Author: Pegge Erkeneff

KPBSD and #SwanLakeFire information – August 20, 2019

8/20/19: 6:00 PMKPBSD logo
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District schools and the Swan Lake Fire

On Wednesday, August 21, 2019, Cooper Landing School will start the day with a two-hour delay start.

The final determination about a full day closure will be made no later than 9:00 AM. A two-hour delay start allows the KPBSD to work with multiple agencies to determine the safety of opening or closing a school. If a full day closure is warranted, an announcement is made as soon as possible in the morning through the district website www.KPBSD.com, social media, mobile app, school communications, and media partners.
All other KPBSD schools will open on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, on a normal schedule.
Absences will be excused if parents choose to keep children at home due to air quality, road closures, or wildfire activity in their area.
 

Bus transportation for River City Academy, Skyview Middle School, Soldotna High School, and Sterling Elementary

The northern bus stops for Route 108 and Route 110 might be adjusted depending on Sterling Highway closures or partial closures. Information will be assessed early in the morning, and if there are changes, they will be announced by Apple Bus at approximately 6:00 AM for Route 108, and by 7:30 AM for Route 110. KPBSD will also post these updates on social media.
 

Outdoor recess and physical activity at all school locations may be modified based on the Air Quality Levels.

 

Positive OPT-IN to receive text messages from KPBSD or schools


The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District utilizes a text messaging service for parents and staff through mobile phone contacts in PowerSchool or the employee portal. A positive OPT-IN is required to receive text messages. Text yes or Y to 67587. This communications service only includes KPBSD staff, parents, and guardians.
 

Swan Lake Fire community meetings:

  • Wednesday, 8/21/19, Cooper Landing School, 6:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, 8/22/19, Sterling Community Center, 6:00 p.m.

 

Several sports events are scheduled for the upcoming weekend including the annual 2019 Tsalteshi Invite.

Air quality levels and highway closures will be assessed late in the week to determine if sporting events will happen. A decision about the 2019 Tsalteshi Invite will be made on Friday.

To find helpful or emergency information:

  • 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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Head of the Bay schools are open on normal schedule

The Borough call center received questions asking if school is open.KPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
YES! Kachemak Selo, Razdolna, and Voznesenka schools are open on a normal schedule, Tuesday, August 20, 2019.
Cooper Landing School is the only closed KPBSD school on August 20, 2019.
The Caribou Lake Fire is not impacting East End Road. Drivers are asked to use caution and yield to fire vehicles and first responders.
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.

Apple Bus Co. Alert for Tuesday, August 20, 2019

8/20/19, 7:15 AM UPDATE: Your child will receive an excused absence if the Sterling Highway closure affects the ability of your child to attend school today, August 20, 2019. Any additional traffic on the highway impacts fire traffic.
 
original post:
Apple Bus Co. Alert for Tuesday, August 20, 2019:
Traffic is backed up on the Sterling Highway due to the road closure. Buses for River City Academy, Skyview Middle School, Soldotna High School, and Sterling Elementary School cannot get past Feuding Lane this morning. Please either plan to transport your child yourself or meet the buses at Feuding Lane.
Apple Bus anticipates:
Route 108 will be at Feuding Lane at approximately 0630-0645
Route 110 will be at Feuding Lane at approximately 0820 – 0830
Contact Apple Bus: 907-262-4900

information: Caribou Lake Fire, 8/19/19, 8:00 PM

The school district contacted family and staff contacts in PowerSchool associated with Kachemak-Selo, Razdolna, and Voznesenka schools with this message, on Monday evening:
The school district is contacting you with this important information about the Caribou Lake Fire at the request of the Borough Office of Emergency Management
KPB Alerts information, 8/19/19 8:00 pm
The fast moving Caribou Lake Fire, located about 25 miles northeast of Homer in the Fox Creek Drainage, has grown from 50 acres to approximately 150 acres in the last hour. A load of smokejumpers have been deployed to work on structure protection for the nearly 30 structures that are threatened by the fire.
Tactical firefighting aircraft – including Fire Bosses, two heavy airtankers, and the local Alaska Division of Forestry helicopter – are currently assisting firefighters on the ground with both water and retardant drops. The fire is 100 percent active, burning in black spruce, and backing east due to winds from the west.
Because of aircraft working in the area, civilians are asked to stay out of the area for their own safety. Being in the area, even on the ground, can impede fire operations.
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.

KPBSD and #SwanLakeFire #NorthForkFire Update: August 19, 2019, 5:00 PM

August 19, 2019: 5:00 PMKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District schools and the Swan Lake Fire & North Fork Fire

All KPBSD schools will open on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, with the exception of Cooper Landing School.

Outdoor recess and physical activity may be modified based on the Air Quality Index.
Cooper Landing School will be closed on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, due to Swan Lake Fire activity. The district is in close contact with the Office of Emergency Management, and determined this is the best and safest action at this time. A decision will be made Tuesday afternoon to determine if school will open on Wednesday.
An uptick in fire activity occurred in the North Fork Fire northwest of Homer. The district is in communication with the OEM office about this fire activity, and does not anticipate any school closures near this fire, at this time.
If any unexpected changes for schools on Tuesday occur, an announcement will be posted on the KPBSD website, mobile app, and social media. Individual schools will contact parents in their usual communication method.
Follow KPB Alerts on Facebook, or visit www.KPBoem.blogspot.com for up-to-date fire information.

KPBSD and Swan Lake Fire Update: August 18, 2019, 7:45 PM

August 18, 2019, 7:45 PMKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District schools and Swan Lake Fire

Cooper Landing School: KPBSD will make a determination on Monday afternoon based on fire activity and recommendations from OEM if Cooper Landing School will open on Tuesday or postpone the first day of school. This decision and announcement will be made and communicated by Monday evening.
At this time, we anticipate all other KPBSD schools will open on Tuesday for the first day of school on a normal schedule.
KPBSD staff: if the Sterling Highway road closure impacts your ability to arrive to work at your scheduled time on Monday, contact your school administrator. The district recognizes this is a highly unusual and unpredictable fire event, and HR will work with staff who are stranded and unable to make it to work on time.
Nanwalek and Port Graham schools will open for the first day of school on Monday, August 19, 2019, on a normal schedule.
Shelter sites: Seward High School and the Soldotna Sports Center are open to stranded motorists and travelers. Thank you Seward High!
Follow KPB Alerts on Facebook, or visit www.KPBoem.blogspot.com for up-to-date fire information.

News Release: August 15, 2019, Collective Bargaining Update

KPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALLSoldotna, August 15, 2019—The school district met with the Kenai Peninsula Education Association (KPEA) and Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association (KPESA) for several hours on Tuesday, August 13, 2019, for collective bargaining. A tentative agreement was not reached.
On August 13, 2019, the District proposed increasing its portion of the cap contribution to the employee cost of the health care plan by $250 month, or $3,000 per member (employee), per year.
The District agreed to pay $668,748 in a lump sum to the employee’s health insurance reserve account to return it to the minimum required balance of $750,000. This will eliminate the need for individual employees to repay $618 per employee during the FY20 school year.
During bargaining in May, KPEA and KPESA proposed the elimination of the Traditional Health Care Plan, and to migrate everyone to one High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). The District offered to change its current self-funded High Deductible Health Plan’s benefit and coverage structure to mirror either the Fairbanks North Star Borough School Districts’ Plan B or Plan C. It would be the Associations’ choice.
The salary offer is 0.5% in FY19 (for current employees); 1% in FY20; and 2% in FY21. These increases are in addition to the salary increases employees receive for step movement on their respective salary schedules.
The Associations rejected the District proposal, and made a new offer to the District. A cost analysis of their health care offer is needed, and the District contacted its health plan broker to work with the actuary to provide that detailed examination of the Associations proposal. The time frame turnaround for the analysis is not yet known.
The District continues to be asked if there will be a strike.
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.
Link: KPBSD proposal to KPEA and KPESA, August 13, 2019
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KPBSD proposals to KPEA and KPESA, August 13, 2019

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) proposals to the Kenai Peninsula Education Association (KPEA) and Kenai Peninsula Educations Support Association (KPESA) provided during bargaining on Tuesday, August 13, 2019.
 

PDF: August 13, 2019 Package Proposal to KPEA and KPESA

 

 
This KPBSD Collective Bargaining webpage contains links to all past proposals and additional facts. (Updates will be made to this webpage on 8.14.19)
 
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What will happen if there is a strike in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District?

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
News ReleaseKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL

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

Read or download this in a PDF
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August Board of Education Public Involvement Opportunities

2019-08-05 BOE August meeting
10:30 a.m. Special Meeting: Executive Session-Negotiations
The public is welcome observe and learn during committee meetings and work sessions, but all public testimony is reserved for the 6:00 PM Board of Education meeting.
Committee Meetings-Redoubt Conference Room

  • 12:30 p.m. Information Committee
  • 1:30 p.m. Charter School Committee
  • 2:30 p.m. Board Policy Committee

 

Worksessions-Assembly Chambers

  • 3:30 p.m. KPB Drinking Water Inspection Change
  • 4:00 p.m. FY20 Budget Update
  • 4:30 p.m. Board Discussion

 

6:00 p.m. Monthly Board Meeting*

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Chambers in Soldotna
Streamed live: http://bit.ly/KPBSDschoolboard  
Online documents: http://bit.ly/BoardDocsKPBSD  
*remote testimony from Homer or Seward will be available, if at least one person signs-up by noon on the Thursday prior to the Monday school board 6:00 PM meeting. Call 714-8836 to RSVP or with questions.