Category: KPBSD District Stories

Resources: KPBSD Community Budget Development Meeting

The district is facing a fiscal gap for our 2016-2017 budget. We are prioritizing the programs and services we will be able to offer in our schools. The district may need to make difficult decisions depending upon the level of funding we receive from the state and borough. I encourage the public to use this meeting as an opportunity to learn about this fiscal reality, and to think in terms of what we can do differently to produce a balanced budget. – Sean Dusek, superintendent
 

Budget development - Dusek FY17 PRESENTATION FINAL_Page_01
Action # 1: Review facts and figures
Click to read the October 15, 2015 PowerPoint KPBSD FY17 Budget Development Meeting Presentation by Sean Dusek, superintendent, and Dave Jones, assistant superintendent of instructional support. And, you might want to navigate to this page to watch a video of the presentation–it’s a link in the FY17 budget development section.
Action # 2: Learn what site councils asked and see summary from October 15, 2015
Review site council questions from the October 15, 2015 discussion and KPBSD administration responses, together with a summary of site council feedback from the budget development meeting discussions and ideas. Both of these documents were presented to the school board on November 3, 2015, during a worksession.
Action # 3: What do you think?
Contribute your thoughts about the KPBSD budget and offer feedback about areas of the budget that can be reduced or should be expanded, and suggestions about solutions to our funding shortfalls. What matters, what doesn’t? Contribute your ideas to KPBSD: Online public comment form. Responses will be collected and shared with the board of education in November and December, 2015.
Budget development - Dusek FY17 PRESENTATION FINAL_Page_03
 
Links

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How-to invest millions in public education on the Kenai

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District News ReleasePrint
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
Does a quality education and the future success for every young person living on the Kenai Peninsula matter to you? 
Yes? ... please participate in the budget development meeting which takes place at 23 KPBSD school sites on Thursday, October 15, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. Here are three reasons why:

  1. Up front learning about how KPBSD is crafting a multi-million dollar budget in response to the fiscal reality impacting all aspects of state government and funding for public education
  2. Give your feedback about areas of the budget that can be reduced or should be expanded, and suggestions for legislators about solutions to our funding shortfalls. What matters, what doesn’t?
  3. Q & R: question and response opportunity

“The district is facing a fiscal gap for our 2016-2017 budget,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “We are prioritizing the programs and services we will be able to offer in our schools. The district may need to make difficult decisions depending upon the level of funding we receive from the state and borough. I encourage the public to use this meeting as an opportunity to learn about this fiscal reality, and to think in terms of what we can do differently to produce a balanced budget.”

Parents, staff, students, business partners, community members, and elected officials are invited to attend the budget development meeting on Thursday, October 15, 2015, 6:00 p.m., via MS Lync, at any of these KPBSD school sites:

Cooper Landing – Room 4; Homer Middle School – Library; Hope School – Sandra Barron’s classroom; Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science – Library; K-Beach Elementary – Room 18; Kenai Alternative School- Front office; Kenai Central High School – Library; Moose Pass School – Katie Abraham’s class; Mountain View Elementary – Library; Nikiski Middle – High School – Library; Nikolaevsk School – Library; Ninilchik School – Library; Port Graham School – Secondary classroom; Seward Elementary School – Library; Skyview Middle School – Library; Soldotna Elementary – Library; Soldotna High School – Library; Soldotna Montessori School – Office; Soldotna Prep School – Library; Sterling Elementary – Mrs. Van Slyke’s room; Susan B. English School – Commons; Tebughna School – Room 6; and Tustumena School – Library.
money“Our annual budget is one of the most important things we do each year,” said Dave Jones, assistant superintendent of instructional support. “We want to give our parents, staff, students, and community members a chance to learn about our budget, participate in the process, and offer input. The meeting on October 15 will be an important step in the process to develop the FY17 budget. We hope to see a large turnout at all our schools across the district.”
Participant input will be synthesized and presented to the KPBSD school board during November and December board meetings and worksessions.
Links

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Budget cuts

Project Search Open House with national speaker in Kenai

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD logo 4c today
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
News Release
Project SEARCH open house is September 24, 2015
What takes place when a school district and hospital collaborate to create a business-led, one-year, school-to-work program for students with disabilities? Join KPBSD and Central Peninsula Hospital for the annual Project SEARCH High School Transition Program open house and find out about a life-changing opportunity happening in our community.

Thursday, September 24, 2015
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Challenger Center,
Kenai, Alaska

Families, educators, partner organizations, and community members are invited to:

  • Meet student interns who will showcase learning from their respective internship rotations
  • Talk with the teacher and job coach
  • Meet the hospital job mentors
  • Be inspired by national speaker, Erin Riehle, the Project Search National Director, who will speak about the ways in which you can assist our students with special needs in employability training and community involvement.

Sean Dusek, KPBSD superintendent said, “One of our on-going challenges is to ensure that our students with disabilities make a smooth transition to life after high school. Project SEARCH is thus, a wonderful way to help us meet this challenge.”
The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a total workplace immersion, facilitating a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and relevant job-skills training through strategically designed internships. Through a series of three targeted internships the students acquire competitive, marketable, and transferable skills. Students also build communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills which is important to their overall development as a young worker. The goal: independent adults prepared for competitive employment opportunities.
Kenai Peninsula Project SEARCH is made possible through the collaborative efforts of Project SEARCH Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Central Peninsula Hospital, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Frontier Community Services.
Links
Project SEARCH
2014 Golden Apple Award: Central Peninsula Project SEARCH program
2013 KPBSD Project SEARCH story
2012 KPBSD Project SEARCH story
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KPBSD nurses promote health and wellness

Nurses in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District constantly encourage healthy lifestyles. Frequently there are Medic First Aid classes for district employees and students taught by one nurse or a group of nurses. Nurse Pam Howard works with a group of students who travel to schools in the district to encourage their peers not to take up smoking, or to stop smoking before it becomes an ingrained habit. Many of the nurses are involved in teaching portions of health classes at a variety of ages and grades such as Matt Neisinger who recently planned several lessons for 4th and 5th graders. Daily the nurses teach students on a one-to-one basis about health habits that will improve their performance and help them feel better.
Recently Yolanda (Yoly) Ifflander, the nurse at Seward Middle School (SMS), made a gigantic leap to educate her students by submitting a video for the NutriLiving UNI Project. (See her video at http://bit.ly/UNIwin1). The video captured the attention of the team at NutriLiving and Ifflander and Seward Middle School were awarded $10,000 to benefit the students by improving their nutrition. Seward Middle School was one of five schools across the nation to receive this excellent award. The UNI Project is designed to help students learn the benefits of healthy eating and to explore how nutrition effects them.
The kick-off for the UNI Project at Seward Middle School was held February 17, 2015, in the commons. Students selected to participate were given a Nutribullet to practice at home the nutrition habits they will learn over a 90 day period. That evening the students and their parents were treated to samples of two types of Nutriblasts that contained leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, seeds and either coconut water or almond milk. Additionally, the students received hoodies and other items designed to encourage their participation and remind them to have a “blast” at school each day. NutriLiving staff and parents assisted in focused assessments of students. At the end of the program, students will again be assessed by the same criteria. The goal is that student will see positive changes in their performance and general well-being as a result of improved nutrition. The students are off to a great start in improving their health and well-being.

Nurse Yolanda Ifflander and her daughter Naomi, a 7th grader at Seward Middle School
Nurse Yolanda Ifflander and her daughter Naomi, a 7th grader at Seward Middle School

 
 

One small department and 8K PCs, 800 printers, 690 wireless access points

To the public, the face of the school district is likely the local school your kids go to now–or once attended–or maybe the local school you attended growing up. You remember your teachers, or your children’s teachers: the good ones you liked and maybe even some of the ones you didn’t like so much. Most people’s view of the district is generally pretty localized, and compartmentalized by our own limited local school experience.
The public doesn’t hear much about the district’s Information Services staff. These are the computer guys that work in the bowels of the Borough building in Soldotna or travel from school to school supporting technology in the field. The Information Services view of the district may be different than yours. They see a much bigger picture, because, well, they have to keep that big picture up and running. The district is big business, and it takes Information Technology professionals on top of their game to keep the peninsula’s largest employer running smoothly, with 8,000 PCs, 800 networked printers, hundreds of Interactive white boards, 690 wireless access points, and 900 security cameras, and so forth. The list of things to maintain and support goes on and on … and seems to gets bigger every year as technology evolves. Add all those schools together and the district is much bigger than many people realize.
Information Services lives in an evolving environment, adapting to the ever-changing needs of our students and staff. For example, last summer saw a major software upgrade to 30 point-of-sale computers used in our school cafeteria lunch lines. Those final 30 completed a multi-year move to Microsoft Windows 7 on all district computers. Since the beginning of school in August 2014, there have been some substantial bandwidth upgrades at Nanwalek, Port Graham, Hope, Seldovia, Tyonek, and Marathon school, improving network performance at those sites. Add to that 96 Terabytes of disk storage for servers and databases being installed now. Just a few activities, on a wide variety of fronts, in the Information Services department at KPBSD, where something big is always happening.
Link
KPBSD Information Services
Story contributed by Jim White, director of information services
March 2015

Eric Soderquist Golden Apple August 2013
KPBSD Information Services | Golden Apple recognition for Eric Soderquist, August 2013

 

American Sign Language (ASL) on the upswing in KPBSD

Sign Language is busting out all over the district!
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This year interest is surging to learn American Sign Language (ASL). Why? New students who are deaf are enrolling in our district. When that happens, a whole school perks up and notices there are people signing in the halls and the classroom. Classroom teachers like Lyn Maslow at West Homer Elementary see an opportunity for the whole class to learn a new language and grow in their understanding of how “us” can include even greater diversity. When the idea was floated for an after-school Sign Club, it took off like a shot. Educational Sign Language Interpreter Chelsea Carpenter was nervous about teaching at first, especially when almost 50 people showed up to the first meeting! She did a great job, though, and with help from the students, parents are sharing this visual language with students, staff, and even some other parents each week this semester. Participants are learning communication skills they can use in the classroom and community immediately and having a great time doing it.
Another reason Signing is becoming more popular is in KPBSD we have several students who lost their hearing after already learning to speak and listen. With the new technology of cochlear implants, they function as hearing children. However, when they take their implants off, they hear nothing. Parents and professionals see the value in these students learning good basic Signing for situations when they might be “unplugged” and for emergencies. Knowing ASL also opens some doors for our young people. Growing into adulthood, they may want to be involved in the Deaf community. Signing is an important part of this culture, and it’s a natural choice as a second language for these students.
Nikiski Middle-High School has a small group that meets at lunch time each week to learn and practice conversational ASL. Each week, students in Mrs. Settlemeyer’s second grade class at Nikiski North Star Elementary learn signs for basic communication as well as for vocabulary from their regular reading program. Their enthusiasm spills over into other classes as well. Recent performances by West Homer Elementary and Nikiski North Star featured students signing along with their music numbers.
“Jazz Hands” have nothing on these kids!
Story contributed by Renee Estelle, KPBSD Hearing Specialist
Links:
KPBSD Pupil Services department
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Student Success Quietly Built on School Breakfast Success

Student success quietly built on school breakfast success: 1,000 times every school day
Each KPBSD school day, about an hour before the first bell, dedicated Student Nutrition Services (SNS) staff members quietly begin the preparation for School Breakfast Service. As the breakfast preparation begins in the 34 KPBSD schools that sponsor a National School Breakfast Program (NSBP), ovens warm up,  coolers are opened, and serving lines are filled with cereals, fruits, juices,  hot entrees and  of course  the ubiquitous half pint milk.

school lunch
A KPBSD SNS breakfast included a hot breakfast quesadilla, strawberry cup, orange juice and milk.

By the time breakfast service is completed 1,000 KPBSD students will have participated in the early morning nutrition opportunity.
As the students quietly pass through the serving line, the SNS team guides them through the selection offered  breakfast items. And the adult servers offer up a warm, good morning and, Are you ready for school today?
USDA Breakfast Friends at Mountain View Elementary
Older siblings and friends help younger brothers, sisters, and friends who sometimes proceed sleepily through the line. They help unzip coats, and ensure they select the proper mix of items for their USDA Breakfast.
During the actual eating time for breakfast, it is quiet in the service area.
Sometimes a little homework gets done.
Sometimes, students come back to the serving line and whisper a request for a second portion of breakfast. SNS staff smile and comply.
SNS Breakfast Program Manager Ginger Self very successfully keeps record of student breakfast accounts. Ginger prepares the breakfast offering before stepping into role as cashier.  
SNS Breakfast Program Manager Ginger Self very successfully keeps record of student breakfast accounts. Ginger prepares the breakfast offering before stepping into role as cashier.

As students proceed to their class, having consumed a nutrient powerful breakfast of  whole grain, low sodium, protein perfect foods, some ask What’s for lunch?
When students depart the serving area, SNS members complete the clean-up and the record keeping required for breakfast service. And then the prep begins for the thousands of USDA lunches to be provided four hours later.
National School Breakfast Week is in March!
We invite you to join in the breakfast success at any of the 34 KPBSD schools that sponsor a National School Breakfast Program.
*Update: payment for student nutrition services can now be accepted online at all KPBSD schools. Click here: http://bit.ly/KPBSDonlinePayments
SNS menus and information: http://bit.ly/StudentNutritionServicesKPBSD 
“In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Seward Elementary teacher loses home to fire

Lyon Family benefit

Our KPBSD teacher, Nickole Lyon, suffered a devastating home fire in Seward. The KPBSD and Seward communities are showering  the Lyon family with care and outreach. If you would like to assist, these are some ideas:
Donations
An account for donations has been created at Wells Fargo Bank. Anyone can donate at a Wells Fargo to the “Lyon Family Benefit Fund.”
Lyon Family Benefit
Spaghetti Dinner and Auction
Saturday, January 25, 2014
American Legion
All proceeds will go to the family.
4:00-8:00     Spaghetti feed: $10 donation, take outs available
4:00-7:30     Silent auction
7:00-till done     Live Auction
Auction donations needed
Would you like to make a donation to the auction, or volunteer to assist? Contact Joanne Frey via text or call, 907-362-1948, or email: hapi2teach@gmail.com. A volunteer signup sheet is at Seward Elementary lounge, or contact Joanne.
Clothing donations can be brought to Seward Elementary. Household items will be needed when the Lyon’s have a new living location. If you cannot hold them, bring them to Seward Elementary.
Meals
Seward City Church is organizing meals; call Max or Deanna Ingalls, 907-301-1046, to be added to the list.

Much appreciation to everyone who is coming to the assistance of the Lyon family. Thank you for your generosity, care, and compassion.

 

KPBSD elementary students perform with Kenai Peninsula Orchestra

Link Up Concert 2013 KPBSD and KPOKPBSD third through fifth grade students from Redoubt Elementary, K-Beach Elementary, Kaleidoscope School, Ninilchik, and Chapman Schools played with the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra through Link Up, a program of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.

“One of the district’s unsung sources of pride is our elementary music programs,” said Steve Atwater, superintendent. “These concerts are a great way for the public to appreciate our music teachers’ excellent work and their students’ commitment to learning their respective instruments. The concert is also a great example of how much local support is given to the arts.”
Concerts took place Saturday, November 2, 2013, 3:00 p.m., at Kenai Central High School and Sunday, November 3, 2013, 3:00 p.m., at Homer High School.

Link Up concert 2013 with Sue Biggs

“This year, Link Up is The Orchestra Moves. The underlying theme is how music moves, how music makes you move and how the music moves through the melodies,” said Tammy Vollum-Matturro, the director and conductor of the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra. “Last year, Link Up was such a huge success for students, orchestra members, and the community. This year we were excited to include students from Redoubt, K-Beach, Kaleidoscope, Ninilchik, and Chapman schools. The students have been exploring, singing, and playing great music such as The Blue Danube by Strauss, Nocturne by Mendelssohn, and will get to hear the orchestra perform The Marriage of Figaro Overture by Mozart and Beethoven’s Fifth. During the program, the students are on stage immersed in the orchestra sitting right next to the strings, winds and percussion. The concert included host Marc Berezin who led us in an educational concert with the help of visuals and soloists,” said Vollum-Matturro.

Mind A-Mazes: Fantastic Flight

Fifty-eight student teams from twenty-two schools designed, built, and flew paper airplanes on Saturday, October 8, 2011, in the annual KPBSD Mind A-Mazes contest sponsored by Quest.

A KPBSD problem-solving competition, 3 to 4 students work in a team to solve a long-term problem, prior to the competition. In addition, the day of the competition, a spontaneous problem is presented for teams to solve in a short period of time. A dedicated blog, hosted on our KPBSD servers provides an opportunity for students to ask questions, receive and post answers, and demonstrate collaboration in action.

The 2011 Long-term  Fantastic Flight problem instructions:
Teams will design and create paper devices that will be used to earn points by performing a series of tasks. Devices will be constructed for competition at the time of the event, using paper that will be provided. Students will not be allowed to bring any devices that were constructed prior to the event into the competition area. Up to five different devices may be constructed during the competition and will be used for attempting the following flight challenges: Distance; Flight Duration; Accuracy; and Altitude.

Congratulations to the 2011 Winning Teams and Schools
Junior Division (4th-6th grade)
1. West Homer – “The Paper Bombers”
2. Nikiski Middle/High – “Flying Bacon Strips”
3. Mc Neil Canyon – “McNeil Canyon 4”
Judges Choice – Nikiski North Star – “The Flaming Hawks”
Spontaneous –  West Homer – “Ernie Airlines”
Intermediate/ Senior Division (7th-12th grade)
1. Hope – “Ice Cream Ninjas”
2. Kenai Middle – “The Firebolts”
3. Nikiski Middle/High – “Mach 5”
Judges Choice – River City Academy – “Angry Birds”
Spontaneous –  Ninilchik – “Team Wilcow”
Thank you to Soldotna Middle School, and all the students, educators, volunteers, and families who participated this year in the district-wide Mind A-Mazes academic program.
Please share a comment here, and view photographs or add yours to the Mind A-Mazes photo album on the KPBSD district Facebook page.