through his years at NMHS by being chosen as the team captain on the football team that earned state berths to the championship game and was awarded academic state champions four straight years, being a member of the National Honor Society that led NMHS in service learning opportunities, and interacting with Nikiski North Star Elementary students during Citizenship Celebrations.
Cade will continue to build his repertoire of mentoring strategies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks where he will focus his studies on becoming a secondary education teacher with a focus on history, language arts, and coaching.