Category: News Release

news release: KPBSD needs public input for 2017-2018 school year budget

News Re2016-october-budget-meetings-graphiclease
Input needed to solve the state and KPBSD fiscal crisis
Soldotna, October 14, 2016—Your KPBSD schools need you to participate in the FY18 budget development process, and assist with solutions to the fiscal crisis in the State of Alaska. Community budget meetings took place throughout the district at 30+ school sites on Thursday, October 13, 2016. It’s not too late to become involved.
 Parents, staff, students, business partners, community members, and elected officials: KPBSD needs your help so that together we can continue to meet the needs of our diverse students, identify efficiencies, and examine contingencies for decreased funding of public education. Together, we can show how KPBSD is an excellent investment for everyone’s future, and become part of the solution to bring forward a sustainable multi-revenue fiscal plan for our state.

 To-do ideas

  1. Watch the nine minute video shown at the KPBSD community budget meetings to learn how KPBSD crafts a multi-million dollar budget in response to the fiscal reality impacting all aspects of state government and funding for public education.
  2. View any of the other short videos that explain aspects of funding and budgets*
  3. Offer your comments, ideas, and questions online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TKMYV3K
    • What can KPBSD provide to help you—and others—understand the fiscal problem and assist with solutions?
    • Which areas of the district budget, or a school site budget, could be reduced if there is a 3 to 20 percent reduction in state funding revenue to education in 2017-2018?
    • What are your suggestions to legislators about funding shortfall solutions?
  4. Attend a KPBSD Key Communicator Hour, school site council meeting, school board meeting, and have conversations with friends, neighbors, and elected officials.

 

 *LINKS

KPSBD online video channel: Budget* 

  • FY18 Community Budget Development presentation, 10-13-16, PDFand Video
  • Budget Basics PDFand Video
  • Fund Balance Categories PDFand Video
  • General Fund Revenue PDFand Video
  • Grants PDFand Video
  • Staffing Formulas PDFand Video                

*link includes all videos & PDFs
“As the State of Alaska works to develop a sustainable long-term fiscal plan, our district will continue to provide the highest quality educational experience it can within that state plan. We are asking all of our stakeholders to be engaged in the budget process to help prioritize programs and services to be offered in our district. Some decisions may be difficult, but there are many opportunities, too. Ultimately, our budget process will help inform our state and borough leaders of the needs our schools have to provide an excellent education. I look forward to beginning this discussion and supporting all stakeholders to participate in the district and state planning process.” –Sean Dusek, superintendent
Input will be synthesized and presented to the KPBSD school board during board meetings and work sessions.
Links

 
###
 
 

News Release: Meeting dates | school start and end time options

News ReleaseKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
Southern peninsula school start and end time options
Soldotna, October 12, 2016—Changes to school start and end times will begin in August, 2017, and in order to inform and gather input, three southern peninsula community meetings will take place in November. The same content will be presented at each meeting. Parents, KPBSD staff, students, and community members are invited and encouraged to attend a community meeting of their choosing:

  • Tuesday, November 1, 2016, 6:00 PM, Ninilchik School

  • Wednesday, November 2, 2016, 6:00 PM, Homer High School

  • Thursday, November 10, 6:00 PM, Chapman School, Anchor Point

Following community meetings and feedback from community members, on Tuesday, October 4, 2016, school principals met with district administration and staff to develop three options for new school start and end times in the southern peninsula. The preferred option from all school administrators is “X”. However, two additional options were also developed. Option “Y” adds ten minutes to start and end times, and option “Z” is most problematic, swaps the start times, and tiers schools without like needs.
kpbsd-so-pen-school-start-and-end-time-options
Next steps:

  • The transportation department analyzed X, Y, and Z options, and transportation routes for X and Y are viable.
  • School administrators will share the three options with site councils, and gather input.
  • November community meetings will be an excellent time for a shared conversation and discussion.
  • Principals will evaluate input and make final recommendations to district administration.
  • KPBSD transportation will make certain bus transportation for the chosen option is viable.
  • The district anticipates completion and a final decision before winter break so that parents and communities can begin to plan for the changes that will start in August, 2017.

Parents, staff, and community members are encouraged to attend a community meeting in November.
To offer suggestions, questions, or thoughts, please use this online public comment link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SouthernPeninsulaSchoolTimes
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
PDF Flyer: start and end time options

###

Priorities: Which KPBSD school programs and services do you value?

News Release
Community Budget development meetings – October 13, 2016
How to best prioritize programs and services in KPBSD?
kpbsd-community-budget-meetings-hl
Soldotna, October 3, 2016—Does a quality education and the future success for every young person living on the Kenai Peninsula matter to you? If so, KPBSD needs you to participate in the budget development meetings taking place at 31 KPBSD school sites on Thursday, October 13, 2016, at 6:00 p.m.*
Here are two reasons why:

  1. Learn how KPBSD crafts a multi-million dollar budget in response to the fiscal reality impacting all aspects of state government and funding for public education.
  2. Provide feedback: Which areas of your school site budget could be reduced in 2017-2018 if there is a 3 to 20 percent reduction in education funding revenue from the State of Alaska. What are your suggestions to legislators about funding shortfall solutions? What matters, what doesn’t?

“As the State of Alaska works to develop a sustainable long-term fiscal plan, our district will continue to provide the highest quality educational experience it can within that state plan,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “We are asking all of our stakeholders to be engaged in the budget process to help prioritize programs and services to be offered in our district. Some decisions may be difficult, but there are many opportunities too. Ultimately, our budget process will help inform our state and borough leaders of the needs our schools have to provide an excellent education. I look forward to beginning this discussion and supporting all stakeholders to participate in the district and state planning process.”

Parents, staff, students, business partners, community members, and elected officials are invited to attend the districtwide community budget development meeting on Thursday, October 13, 2016, 6:00 p.m.,* at these KPBSD school sites:

Aurora Borealis Charter School – K-Alt main meeting room;
Chapman – Mr. Sharp’s room;
Cooper Landing – Classroom 4;
Fireweed Academy – Big Fireweed;
Homer High School – Homer High Library;
Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science – Library;
K-Beach Elementary – Room 18;
Kenai Alternative – K-Alt main meeting room;
Kenai Central High School – KCHS Library;
Kenai Middle School – KCHS Library;
McNeil Canyon – McNeil Canyon School;
Moose Pass – Seward Middle Auditeria;
Mountain View Elementary – Library;
Nikiski North Star – Room 13;
Nikolaevsk – Room 11;
Ninilchik School – Library;
Port Graham – Room 2 – Secondary Classroom;
Redoubt Elementary – SoHi Library;
River City Academy – ELA Room;
Seward Elementary – Seward Middle Auditeria;
Seward High School – Seward Middle Auditeria;
Seward Middle School – Seward Middle Auditeria;
Skyview Middle School – Room B104;
Soldotna Elementary – Library;
Soldotna High School – SoHi Library;
Soldotna Montessori –Room 414;
Soldotna Prep – SoHi Library;
Sterling Elementary – Room 162A;
Susan B. English – Commons area;
Tebughna – Room #12;
Tustumena – Library;
West Homer Elementary – Homer High Library
*variances
October 13, 2016: Homer Flex – 5:30 p.m.,  ELA Room; Hope – 3:45 p.m., Sandra Barron’s room; Nikiski Middle-High School – 5:30 p.m., Library; Paul Banks School – 3:15 p.m., Paul Banks Lounge
October 17, 2016: Homer Middle School – 3:30 p.m., Conference Room; Nanwalek – 4:30 p.m., Room 110, Secondary Room
October 19, 2016: Kachemak-Selo, Razdolna, Voznesenka – 4:00 p.m., Voznesenka School

“Our annual budget is one of the most important things we do each year,” said Dave Jones, assistant superintendent of instructional support. “It is important for people to understand the need to pass a multi-revenue fiscal plan this session. 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 13 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 work sessions.
Link
KPBSD Finance Department

Homer residents: KPBSD seeks a school board member

News ReleaseKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
KPBSD Board of Education seeks applicants 


Soldotna, September 19, 2016—KPBSD seeks applicants to fill a vacant school board position in District 8 (Homer) through October 2017.

A nine member board serves the diverse Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, which spans 25,600 square miles, educates nearly 8,700 students, and has more than forty schools. This vacant school board position requires residency in Assembly District 8, located in the southern Kenai Peninsula. This geographical area includes schools in the Homer, Alaska.
Responsibilities
For information on the role and responsibilities of board members, review the Bylaws of the Board on the KPBSD website. http://bit.ly/SchoolBoardBylaws
Qualifications
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, a qualified voter of the State of Alaska and a resident of the Kenai Peninsula and District 8 for 180 days.
Term of Office
Appointment will begin October 3, 2016.  Appointee will stand for re-election at the regular election in October 2017.
To Apply
Applications are available through the KPBSD website, or at the District office. The vacancy will remain open until filled. However, applications will be reviewed at 12:00 noon, (AKST), on September 27, 2016, and if there are viable applicant(s), the position will be closed.
Questions? Contact Debbie Tressler, 907-714-8836, dtressler@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Links

###

Changing school start and end times : community meetings

News ReleaseKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
School start and end times will change in southern peninsula schools served by bus transportation

Soldotna, September 14, 2016—Changes are coming next year, and in order to inform and gather input, three southern peninsula community meetings will take place in September. Discussion centers around the necessary adjustments to school start and end times, modification of bus schedules, and additional implications because of these changes. Parents, KPBSD staff, students, and community members are invited and encouraged to attend a community meeting:

  • Homer area: Monday, September 19, 2016, 6:00 PM, Homer High School

     

  • Ninilchik area: Tuesday, September 20, 2016, 6:00 PM, Ninilchik School

     

  • Anchor Point area: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 6:30 PM, Chapman School

When the school board awarded a ten year transportation contract to Apple Bus, and also approved a change from the current single tier busing to double tier (or two-tier) busing starting in August, 2017, the ramification is that to implement two-tier busing, school start times will need to stagger in order for buses to serve two routes every day. Running two tier busing requires a minimum of 60 minutes between the first and second bus run schedules.
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
Nikolaevsk School
Ninilchik School
Paul Banks Elementary
West Homer Elementary
Two-tier busing throughout the rest of the school district has been in place for many years. Southern peninsula schools will collaborate to select new school start and end times.
Next steps
After these preliminary community meetings, school principals will work with district administrators to analyze the input and feedback, then propose school start and end times and create draft bus schedules. Follow up school-based or area meetings may be scheduled, if needed. The district intends to finalize changes for the 2017-2018 school year by early spring, 2017.
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, communications liaison, 907.714.8888
September 14, 2016 News Release
###
kpbsd-buses

SURVEY | KPBSD parents, staff, community, students…

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD logo 4c today

News Release
Do you care about educational and resource needs in the KPBSD?


Soldotna, September 12, 2016—KPBSD requests parents, staff, students in 6th grade and above, and community members to provide personal opinions and input about educational and resource needs in the diverse KPBSD through completing an online survey.

The survey offers questions to evaluate programmatic, staffing, and resource needs throughout our district. Survey topics include educational and resource needs within our diverse school communities as well as opportunities to offer personal experiences with the district. Survey responses are anonymous, and feedback will assist the district’s efforts to increase the equity and efficiency in allocating resources to better serve KPBSD schools.

Take the survey now: http://hanoverresearch.KPBSD.sgizmo.com/s3/

The survey will be open through September, 2016

“Our district is committed to listen to the voices of all our constituents as we look to continuously improve and be more efficient. This survey will go a long ways toward how we will implement our instructional model in the future and provide a high quality education for all of our students. Thank you for your participation in this important opportunity for input.” –Sean Dusek, superintendent

KPBSD partnered with Hanover Research to administer this survey. Hanover Research is an independent education research firm based in Washington, D.C., and is in no way affiliated with any other entity or organization. All responses will be kept completely anonymous, and no identifying information will be provided to the district. Similarly, grouped results will not be presented in a way that could potentially allow the identification of any specific respondents (e.g., faculty within a specific grade teaching a specific course).
Questions or difficulties with survey? Please contact Conor Kelly, Hanover Institute, ckelly@hanoverinsights.com.
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, KPBSD communications liaison
907.714.8888
###
survey-red-check-mark tablet-hand-with-survey volunteer-hands-small

News Release: KPBSD Indian Education advisory committee seeks members

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
Indian Education advisory committee seeks parent, student, and staff members to serve

Soldotna, September 7, 2016—Are you interested in setting priorities to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of our 1,200 Alaska Native and Native American students? Is encouraging or assisting our Alaska Native and Native American students to stay in school and pursue further education a value to you?

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Title VI (Indian Education), formerly known as Title VII, seeks parent, student, and staff advisory committee representatives. The qualities desirable in the members of the advisory committee are:

  • Willingness to actively participate
  • Involvement in community affairs
  • Represent the interest of all children in the KPBSD who are eligible for Title VI

Committee members must commit to quarterly meetings, usually held at the KPBSD office building in Soldotna. Remote area representatives participate via Skype for Business.
Seats by Region
Parent Representative A parent is any person who on the date of election for Advisory Committee membership is the parent, acting local parent, legal guardian, or elder of a student currently eligible for Title VI and enrolled in KPBSD

  • Seat A—Region 1 (Tyonek, Nikiski, Kenai)
  • Seat B—Region 2 (Sterling, Soldotna)
  • Seat C—Region 3 (Seward, Moose Pass, Cooper Landing, Hope)
  • Seat D—Region 4 (Ninilchik, Anchor Point, Homer)
  • Seat E—Region 5 (Seldovia, Nanwalek, Port Graham)
  • Seat F—At-large (any region)

Student Representative Any KPBSD Title VI enrolled student

  • Seat G—At-large
  • Seat H—At-large

Staff Representative Any KPBSD employee

  • Seat I—At-large

Seat terms will be staggered in the first year of bylaw implementation:

  • Seats A, B, and C, and seats D, E, and F will rotate on two year terms (except for the first year the bylaws are in effect)
  • Seats A, B, and C will be a one year term in FY17
  • Student Seats G and H will be a one year term
  • Staff Seat I will be a two year term

New members will be voted by a majority of a quorum to accept new members to the Committee, and nominees must be present to be elected.
The KPBSD Title VI Advisory Committee is a requirement of the federal government to receive Title VI funds and assists KPBSD in setting the priorities to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of Alaska Native and Native American student population. The KPBSD Title VI Advisory Committee will also consider and make recommendations as to programs, projects, or other efforts specifically aimed at encouraging or assisting Alaska Native and Native American students to stay in school and pursue further education.

Nominations for membership are due by September 20, 2016, and can be submitted by Region to Conrad Woodhead, KPBSD Native Education Coordinator, at cwoodhead@kpbsd.k12.ak.us. Questions? Please call 907-235-8671.

Links

native-education-kpbsd
###
This and all KPBSD media releases are online at this web page: http://bit.ly/MediaPublicRelationships

News Release: KPBSD, KPEA, KPESA reach Tentative Agreement

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD schools map 2016
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
KPBSD and the KPEA and the KPESA reach Tentative Agreement

Soldotna, September 7, 2016—The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD), the Kenai Peninsula Education Association (KPEA) and the Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association (KPESA) reached a Tentative Agreement, for a three year contract with certified (KPEA) and classified (KPESA) employees, for the time period July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2018.
The three year negotiated agreement adopts recommendations from the Arbitrator’s report (August, 2016) as is, with the addition of the FY16 bonus for KPESA members as offered by the KPBSD in its April 15, 2016 offer, and other date changes related to the new health care plan.
When the Associations ratify the tentative agreements, they will be presented for final approval by the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education during a public school board meeting.
Sean Dusek, superintendent said:

“I am pleased that we have reached a tentative agreement with our staff. I appreciate the hard work that all of the bargaining teams put in throughout the process. We are now able to move forward together to continue to provide a high quality education for all of our students.”

Link
KPBSD Collective Bargaining* webpage
*includes September 7, 2016 Tentative Agreement, and Advisory Arbitration August 2016 award to KPBSD, KPEA, KPESA documents
###
This and all KPBSD media releases are online at this web page: http://bit.ly/MediaPublicRelationships

News Release: Arbitrator’s Advisory Award

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, communications liaison, 907.714.8888

News Release
Arbitrator’s Advisory Award

Soldotna, August 24, 2016—the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) received the Advisory Arbitration report after two days of Advisory Arbitration, June 1-2, 2016, with the Kenai Peninsula Education Association (KPEA) and the Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association (KPESA).
District administration and school board members are reviewing and analyzing Arbitrator Gary L. Axon’s recommendations.
The Arbitrator’s Advisory award can be viewed or downloaded on the KPBSD collective bargaining webpage, or via the KPBSD homepage from a link in the Community Interest section.
Link:
KPBSD Collective Bargaining webpage
###

KPBSD educators honored by United States Distance Learning Association

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
Prestigious Videoconferencing Technology Award

Soldotna, May 12, 2016—Two KPBSD educators were honored by the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 10, 2016. USDLA awarded Rob Sparks [Soldotna Prep School] and Greg Zorbas [Kenai Central High School] with the Best Practices Gold Level award for excellence in distance learning teaching, for their innovation and excellence in “Videoconferencing Technology – K-12 Education.”

Educator Greg Zorbas, Kenai Central High School, videoconference in Classroom Without Walls (CWOW), and Global Nomads, May 13, 2015, 6:00 AM
Educator Greg Zorbas, Kenai Central High School, videoconference in Classroom Without Walls (CWOW), and Global Nomads, May 13, 2015, 6:00 AM

“Greg and Rob have long been leaders in utilizing technology to expand learning opportunities for our students,” said Sean Dusek, Superintendent. “They have also worked very hard to meet individual student needs every day and have leveraged videoconferencing to do this. I am very proud of their efforts and accomplishments. They are very deserving of this award and I appreciate their efforts very much.”
“Although it is the United States Distance Learning Association, it is actually an international organization recognizing efforts from around the world,” said Rob Sparks. “It has been humbling the number of people who have come up to me and Greg to say ‘Oh, you’re the Kenai guys….’ The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is recognized worldwide as a leader in innovative and effective uses of video telecommunications!”
“We put our students in front of twenty-two industry professionals interactively this semester and they all told the students they will be ahead of their peers at the next level—this validates what Rob and I are doing,” said Greg Zorbas. “Professionally every time we connect with a guest presenter or connect to another classroom everybody has to bring their A game. Lessons get better and better because in this environment we are constantly getting feedback on what worked, but also how we can make it better. I have been gone for three days to attend this conference and receive this award, and I can’t count the number of emails and instant messages I’ve received from students—this tells me they are engaged in what we are doing.”
“As a premier organization for the entire distance learning profession, we are honoring the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District as a leader in the industry,” said Dr. John G. Flores, Executive Director of USDLA and Program Professor at Nova Southeastern University. “KPBSD has raised the bar of excellence and we are truly honored by KPBSD contributions within all distance learning constituencies.”
“This year’s USDLA Awards recipient, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, represents the finest examples of online courses, best practices, and leadership in our field. The depth and breadth of the USDLA membership allows us to engage with leaders from higher education, K-12, industry, military, and government who daily demonstrate the power of distance learning. We are so very proud and excited to be able to recognize this level of excellence,” said Mr. George Collins, President of USDLA.
Link

Educator Rob Sparks, Soldotna Prep, video teleconference (VTC) certificate students with KCHS and students in Palestine, April 11, 2016, 8:00 PM
Educator Rob Sparks, Soldotna Prep, video teleconference (VTC) certificate students with KCHS and students in Palestine, April 11, 2016, 8:00 PM

ss 2016 May Zorbas and Sparks
United States Distance Learning Association awards, 2016

###