Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
News Release
What will happen if there is a strike in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District?
Soldotna, August 7, 2019—The school district is hopeful that a tentative agreement will be reached when collective bargaining resumes with the Kenai Peninsula Education Association (KPEA) and Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association (KPESA) on Tuesday, August 13, 2019, starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Soldotna High School library. The district will provide updates following this and any subsequent collective bargaining dates.
The district is receiving questions from school principals, parents, and staff about what would happen if an agreement is not reached, and a union strike occurs.
This communication is provided solely to offer some clarity about what would happen if there is a work stoppage and emergency closure of schools.
- If the unions decide to call a strike, they are required to provide the Superintendent of Schools with 72-hour notice prior to a work stoppage. The Superintendent of Schools will immediately notify all staff, parents, community partners, contractors, etc. of the start date of the strike. A media release will be issued.
- EMERGENCY SCHOOLS CLOSURE: During a strike, every KPBSD school will be closed, including Connections Homeschool, charter and alternative schools, and distance delivery programs.
- An EMERGENCY SCHOOLS CLOSURE encompasses all before and after school activities, sports, community school activities, pools, and any rentals or usage of school facilities. The emergency closure includes Boys and Girls Club activities in every KPBSD school or facility. Only individuals approved by the Superintendent of Schools will have access to KPBSD schools and facilities.
- The cancellation of all high school sporting activities are subject to the rules of KPSAA, affiliate region boards, and ASAA. These contests may or may not be able to be made up.
- School session days and staff work days that are missed due to a strike must be made up. The number of days that schools are closed due to a strike will be added to the end of the 2019-2020 school year calendar in May.
- If a strike were to occur, daily updates will be issued about the EMERGENCY SCHOOLS CLOSURE. Official KPBSD communications will be posted on the KPBSD website and digital media platforms.
New school year registrations and activities will continue on a normal schedule. A change would not occur unless the Superintendent of Schools receives a 72-hour notice of a strike from the Associations.
Questions
- KPBSD staff: contact the Human Resources Department
- Media and public: contact KPBSD Communications, Pegge Erkeneff, Director of Communications, Community, and Government Relations, Pegge@KPBSD.org
Soldotna High School had student scheduling meetings set for 8/13/2019 today, but when we showed up with our children to meet with counselors they never came out to meet us. 9th, 10th, and 11th graders were able to make schedule changes, but 10th graders were not allowed. It appears that all of the teachers and counselors were having a union meeting and didn’t care about helping students and parents. Not one school employee came out to let all of us waiting that they were not going to meet with us. I think the teachers need a pay decrease instead of a pay increase.
The previous post is a bit ignorant coming from a parent with kids in school. Instead of shamelessly advocating for pay decreases for the people teaching your children, you could support them and recognize their value. Lack of education is one of the biggest weapons the Right is using against you to keep your ignorance at a level below where you can comprehend they are manipulating you believe lies. Wake up!