Year: 2019

PEAKS student results now in PowerSchool for parents

PEAKS-logo 2019
AKScience-logo 2019
September 5, 2019
Dear KPBSD parents and guardians,
The 2019 Spring Performance Evaluation for Alaska’s School (PEAKS) student results is available for your review on September 6, 2019, in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.*

“PEAKS is one assessment used to help provide a picture of how our students are doing to meet state standards,” said Superintendent John O’Brien. “PEAKS is significantly more in line with national expectations and even though we do not receive district data on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), we believe our results on NAEP would mirror PEAKs results. We are proud of what our students accomplish with the education they receive in our schools and that they are ready for life, college, and career when they earn a KPBSD diploma.”

If you have any questions, kindly contact your child’s school. The State of Alaska PEAKS webpage offers additional information you may find helpful, and you can read the KPBSD letter to parents from the Director of Assessments for additional information from the school district.
*instructions to locate the report in PowerSchool
Sincerely,
Assessment Department, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
www.KPBSD.org
Opt-in to receive SMS messages from KPBSD, if you have a cellular phone number listed in your PowerSchool contact, Text Y or YES to 67587.
The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to empower all learners to positively shape their futures.
 
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How federal funds benefit KPBSD in 2019-2020 and beyond

2019-09 Federal Programs

Understand how you can assist, and why it matters

“Federal funds provide critical resources for students and teachers, alike. Completion of the Student Programs application–even by families who don’t want free or reduced price meals–is important to the continuation of these federally funded programs. During this time of shrinking state financial resources, doing all we can to maximize our access to federal resources is even more important.” –Dr. Christine Ermold, Director of Professional Development and Federal Programs

In 1965, federal funds were established through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to ensure that all children have a fair and equal opportunity to education.
KPBSD has developed programs to support struggling learners all around the district, and various forms are included in school registration packets each year to help identify qualifying students and families.
Your voluntary participation to complete these forms–even if you do not think you qualify-could assist the entire school district. Visit your school office to complete the forms if you haven’t done so yet. In the 2019-2020 school year, $5.6 million* in federal funds will provide supports for some of the most vulnerable youth in our communities.
Read and download the FY20 Federal Allocations PDF to see amounts and number of students and staff in various categories.

*The annual federal tax dollars that KPBSD receives are based on identifying and documenting qualified students and families. Additional federal funds are allocated to Student Support Services (special education) and through the Carl Perkins grant, which supports career and technical education.

  • Title 1 purpose is to provide fair and equitable educational opportunities to students identified as economically disadvantaged. KPBSD’s targeted assistance provides support to identified pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first, and second graders in those schools with more than 35% of enrolled students identified as economically disadvantaged. The ten Title I prekindergarten programs currently serve 217 students. Title I has also provided reading support to 350 kindergarten, first and second grade students in nineteen Title I schools.

 

  • Title 1C Migrant supports the needs of migratory students across the district. In order to be identified as migratory, students must have traveled away from home a minimum of seven nights and eight days due to economic necessity. KPBSD has 400 migrant students enrolled in the district.

 

  • McKinney Vento provides clothing, school supplies and transitional services for homeless youth so that they experience consistent, uninterrupted learning opportunities.

 

  • Title ID Delinquent/Neglected and Youth in Detention provide staffing, professional development, and academic activities to Marathon School, Kenai’s youth detention facility.

 

  • Title IIA Professional Development funds support the improvement of teacher and principal quality including training on curriculum resources, teacher collaboration opportunities, administrative effective instruction training, new teacher induction, and other professional development events.

 

  • Title IIIA English Learners provides teacher and tutor training in differentiation strategies to support identified EL students. KPBSD has 332 EL students representing 23 languages.

 

  • Title IVA Student Support and Academic Enrichment supports activities directed at well-rounded educational opportunities, safe and healthy students, and the effective use of technology.

 

  • Title VI Indian Education supports tutoring to Native youth in KPBSD middle and high schools. Last year, 68% of students receiving tutoring services through Title VI demonstrated academic improvement.

 

  • E-Rate funds are used to support telecommunication infrastructure within and between schools. These funds are based on a tiered system of the district’s economically disadvantaged eligibility rate.

 
To learn more about KPBSD federal programs, go to http://bit.ly/FederalProgramsKPBSD
Download the FY20 Federal Allocations PDF to see amounts and number of students and staff in various categories.
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KPBSD outdoor activity and travel restrictions removed!

Good news!
All restrictions for outdoor activities due to air quality, and activity related travel between Sterling and Cooper Landing on Sterling Highway are removed effective September 3, 2019.
Cooper Landing School will reopen September 4, 2019, on a normal schedule!
Thank you to everyone for your patience throughout the past 14 days while these restrictions were in place for student and staff safety.
 2019-09-03 sports and activity travel restriction removed
KPB Office of Emergency Management Release: September 3, 2019 Cooper Landing and Sterling Alert Levels Reduced; Pilot Cars Gone:

“The Great Basin Incident Management Team 1 managing the Swan Lake Fire, in coordination with the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management, has changed the alert levels in Cooper Landing and Sterling which is reflective of the hard work of fire crews and the recent change in weather.  The wetter conditions and cooler temperatures projected through mid-September, support this decision.
Cooper Landing and Sterling residents should remain aware and prepared however, until a fire-season ending weather transition occurs. Fire managers say several inches of rain across all areas of the Swan Lake Fire are needed before the fire will be identified as “controlled”.
On the Sterling Highway, traffic will resume normal operations without pilot cars, however, drivers may continue to see them in road construction zones. Motorists are encouraged to use caution as fire-weakened trees, which can fall over, remain a hazard. Motorists should drive with headlights on at all times and be aware of fire personnel and vehicles still in the fire area. Skilak Lake Road remains closed.”

 
Helpful alerts:

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Healthcare offers – KPBSD contribution on behalf of employee

2019-08 health care proposals
  • The teacher & support staff unions want the school district to pay $27,076 per year for each employee member in the school district health care program.
  • The school district offered to pay $24,068.
  • The difference of $3,008 per year, per employee, in the 2019-2020 school year, is $ 3,224,972.
Collective Bargaining web page with offers, documents, Advisory Interest Arbitration Report.

Superintendent O'Brien Letter to KPBSD Parents and Guardians about Potential Strike

August 30, 2019KPBSD logo
Dear Parents and Guardians in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District:
It is with a heavy heart that I must compose this letter to you today. Union leadership continues to threaten this community with a strike that they state could occur “as early as September 16.” I believe that the serious action of a strike initiated by union leadership is preventable and unnecessary. Please know that I have directed the school district’s negotiation team to work tirelessly to engage the unions to find a fiscally responsible compromise to reach a tentative agreement. However, in the unfortunate event that a few union leaders call for a strike, you as parents must be prepared and ready.
Now is the time for you to prepare contingency plans for your children. If union leaders call a strike, I will receive a 72-hour notice, and then be forced to place all of our schools into an EMERGENCY SCHOOLS CLOSURE (see attached document, “What Will Happen If There Is A Strike in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District?”).  An EMERGENCY SCHOOLS CLOSURE consists of all 42 KPBSD schools, and includes all before and after school activities, sports, Connections Homeschool, charter and alternative schools, distance delivery programs, community school activities, pools, and any rentals or usage of school facilities. The emergency closure includes Boys and Girls Club activities in any KPBSD school or facility.
Specific to sports and activities, the unions are trying to assert that it is “the district’s choice to cancel sports.” This is not true. If there is a strike, the members of those unions will no longer be providing the educational and supporting services that they agreed to provide in their respective negotiated agreements. In addition, the teachers’ negotiated agreement includes the terms and conditions of employment for coaches and activity sponsors. The strike will cripple the school district’s ability to continue its critical and core reason for existence—the education of our students. As a result, I will have no option except to initiate a closure of all schools and all school activities.
Union leaders cannot dictate which contractual obligations of their negotiated agreement they will or will not perform. Therefore, a strike is a union leadership decision that requires a school district plan and response. If union leadership calls the strike, this will deny the educational community of its right to a public education and will result in the closure of all schools and all activities that occur in or on school facilities.
My efforts are intently focused on reaching an agreement. Any decision to strike is solely the decision of union leaders. The school district remains willing to meet as often and as long as necessary to find a fiscally responsible compromise to reach a tentative agreement and avoid an unnecessary strike.
With hopefulness,
John O’Brien
Superintendent of Schools,
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
PDF: 8.30.19 Superintendent O’Brien Letter to KPBSD Parents and Guardians about Potential Strike

What will happen if there is a strike in the KPBSD?

 

What will happen if there is a strike in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District?KPBSD logo

 

  • 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.

 

  • Make up of any cancelled high school sports and extracurricular activities are subject to the rules of KPSAA, affiliate region boards, and ASAA. Some 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.

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Collective Bargaining 8-27-19 between KPBSD and KPEA-KPESA

Bargaining on August 27, 2019 will be streamed via Facebook Live on the @KPBSD page. It’s also open to the public to attend beginning at 4:30 PM in the Soldotna High School library.
During collective bargaining on August 24, 2019, KPEA and KPESA requested information about the health care cost estimate for 2020-2021 (FY21). This document contains the requested information.
August 24, 2019 Collective Bargaining post:
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) package proposal to the Kenai Peninsula Education Association (KPEA) and Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association (KPESA) to settle FY19-FY20-FY21 bargaining, provided during negotiations on Saturday, August 24, 2019.

PDF: 8.24.19 KPBSD Package Proposal to KPEA and KPESA to settle FY19-FY20-FY21 bargaining

This KPBSD Collective Bargaining webpage contains links to all past proposals and additional facts. (Updates will be made to this webpage on 8.26.19)
Facebook Live videos of bargaining (videos may be viewed through @KPBSD Facebook links):

Additional PDF handouts during bargaining:

KPBSD logo

8.26.19 – KPBSD school closure, activity travel, air quality update

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District wildfires and air quality alert:
outdoor activity, sports, travel cancellations & restrictions, school closure

“KPBSD places the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff, and parents before any other consideration. Since the resurgence of the Swan Lake Fire after the wind event on Saturday, August 17, 2019, and two new fire starts, our community has been challenged by smoke, fire, road closures, and is on edge. Depending on wind direction, every region of our district has also contended with unhealthy air quality. Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this ongoing event.” –Superintendent John O’Brien

2019-08-26 sports and activity travel restrictions

School is cancelled at Cooper Landing School on Tuesday, August 27, 2019.*

Effective August 26, 2019, until further notice: Activity related travel between Sterling and Cooper Landing on Sterling Highway between MP 45-71 is cancelled until further notice.

Local air quality and predictions will determine if OUTDOOR activities and athletics at or hosted by KPBSD schools are restricted.

School administrators will determine if recess, outdoor classroom activities, and sports practice will take place based on Air Quality conditions in their immediate area. Cancellations or restrictions may happen if conditions change rapidly.
Daily evaluations and consultation with the Borough Office of Emergency Management (OEM), fire officials, and state air quality resources will inform changes.
*At 7:45 PM on 8/26/19, The Cooper Landing evacuation alert moved to Level 2, SET. A Level 2 (SET) Evacuation is NOT a notice to leave. At Level 2 SET, load your 6 P’s: People, Pets, Pills, Photos, Personal (computer back-up info), and important Papers. Read the full Level 2 SET evacuation alert for Cooper Landing: http://bit.ly/2ZgWrwV
Follow KPB Alerts on Facebook, and for additional information on the Ready-Set-Go! Evacuation Guidelines and up-to-date fire information, visit www.kpboem.com or call 907-262-INFO.
 
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KPBSD 8.26.19 outdoor activity and student travel update

KPBSD anticipates all 42 schools will open on a normal schedule on on Monday, August 26, 2019.KPBSD logo
Air quality is a top concern for schools and the health of our students, staff, and athletes. Your KPBSD school district is working closely with the Borough Office of Emergency Management, the Great Basin National Type 1 Incident Management Team, agency cooperators, and onsite information from school principals to make the best decisions for the safety of all of our students, staff, and the team of teams fighting wildfires burning on the peninsula.
Superintendent O’Brien will make a decision on Monday about outdoor recess and class activities, and outdoor athletic practices and events. A full update about activities, sports, and travel will post by Monday afternoon. A significant weather change is not expected this week, and so this will likely continue to cause delays and closures on the Sterling Highway between MP 53-71 due to smoke and active fire or fire operations.
Parents and guardians: based on what is best for your child, if you keep your child at home due to air quality or fire activity near you, the absence will be excused. The website Purpleair.com now has four sensors on the peninsula and is a helpful resource to check air quality in your general region.
Follow KPB Alerts on Facebook, and for additional information on the Ready-Set-Go! Evacuation Guidelines and up-to-date fire information, visit www.kpboem.com or call 907-262-INFO.