Category: KPBSD District Stories

What's happening? State of the KPBSD – April 6, 2017

2017_04_06 Key Communicator Hour web

You’re invited
State of the KPBSD with Superintendent Dusek
Thursday, April 6, 2017
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Everyone is welcome!

Superintendent Dusek will provide a legislative and budget update via Skype for Business, followed by time to respond to your questions. Learn about education related bills and school funding. Hosting schools:

  • Homer Middle School

  • Mountain View Elementary

  • Nikiski Middle-High School

  • Skyview Middle School

  • Susan B. English School

  • William H. Seward Elementary

“This is a critical juncture in Alaskan and American history. We are all working on providing the best education possible for our students every day. This takes hard work and certainty. Our Alaska legislature and borough can provide that certainty while maintaining public education as the number one priority of our state. At the federal level, public funds should also go to public entities while local control should be honored. We are at a crossroads and your voice will be critical to keep our system moving forward to develop high quality, productive citizens to be our future leaders.” – KPBSD Superintendent Sean Dusek

Parents: will your child be four by September 1? #PreK

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Pre-Kindergarten Title I assessments take place in April and May

 
Soldotna, March 27, 2017—Children who will be four years old by September 1, 2017, have an opportunity to attend pre-kindergarten classes at their local area school in the fall. To qualify for the classes, parents and guardians must contact their local area school to schedule a Pre-K assessment, and complete an application prior to the school screening appointment date.

  • Title I funded Pre-K programs available at specific sites in the KPBSD provide an excellent opportunity for children who turn four by September 1, 2017, to get a jumpstart on success in school
  • KPBSD’s Pre-K teachers are all certified and have specialized training in early childhood education
  • Programs are engaging and developmentally appropriate, with an emphasis on preparing children to be successful when they enter
  • Pre-K the KPBSD Way focuses on experiences that facilitate each child’s growth in the targeted areas of social and emotional development; approaches to learning; communication, language, literacy; cognitive development, and physical well-being.

 

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Parent or guardian action steps

  1. Contact local attendance area school for times and testing locations. (See alphabetical list of schools offering Pre-K sessions*)
  2. Complete a Pre-K Application—the school office in your attendance area will provide applications
  3. Return the application to your neighborhood school office during school hours
  4. Schedule your child’s assessment prior to the date for your neighborhood (Dates listed below)
  5. Children must be age 4 by September 1, 2017
  6. Title I KPBSD programs web link: Title 1 programs at KPBSD

 

*KPBSD Title I Elementary Schools and Screening dates

Students qualify for Title I services based on academic need

  • Chapman Elementary, 235-8671, May 1, 2017
  • Mountain View Elementary, 283-8600, May 3, 2017
  • Nikiski North Star Elementary, 776-2600, April 27, 2017
  • Ninilchik School, 567-3301, May 2, 2017
  • Paul Banks Elementary, 226-1801, April 13, 2017
  • Redoubt Elementary, 260-4300, April 24, 2017
  • Seward Elementary, 224-3356, April 28, 2017
  • Soldotna Elementary, 260-5100, April 26, 2017
  • Sterling Elementary, 262-4944, May 9, 2017
  • Tustumena Elementary, 260-1345, April 25, 2017
  • Voznesenka School, 235-8549, April 5, 2017

Title I programs are required to utilize effective, research based instruction, and must also provide evidence that students receiving Title I support are showing academic growth.
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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

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, Communications Liaison, Communications@KPBSD.org,  907.714.8888
 

From Great to Amazing : 12 students compete for $28K

Caring for the KenaiCaring for the Kenai logo 2017

Twelve student finalists will take their innovative projects from great to outstanding in a live competition, Thursday, April 20, 2017.

Four hundred entries culled to 120 semi-finalists when eight judges set the final 12 pick on March 8, 2017, in the 27th annual Caring for the Kenai competition. The final 12 will remain anonymous until the evening of April 20, and have a little more than a month to further research, create, and prepare, in order to dazzle a panel of industry experts for the opportunity to win a portion of $8,000 in cash awards plus funds for their respective school.
High school students from Homer, Kenai, Nikiski, Ninilchik, Seward, Soldotna, and Voznesenka responded to the prompt: “What can I do, invent, or create to better care for the environment on the Kenai Peninsula, or to improve the area’s preparedness for a natural disaster?”

Live competition – 12 teens present innovative solutions
Everyone is invited!
Thursday, April 20, 2017
6:00 PM
Kenai Central High School Little Theater

Be inspired, learn, and support the twelve teens who will present their original ideas!
Bonus: this year’s CFK competition will be streamed live over the internet by Soldotna High School technology students and has been viewed in the past in countries such as Canada, Colombia, El Salvador, Peru, Germany, Greenland and Japan. If you can’t attend in person, tune in on a device or online. KPBSD will post the link on social media.
In March, the panel of eight judges from the professional community selected 12 Kenai Peninsula Borough high school students, from 120 semi-finalists, to compete for over $28,000 in cash awards in the oral presentation phase of the CFK program, sponsored by Tesoro. Judges reviewed more than 120 entries in the Caring for the Kenai (CFK) environmental and disaster preparedness contest. “The District’s students greatly appreciate Tesoro’s generous sponsorship of this important annual event and all of the volunteers that make this educational partnership possible every year,” said Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Sean Dusek. “The opportunity that Caring for the Kenai offers our students to showcase their creativity and ingenuity is excellent,” added Dusek.
Top 12 selection judges

Community Partnerships

The CFK educational partnership is part of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) science curriculum. This year $20,000 will be awarded to participating schools thanks to a matching grant from, Kenai River Raven Lodge, ConocoPhillips, Peninsula Community Health Services, and Hilcorp. The $20,000 in CFK grants will be divided proportionately to participating schools based on where their students place in the final oral presentation competition to be held Thursday, April 20th at the KCHS Little Theatre, starting at 6:00pm.

Student Recognition Program

In addition to the recognition and prizes that go to the 12 finalists each year, CFK’s Student Recognition award program continues to grow with over 15 local sponsors presenting special recognition awards to entries of the sponsor’s selection. Student recognition recipients will be announced in a Peninsula Clarion full page ad. The 12 CFK finalists will remain anonymous until after their oral presentations Thursday, April 20th.
CFK is being administered as part of the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska’s educational programs. Marnie Olcott, CEO said, “Challenger is thrilled to be part of such a valuable program, for our students, teachers and communities. Challenger shares the vision of growing the program not only within Alaska, but on a national level; we look forward to a long, successful partnership.”
The live feed, complete history and details of the CFK program are available at www.caringforthekenai.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/caringForTheKenai.com
Contest Coordinator, Merrill Sikorski, 907-262-4949
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2016 Caring for the Kenai Finalists

Forensics competition showcases KPBSD talent!

“What is Forensics?” We are not talking about science or crime lab stuff like you see on CSI— this kind of forensics has to do with public speaking, oration and debate.

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Students from nine KPBSD schools traveled to Tustumena Elementary on Saturday, February 25, 2017, to recite poetry and prose, present interpretative readings, or deliver story telling in front of an audience of judges and parents. This was not a spur of the moment decision, but the culmination of weeks or months of preparation and practice by fourth through sixth grade students and elementary staff all across our district.
Why do we take time out of our busy teaching schedule to work on forensics? The positive benefits of public speaking have been well documented. Besides the fact that forensics can be fun, it can also increase student self-esteem, promote leadership skills, increase communication skills, provide an outlet for creative expression, and increase student understanding and connection to literature. Over 95% of students that participate on high school speech and debate teams go on to a college education. Many colleges and universities also give scholarships to students who participate and do well in this extracurricular activity because employers are often seeking workers with good communication skills. Of all of these excellent reasons for students to practice and learn forensic skills, one of the most important reasons might be that these skills can help them throughout the rest of their lives; at work, at home, and in the community.
The elementary school forensics competition process starts with 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students choosing a piece of literature to present. These pieces must be between one to five minutes long and can be performed by a single student or by a group of two or more together. After choosing whether to present a poem, prose, a short story or reader’s theater, the students must research the author’s intent and try to convey that meaning with their tone of voice, inflection and movements. Shorter pieces must be memorized, which builds strong recall skills. After working on their pieces, students compete in a class-wide competition. Students with high enough scores move on to compete at a school level competition. These students are judged by three judges and only the best go on to compete at the annual district-wide competition. At this competition, students once again present their pieces and are judged against a rubric designed for their age group and category. First, second, and third place ribbons are awarded to the top performers in each category. This is an opportunity for students to receive recognition for their hard work and dedication. It is truly remarkable to watch the level of poise and sophistication of these top performers.
This 2017 district-wide forensics competition is over, but you shouldn’t feel left out. Next year’s competition is just around the corner, it will be held in late February or early March,2018, at Tustumena Elementary. Remember, it is never too early to start looking for a good piece of literature to practice and present! And, it’s a wonderful spectator event for parents, friends, and the community.
Story contributed by JoEllen Fowler and Lisa Gossett
Scroll down for results!
2017 KPBSD Forensics Competition
Results
Congratulations to students from the nine competing schools! First place winners:

  • Humorous Poetry, Grade 4: Madelyn Ross, K-Beach Elementary
  • Humorous Poetry, Grade 5: Nolan Boehme, Nikiski North Star Elementary & Hannah Leaders, Soldotna Montessori Charter School
  • Humorous Poetry, Grade 6: Liam Harris, Redoubt Elementary
  • Humorous Prose, Grade 4: Alexis Wells, Redoubt Elementary
  • Humorous Prose, Grade 5: Cody Thompson, Redoubt Elementary
  • Humorous Prose, Grade 6: Aleysa Strait, Aurora Borealis Charter School
  • Interpretive Reading, Grade 4: Kaydence Monti, K-Beach Elementary
  • Interpretive Reading, Grade 5: Melanie Woodard, Seward Elementary
  • Interpretive Reading, Grade 6: Kelsie Kenner, Redoubt Elementary
  • Interpretive Reading, Multi/Grade 4: Abigail Doepken & Bethany Doepken, Seward Elementary
  • Interpretive Reading, Multi/Grade 5: Christopher Smith & Kael Aamodt, Sterling Elementary
  • Interpretive Reading, Multi/Grade 6: Hannah Stonorov, Josh Latham, Faith Latham & Kavindra Johnson, McNeil Canyon Elementary
  • Non-Humorous Poetry, Grade 4: Jack Linquist, Moose Pass School
  • Non-Humorous Poetry, Grade 5: Casey Bryden, Moose Pass School
  • Non-Humorous Poetry, Grade 6: Selena Payment, Soldotna Montessori Charter School
  • Non-Humorous Prose, Grade 4: Brian Bliss, Tustumena Elementary
  • Non-Humorous Prose, Grade 5: James Bush, Tustumena Elementary
  • Non-Humorous Prose, Grade 6: Daisy Rogers, Soldotna Montessori Charter School
  • Poetry, Multiple/Grade 4: Sam Klein & James Innes, Aurora Borealis Charter School; Gage Bradford & Hunter Forshee-Kutz, Seward Elementary; and Alexandra Casey & Sofia Loboy, McNeil Canyon Elementary
  • Poetry, Multiple/Grade 5: Jaxon Brophy & Koen Pace, Aurora Borealis Charter School
  • Poetry, Multiple/Grade 6: Zoe Cravens & Desiree Bunts, Sterling Elementary
  • Prose, Multiple/Grade 5: Leora McCaughey & Maggie Grenier, Nikiski North Star  Elementary
  • Prose, Multiple/Grade 6: Brook Fischer & Josie Sheridan, Tustumena Elementary; and Jordynne Audette & JulieAnn Nye, Aurora Borealis Charter School
  • Story Telling, Grade 4: Delaney Smith, K-Beach Elementary
  • Story Telling, Grade 5: Katelyn Derleth, Redoubt Elementary
  • Story Telling, Grade 6: Blake Lewis, Redoubt Elementary

Thank you to all the students in KPBSD schools who competed, the many volunteers, and Tustumena Elementary School for hosting the event! 

Online Summer 2017 Session Opportunities

Alaska Studies, Computer Applications 1, 2, or 3, Employability Skills, Government,
Health, and Keyboarding (Typing) 

The KPBSD Distance Learning Program is offering eight online courses for the 2017 Summer Session to KPBSD students.
Free of charge, registration for these courses is first come, first serve. Once the course is full students will be placed on a waiting list.
Details: https://sites.google.com/g.kpbsd.org/2017-summersession/home
Online Summer School Opportunities 2017
 

How do I contact the Alaska State Legislature?

How do I contact the Alaska State Legislature

March 22, 2017, Education funding update

Education funding and the House of Representatives – Status Quo education funding

The House of Representatives passed HB57 operating budget, which includes Status Quo education funding. This is in alignment with the Governor’s proposed budget. Today it was announced HB57 bill is scheduled <pending introduction and referral> with the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) on Thursday, March 23, 2017, at 9:00 a.m.

Education funding and the Senate – unknown. Possibly 5% reduction*

The Senate Finance Committee proposed operating budget SB22 does not have an amount for education funding included, yet. Last week during public testimony, when several KPBSD constituents called and emailed legislators, and testified at LIO offices, Senator Lyman Hoffman said the SFC would be reducing education funding by 5% when it was added in this week. However, no action has taken place in SB22. If you take two minutes to read the testimony from Superintendent Dusek, and from Assistant Superintendent Jones, you will better understand the work KPBSD is doing to assist with a fiscal plan, and learn how that even with Status Quo funding, costs continue to rise, and it is challenging to continue to innovate and successfully meet the needs of every child who comes through the door.
The uncertainty about education funding is stalling KPBSD from issuing contracts to our non-tenured teachers, in whom we have a significant investment. Further delay will force newer staff to seek positions elsewhere. This will negatively impact students and create increases in the professional development costs required to prepare newly hired employees.
The Borough has not yet made a commitment to FY18 funding, and if the state reduces foundation formula funding in the BSA, that has a negative impact and linked effect on the amount the Borough can provide.
KPBSD asks you to contact legislators to offer your thoughts about a fiscal plan and education funding.

Legislators representing the Kenai Peninsula:

Senate Finance Committee members

 

What can you do?

 
KPBSD appreciates the hard work and advocacy of all of our local legislators, and as we wait upon the Senate to make decisions, we are thankful that Senator Micciche and Senator Stevens support education on the Kenai Peninsula.
Recent Alaska Legislatures have a strong history of properly funding K-12 education. The numbers from this year’s Alaska Senate Majority Survey show that the majority of Alaskans would like to see that continue. KPBSD asks the legislature to continue funding as in the past.
Several new education related bills have been proposed this week. KPBSD administration is analyzing and reviewing these bills, and will keep you up to date.

Save the date!
On April 6, 2017, from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m., Superintendent Dusek will provide a legislative and budget update via Skype for Business, followed by a question and response time. Everyone is invited. Hosting schools where you can gather in person are: Homer Middle School; Mountain View Elementary; Nikiski Middle-High School; Seward Elementary; Skyview Middle School; and Susan B. English School.

Thank you for your advocacy, and care for our students, our staff, our schools, and communities. Your voice might make the difference. Please speak up to share about why you value education and want to see the good results for our young people continue into the coming years.

Links

*Think in terms of this:
If the Alaska State legislature passes additional revenue cuts to state education funding, the KPBSD $3.45 million budget deficit will increase. And, state reductions can affect the Kenai Peninsula Borough maximum allowable contribution to KPBSD. The additional state funding impact to KPBSD would be:

  • 1% Reduction to BSA = ($ 1.05 million)
  • 3% Reduction to BSA = ($ 3.18 million)
  • 5% Reduction to BSA = ($ 5.29 million)

Ten KPBSD teachers equates to one million dollars.
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KPBSD FY18 Budget 101 ~ funding, expenses, links, facts

PDF: 2017 Spring KPBSD Budget Awareness

2017 Spring KPBSD Budget Awareness_Page_1

KPBSD FY18 Budget 101

Where does revenue come from?

KPBSD receives funding from three sources:

  1. State funding (this is a constitutional mandate)
  2. Borough, or “local” funding ($ linked to state funding)
  3. Federal and Grant funds (designated expenditure categories that are non-transferable to other expenses)

A school district does not have authority to raise its own revenue.

What is an expenditure?
Primary expenses are staff and classroom instruction. Like a business, planning and operations, information systems, utilities, etc. are also included.

How-to balance the budget?

  1. Align revenues and expenditure
  2. Request that the state legislature, and the Kenai Peninsula Borough fully fund education
  3. If available, use General Fund reserves (savings account) to fund deficit, in order to avoid staff reductions and increased class sizes

Balancing the FY18 Budget
Status Quo Revenue projects a deficit of  ($ 3.45 million)*
Projected FY18 Expenditure Reductions      (2.48 million)
Use of General Fund Balance (savings)          1.13 million
*The Alaska State Legislature may recommend and vote to make additional reductions to education funding.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough has the ability to increase support to education funding, by contributing to the maximum allowable contribution, also called a cap.  

Go-To resources:

2017 Spring KPBSD Budget Awareness_Page_2

KPBSD Fiscal Reality – Our challenge


“Alaska is addressing its ongoing fiscal challenges, and it is important that everyone is involved in the conversation to ensure a long-term fiscal plan is finally implemented.”
— Superintendent Sean Dusek, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

KPBSD Reductions:
For several years, budget reductions have come through efficiencies, Pupil to Teacher Ratio (PTR) increases, and reduction of staff.

The effects of these cuts have been kept as far away from the classroom as possible and most of the public do not realize these are already in effect. But, $8,550,530 has been reduced since FY15.
FY15 Budget Reductions        ($1,254,000)
FY16 Budget Reductions          (1,375,000)
FY17 Budget Reductions          (3,436,829)
FY18 Budget Reductions          (2,484,701)
Total Budget Reductions    ($ 8,550,530)

Further reductions to education funding in FY18 will increase the deficit, thus likely impact KPBSD staff, classroom instruction and support.

If the Alaska State legislature passes additional revenue cuts to state education funding, the KPBSD $3.45 million budget deficit will increase. And, state reductions can affect the Kenai Peninsula Borough maximum allowable contribution to KPBSD. This is the additional state funding impact to KPBSD:

  • 1% Reduction to BSA = ($ 1.05 million)
  • 3% Reduction to BSA = ($ 3.18 million)
  • 5% Reduction to BSA = ($ 5.29 million)

Ten KPBSD teachers equates to one million dollars.

What can you do? #ideas

www.KPBSD.org

Seward SOS – Sources of Strength learning

“A best practice youth suicide prevention project designed to harness the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture, ultimately preventing suicide, bullying, and substance abuse. … Sources of Strength moves beyond a singular focus on risk factors by utilizing an upstream approach for youth suicide prevention. This upstream model strengthens multiple sources of support (protective factors) around young individuals so that when times get hard they have strengths to rely on.” – Sources of Strength

Seward Middle School and Seward High School roll out Sources of Strength training. A blizzard couldn’t keep adults from a day of learning on Monday, and Tuesday added students to the learning. #SewardStrength

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Day 1 – adult SOS learning #SewardStrength

The program identifies and increases the Sources of Strength that students already leverage to overcome adversity and challenges of all kinds. Seward Middle and Seward High students learn to recognize their strengths and use them to support each other and the larger Seward secondary age school community.
Training continues in Kenai on February 15 – 16, 2017! A network conference is in the works for late April or early May to include learning for SOS students, partners, and student leaders from non-Sources of Strength schools. Stay tuned.
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Changing times for schools in Southern Peninsula

Plan ahead

In August, 2017,  with the start of the new school year, ten school locations in the southern peninsula will begin with new school start and end times. This change is taking place to accommodate a switch from single-tier to double-tier bus transportation, which is already in effect for other schools throughout the KPBSD. No changes will take place in the 2016-2017 school year.
New School Times beginning August 22, 2017:
KPBSD so pen school start and end times FINAL
Bus transportation
Important transportation clarifications taking effect with the change to two-tier busing in the southern peninsula include:

  • KPBSD transportation routing will only be from home-to-school, and school-to-home.
  • Some situations in which out-of-area transportation is provided for students to attend a school outside their attendance area currently exist, and will not be available beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.
  • Parents may continue to have a child attend an out of area school through the Out-of-Area Attendance Request process (see E 5116(a)) but KPBSD will no longer provide bus transportation if a bus serving another school was available.
  • Bus routing and schedules will be updated in the summer of 2017, and available on the KPBSD website, at the same time as districtwide school routes are posted.

A series of community meetings took place throughout 2016, with parents, KPBSD staff, students, and community members in attendance. School administrators met, and worked together to create the new school start and end times. If you have questions about specific schools, please contact the school principal with your questions.
Southern Peninsula principals continue to meet together and work with community service providers to discuss after school childcare, recreation, and structured activity options to accommodate family needs for the 2017-2018 school year.
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
Ninilchik School
Paul Banks Elementary
West Homer Elementary
Links:

If you have questions about specific schools, please contact the school principal with your questions.

KPBSD students connect with Syrian refugee crisis #videoconference

KPBSD students across the Kenai listen and learn firsthand about the Syrian refugee crisis, via a videoconferencing presentation from Seward, Alaska, USA.
Teresa Gray, a retired paramedic, spent several weeks volunteering in Lesvos, Greece, greeting and serving refugees from Syria, offering medical aid, hugs, and suckers, alongside volunteers from other countries.
At a camp on the beach, where she spent three weeks, she said, “The whole point is to get them at least fed, and dry, and warm, and a smile on their face. They didn’t spend long at this temporary camp. … In the 21 days I was on Lesvos, 60,000 people came in those 21 days. Four hundred people drowned, trying to make it.”
That’s only the beginning of a powerful hour, with Gray’s photos, recounting of facts, and her sobering, heart-wrenching experience.
Students from Kenai Central High School, Kenai Middle School, Seward Middle School, Soldotna High School, Soldotna Prep, and countless others logged in to watch live through the videoconference (VTC) link. KPBSD students in the Polycom Certification Practicum helped facilitate the VTC.

Watch the same presentation through our KPBSD Polycom channel via this link: http://bit.ly/KPBSDvcSyrianRefugeeAid

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Thousands of lifejackets, among millions, in Lesvos, Greece
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