Author: Pegge Erkeneff

News Release: KPBSD Public Budget Forum and Public Pool Use meetings

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD 50 years logo Smallest version
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
News Release

How would you spend 167 million dollars?

Soldotna, February 10, 2015—KPBSD faces a multi-million dollar deficit for a status quo budget in 2015-2016. If you care about quality schools and an excellent public education for our Kenai Peninsula K-12 students, please attend a public meeting in your area. 
In addition, KPBSD seeks input to evaluate the operation of the pools within our schools. Community members are asked to provide thoughts about how to improve pool usage, and help KPBSD examine cost efficiencies.

“The KPBSD focus is to maximize opportunities for the students in our classrooms,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “The district looks forward to gathering innovative options from the public to help us address our fiscal realities. Additionally, we want to hear ideas from the public related to our pool usage and operation costs.”

Parents, employees, students, community members—please attend. Mark your calendar and bring your questions and ideas to a KPBSD public meeting, where you will learn about the district budget perspective, expenditures, revenues, and receive responses to your questions.

KPBSD Public Pool Use Meeting and Public Budget Forum Meetingsmoney

  • Tuesday, February 17, 2015, Seward High School library
    • 5:00 Pool Use; 5:30 p.m. Public Budget Meeting
  • Wednesday, February 18, 2015, Soldotna High School library
    • 5:00 Pool Use; 5:30 p.m. Public Budget Meeting
  • Tuesday, February 24, 2015, Homer High School library
    • 5:00 Pool Use; 5:30 p.m. Public Budget Meeting

Link
KPBSD finance department and budget documents: http://bit.ly/FinanceKPBSD
February 10 2015 News Release: Public Budget Forum
###
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
Please contact me with questions or connections to be made for your KPBSD district and school stories.
 

Librarian Lisa Whip receives Golden Apple award

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Golden Apple Award | February 2, 2015
Lisa Whip, School Librarian

West Homer Elementary librarian Lisa Whip awarded Golden Apple by KPBSD Board of Education
West Homer Elementary librarian Lisa Whip awarded Golden Apple by KPBSD Board of Education

 

“The moment when a student of any level or age discovers a book that they are passionate about is the most exciting part of my job as a librarian. At that point the student’s desire to read unlocks the world of books and for the first time they understand why other people read for pleasure. They become voracious readers. There is no stopping them!” – Lisa Whip

“Over the past eleven years, Mrs. Lisa Whip has turned the West Homer Elementary library into the heart and soul of our school, where students flock to find new books to read and sources for research projects, as well as a place to find a supportive ear and safe place to relax,” said Lyn Maslow, educator. “Teachers go to the library to find materials to support curriculum, scour the professional library that Mrs. Whip has developed, and find the latest cool book or series that was purchased.”
Mrs. Whip’s specialty is finding a magic book or series that switches a reluctant reader into an independent reader who keeps coming back for more. She has many strategies that help students become lifelong readers.
Mrs. Whip helps support innovative school programs. For example, when the school developed a nature trail, Mrs. Whip gathered resources and books that would support the science activities that would take place along the trail. She helped preserve and house a herbarium that the students created from the trail. When the school planted a garden, she put together a gardening section for the library. She has been an integral part of schoolwide programs such as Battle of Books, Book Fair, and Readathon.
Mrs. Whip implemented the Scholastic Lexile measure system Reading Counts into the library so that students would have school wide access to determine their Lexile levels—which led to students reading books on just the right level. She then helped students set goals for their reading, and a means to achieve those goals. The program has raised the number of books students read in order to meet personal goals. To accomplish this, she solicited funds, and coordinated volunteers from staff and the local Rotary Club to spend weekends Lexile formatting books. She coordinates two successful book fairs every year which draw many people from the community, and has evening book nights. Additionally, she has an ongoing book swap at a designated spot outside of the library, so students can exchange personal books for new ones.
Mrs. Whip works collaboratively with the children’s librarian at the Homer Public Library to increase the technology component of the West Homer Elementary library. This helps develop the role of technology in both the school and community libraries. “She procured funds to purchase iPads for each teacher in the school,” said Maslow. “And over the past two years we have been sharing different apps that are beneficial for our students.”
A tireless advocate for all students and teachers, Mrs. Whip has taken professional development classes with teachers, and then added resources from the classes to the professional library at the school. Over the past three summers, several educators participated in the Writing Institute at the Teacher’s College at Columbia University, in New York City. During the institute, Mrs. Whip collected recommended mentor texts that teachers could use in their language arts curriculum. The students would not be the successful student readers, nor West Homer Elementary be a Blue Ribbon School, without her passion for literacy.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Lisa Whip for her dedication to the students of the school district—past, present, and future.

Lisa Whip, school librarian
Lisa Whip, school librarian

Addressing the  school board and  meeting attendees, Lisa Whip said, “Now I would like to let you in on a little secret. Every day I get to West Homer really early in the morning and walk through the silent halls to the library. When I open the door to the 25,000 books waiting for me on the shelves, I say out loud Good morning West Homer Library—you are awesome! and in the same breath I whisper Thank you IT Team* for without you keeping the library systems whirring and programs running the library would come to a screeching halt! …There is a brilliance hidden in every one of us waiting to be discovered. As a librarian, I support each child in finding their brilliance through books that are just right for them.”
*Information Technology
Golden Apple Awards
The Board of Education bestows Golden Apple Awards to school district employees, volunteers, and community organizations that go to extra lengths to support and advance education. Recipients are honored at a school board meeting with a proclamation and an engraved apple award. District employees, parents, school board members, volunteers, and community members are eligible to make nominations for the award. Complete a nomination form, write a letter of nomination explaining why you believe the nominee is deserving of special recognition. Click for additional information.
Links
Golden Apple information and nomination form
Past Golden Apple Award Recipients

News Release: Public Comment Opportunity in School District Negotiations

Alaska Statute AS 23.40.235 states that a school district “shall provide opportunities for public comment on the issues to be addressed in the collective bargaining process.”

News ReleaseKPBSD 50 years logo Smallest version
Public Involvement in School District Negotiations*

Soldotna, January 14, 2015—The public is invited to comment about issues that will be addressed in the collective bargaining process via an online comment form, or by email, fax, mail, or in person at the district office.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) plans to begin Collective Bargaining negotiations with the Kenai Peninsula Education Association (KPEA), and the Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association (KPESA) by the last week in January, 2015. The process includes items for discussion such as compensation, employee benefits, health care, and work environment that one or both sides want to address for possible revision. A link to the online comment form is posted on the KPBSD website homepage. Additionally:

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Attn: Negotiations 2015
148 N. Binkley, Soldotna, Alaska 99669
Fax: 907.262.5867

*AS 23.40.235. Public Involvement in School District Negotiations
Before beginning bargaining, the school board of a city or borough school district or a regional educational attendance area shall provide opportunities for public comment on the issues to be addressed in the collective bargaining process. Initial proposals, last-best-offer proposals, tentative agreements before ratification, and final agreements reached by the parties are public documents and are subject to inspection and copying under AS 40.25.110 – 40.25.140.
Links

###

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
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

Social Media and Communications: an online Language Arts class experiment

Social Media and Communications: It’s a racetrack out there!
Greetings! This has been an experiment for me … unable to be a guest presenter as planned to KPBSD Amanda Adams online Language Arts class, I took the PowerPoint I created, learned to add audio (via Screencast-o-matic), converted to a video, uploaded to YouTube, and am posting here.
Please view the two videos (Part 1 and Part 2), then post your questions and comments in this blog. I look forward to hearing from you and engaging your insight and questions!
This has been a fun beginning learning process to deliver this presentation to you!
Pegge Erkeneff, KPBSD communication specialist
LINKS:

woordle 4 blues
Social Media and Communications - Pegge Erkeneff

 “You would think after 12 months of having a car with a push button start I would stop looking for the key hole.”     – Jamie Whincup

 

Treat yourself: KPBSD Winter Music Programs

Winter concerts KPBSD 2014
KPBSD Winter Music Program
Please treat yourself and attend a music concert or school play in December!

*Many of the school hyperlinks are to their school Facebook pages. Click, follow, and like to connect with your neighborhood school!
**KPBSD has a mobile app, with all school events on the calendar! Learn more, and download the app free.
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, 148 N. Binkley Street, Soldotna, Alaska 99669   907.714.8888

news release: Seward Elementary wins 10K for Hour of Code

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictPrint
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
Seward Elementary awarded 10K for Hour of Code

Soldotna, December 2, 2014—Second grade Seward Elementary teacher, Leigh Ray, organized an Hour of Code for her school last year, and invited other KPBSD schools to participate. Imagine her surprise in November, 2014, when she learned her school would receive $10,000 worth of computer hardware and accessories from Code.org. In addition, Seward Elementary was one of 51 schools, and the only school in Alaska to receive the award!
“What’s exciting to me about this gift is the increased opportunities it gives our students here in Seward,” said Leigh Ray. “We already have an award-winning school and a supportive little town, and through this gift, our ability to educate our elementary students with first class technology has leapt forward substantially! Imagine what this will do for our students’ curiosity, aspirations, and love of learning! Through technology, our world has changed. It’s only natural that our classrooms should be equipped to support learning that matches those changes.”
Hour of Code 2014The international Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to show that anyone can learn the basics of computer coding. Last year during Computer Education Week, nearly 15 million students tried computer science in one week. This year, December 8 – 14, 2014, marks a week when tens of millions of students in 180+ countries will participate.
A Seward Elementary assembly will take place at 1:00, December 8, 2014, to celebrate the educational experience taking place in the school, and accept the $10,000 award.
“We are very excited that Seward Elementary has won this opportunity through the efforts of the school and in particular, educator Leigh Ray,” said Sean Dusek, KPBSD superintendent. “Utilizing projects that are application based like this are the kinds of activities that make a real difference in developing student thinking and technology skills. I am very happy the school is emphasizing 21st Century learning schools in this manner. Congratulations Seward Elementary!”
Links
http://hourofcode.com/us
KPBSD story: Hour of Code, 2013 http://bit.ly/KPBSDHourOfCode

20131217_HL_HourOfCode_LEAD
Hour of Code, 2013, Seward Elementary

 

News Release: Shop fire at Susan B. English School in Seldovia

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District News Release
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News ReleaseKPBSD logo for media release
Susan B. English School shop fire

Soldotna, November 26, 2014—An early morning fire on Monday, November 24, 2014, at the Susan B. English school shop appears to have been caused by spontaneous combustion due to rags in a garbage can. There were no injuries, and the fire was an accident.
Current situation, Wednesday, November 26, 2014, consists of water, smoke, and soot damage, and unknown as of yet, structural damage. Currently the building is being stabilized, and the focus is on restoring heat.
There is NO ACCESS to the building at this time. The only exception is Kenai Peninsula Borough maintenance department or authorized personnel.
During the week of December 1, structural assessment and analysis, capital projects, planning and operations, and insurers will begin damage assessment and the scope of repairs needed  including asbestos analysis.
No decisions about the future of the building are being made at this time, and financial estimates are not yet available
After all assessments are made, KPBSD will provide a subsequent community update.
KPBSD is very thankful to the city employee who saw flames and called the Volunteer Fire Department (VFD). Further thanks extend to the VFD who responded swiftly to fight the fire.
Questions:  contact  Julie Cisco, KPBSD director of planning and operations, 907-714-8820, JCisco@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
News Release: KPBSD_2014_11_26 Susan B. English fire

Caution: student safety traveling to and from school

PrintSoldotna, November 12, 2014—This morning, November 12, 2014, an elementary age student was taken to Central Peninsula Hospital with what appears to be a non-life-threatening injury, after being struck by a passenger vehicle near K-Beach Road in Soldotna, while walking to a bus stop.
Student safety is always the district’s top priority. In response to this accident, KPBSD will review what took place this morning and then as necessary, take corrective action. If you have concerns about other bus stops and routes to schools, please contact either KPBSD transportation at 907-714-8824, or First Student, our bus transportation provider, at 907-260-3557.
SAFETY REMINDER: With the late sunrise and early sunset, many of our students are traveling to and from school in the dark. The lack of light and snow may make it difficult to see students. Parents: safety and reflective tape is available from Kenai Peninsula Safe Kids—please make sure your child is visible at bus stops and while walking or riding a bicycle. Reflective tape on jackets, backpacks, and caps is helpful! Drivers: please watch out for students, and slowdown in school zones.
TIP: Contact Jane Fellman with Kenai Peninsula Safe Kids if you would like to receive free reflective tape or a reflective zipper pull tab for your child’s jacket, backpack, or cap. The reflective tape increases visibility. Call 907-714-4539, or email safekids@cpgh.org.
Links

Walk your child to school KPBSD

Candlelight Vigil for homeless youth and families

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District News ReleasePrint
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

Candlelight Vigil for homeless youth and families

Soldotna, November 5, 2014—Families and unaccompanied youth are homeless on the peninsula. An invisible reality to most residents, the number 253 is important. Would it surprise you to know that 253 is the average number of students who are homeless in the KPBSD Students In Transition (SIT) program, and attending a KPBSD school?
The community is invited to learn more at an annual candlelight vigil for homeless youth and families:

Thursday, November 13, 2014

6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Farnsworth Park

Birch Street, Soldotna, Alaska

Guest speaker Dr. Steve Atwater, KPBSD superintendent, will help raise awareness about the reality of homelessness on the Kenai Peninsula. Music will be provided by Beau Miller and Scott Lazaros. Please dress for the weather.
The SIT program has enrolled 138 students since the start of the school year, which is thirty-three percent higher than last year at this time. In the central peninsula, 111 youth are enrolled, and thirteen are unaccompanied youth, while ninety-eight are with a family unit. In the southern peninsula, twenty-seven students are enrolled, eighteen are unaccompanied youth, and nine are with a family unit.
“One of our more persistent challenges is serving our students in transition,” said Dr. Steve Atwater, superintendent. “The good work of our students in transition coordinator Kelly King and our Students in Transition Facebook page are helping us to meet this challenge. The public vigil is a good opportunity for all of us to stop and reflect on our students in transition. I trust that each of these students will benefit from this attention.”
2014 Candlelight Vigil Poster PDF with disclaimerAbout KPBSD Students in Transition (SIT) program
Students experiencing homelessness are provided assistance through two KPBSD homeless liaisons. This program’s primary purpose is to ensure that educational programs for students are not interrupted while they are in transition. In order to facilitate helping our communities grow in awareness and advocacy, KPBSD created a Facebook page to provide updates and resources. Please like and share, KPBSD Students in Transition.
The SIT program provides KPBSD Pre-K to12th grade students:
• An advocate to help students and families find the resources they need in the community for food, shelter, clothing, transportation, and permanent housing
• Free school lunches
• School supplies
• Immediate school enrollment
• Paperwork assistance to secure school documents
• Special academic support if needed
• Local referrals to other agencies
Eligible families or youth are those who lack a stable, adequate, and permanent place to sleep at night. If you or someone you know is sleeping in a motel, a camper, a tent, couch-surfing, or living with friends or relatives then this program can help.
KPBSD Students in Transition program contacts 
Kelly King, homeless liaison, serving Central Peninsula, Seward and Tyonek schools, kking@kpbsd.k12.ak.us, 907.714.8869
Jane Dunn, homeless liaison, serving Southern Peninsula schools and Ninilchik,
jdunn@kpbsd.k12.ak.us, 907.226.1890
Links

###

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
Homeless vigil 2011
 

Educator James Reinseth receives Golden Apple award

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Golden Apple Award | November 3, 2014
James Reinseth, Educator

Nanwalek teacher, James Reinseth, is awarded Golden Apple by KPBSD Board of Education
Nanwalek teacher James Reinseth awarded Golden Apple by KPBSD Board of Education

Dr. Atwater encourages us to teach students to be conscientious, resilient, and prudent. Mr. James Reinseth, a devoted K-1 teacher at Nanwalek School, exemplifies these qualities while also teaching them to his students through a culture of respect, high expectations, and constant formative feedback that encourages each to grow in academics, social behaviors, and work ethic.
Mr. Reinseth began teaching in Shungnak and remained there for eight years. Nanwalek gained his attention in 2007, and he has been of service to the community and district since, for a total of eighteen years in rural Alaska. Teacher turnover in villages interrupts learning. Mr. Reinseth’s longevity and devotion in his bush positions demonstrates commitment beyond what most are willing to offer.
In his words, Mr. Reinseth “lives to teach kindergarten and first grade.” Towering over his young students at more than six feet tall, Mr. Reinseth is driven to spend time with students—on the floor, bending over, or from his balcony view. During the last three years, Mr. Reinseth has shown tremendous growth in stepping out of his K-1 environment to participate and actively contribute in collaborations. Initial resistance led to gentle participation, then to active engagement to share his talents. In this, he passes on to others his incredible artistry in teaching.
Mr. Reinseth’s most notable contribution which will soon extend throughout the district came when Deb Evensen, an educational consultant, observed that Mr. Reinseth regularly implements with his regular education students the “Eight Magic Keys” that she recommends for students with compromised brains due to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE). Overcoming shyness and his natural inclination to stick to himself, Mr. Reinseth agreed to work with Nancy Kleine, principal; Deb Evensen; and Clayton Holland, director of student services, to capture his teaching for a training film for teachers. This film shows how to teach in ways that help all students without leaving behind those with brain dysfunctions.
After observing Mr. Reinseth over the last two years, Deb Evensen commented on Mr. Reinseth’s distinguished teaching: “Watching Jim Reinseth in action is like observing a great conductor lead a symphony. He guides his multi-level classroom of diverse learners through each day using multi-sensory, whole-brain strategies built on positive support and collaboration, and links everything to their daily lives. Jim is simply one of the most skilled educators I have ever observed during my forty year career as a teacher and consultant working with schools throughout North America.”
Every single day, Mr. Reinseth’s students live the eight magic keys: concrete, consistent, repetitive, routine, simple, specific, structured, and supervised. Literacy is constantly supported. His young students are addressed respectfully as Mr. and Miss. Thank you is heard often in Mr. Reinseth’s class. If an observer comes, not a beat is skipped in Mr. Reinseth’s constant feedback and positive reinforcement for students.
Mr. Reinseth also contributes expertise to other students in the school. Always willing, he has been an anchor to several former students who are struggling with personal issues. During the past two years, Mr. Reinseth taught welding academies for high school students. Every year, during the major holiday of Halloween in Nanwalek, Mr. Reinseth takes the reins for the annual school and community carnival. Finally, Mr. Reinseth endlessly helps new teachers who move to Nanwalek, whether it be to mentor them in curriculum or provide resources in the community.
Any district would be lucky to have a teacher of this caliber. That he is in Nanwalek is highly valued.The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize James Reinseth for his dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.

Nanwalek class with James Reinseth