Category: News Release

News Release: KPBSD Board of Education extends applicant deadline

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

News Release
KPBSD Board of Education seeks applicants

Soldotna, January 15, 2016—KPBSD extended the District 9 (South Peninsula) school board vacancy application deadline until January 20, 2016, at 5:00 p.m. 
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 9, located in the southern Kenai Peninsula. This geographical area includes Kachemak-Selo, Razdolna, Voznesenka, McNeil Canyon Elementary, Nanwalek, Port Graham, Susan B. English in Seldovia, and Chapman School in Anchor Point, 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 9 for 180 days.
Term of Office Appointment will begin February 1, 2016.  Appointee will stand for re-election at the regular election in October 2016.
To Apply Applications are available through the KPBSD website, or at the District office. Application period has been extended from Tuesday, December 29, 2015, 12:00 noon, (AKST) through January 20, 2016, at 5:00 p.m.
Interviews Qualified applicant interviews will be Monday, February 1, 2016, and the selected candidate will be sworn in during the Board of Education meeting February 1, 2016, in the Borough Assembly Chambers.
Questions? Contact Debbie Tressler, 907-714-8836, dtressler@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
 
Links

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News Release: KPBSD Board of Education seeks applicants

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


Soldotna, December 8, 2015—Board member Sunni Hilts (District 9) retired in December 2015, thus, KPBSD seeks applicants to fill this vacant school board position through October 2016.

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 9, located in the southern Kenai Peninsula. This geographical area includes schools in the Homer area off the east end road, and across Kachemak Bay in Nanwalek, Port Graham, and Seldovia.
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 9 for 180 days.
Term of Office
Appointment will begin January 11, 2016.  Appointee will stand for re-election at the regular election in October 2016.
To Apply
Applications are available through the KPBSD website, or at the District office. Application period closes Tuesday, December 29, 2015, 12:00 noon, (AKST)
Interviews
Qualified applicant interviews will be Monday, January 11, 2016, and the selected candidate will be sworn in during the Board of Education meeting January 11, 2016, in the Borough Assembly Chambers.
Questions?
Contact Debbie Tressler, 907-714-8836, dtressler@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Links

KPBSD students sing, dance, make merry

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

KPBSD students sing, dance, make merry

Winter concerts KPBSD 2015


Soldotna, December 1, 2015—Please treat yourself and attend a KPBSD school music concert or holiday program in December.

  • Aurora Borealis Charter School – December 1, 7:00 p.m., Grades K-8, Christmas Concert, KCHS Auditorium
  • Chapman School – December 3, 7:00 p.m., Grades K-8
  • Cooper Landing School – December 11, 5:30 p.m., Holiday Program and Community Potluck
  • Fireweed Academy Charter School – January 15, 7:00 p.m., LINK-UP with Kenai Peninsula Orchestra
  • Homer High School – December 14, 7:00 p.m., Mariner Theatre; December 16, 7:00 p.m., Candlelight Carols and Desserts, Mariner Theatre
  • Homer Middle School – December 15, 7:00 p.m., Mariner Theatre
  • Hope School – December 17, 6:00 p.m., A Seussified Christmas Carol
  • K-Beach Elementary School – December 11, 6:30 p.m., Band Concert, K-Beach Gym; December 14, 6:00 p.m., Grades K-2, Soldotna High School Auditorium
  • Kaleidoscope School of Arts & Science Charter School – December 3, 7:00 p.m., Winter concert, KCHS auditorium; December 8, 6:00 p.m., Band concert, Kaleidoscope
  • Kenai Central High School – December 8, 7:00 p.m., KCHS Band Holiday (Joint with KMS), KCHS Auditorium; December 13, 3:00 p.m., Choir Concert, KCHS Auditorium
  • Kenai Middle School – December 8, 7:00 p.m., KMS Band Holiday Concert (Joint with KCHS), KCHS Auditorium; December 10, 7:00 p.m., KMS Holiday Choir, KCHS Auditorium
  • McNeil Canyon Elementary School – December 10, 6:30 p.m.
  • Moose Pass School – December 16, 7:00 p.m., Garfield Christmas Carol
  • Mountain View Elementary School – December 7, 6:00 p.m., Grades 4-5, Choir and Band Concert, gym; December 15, 6:00 p.m., Grades 1-3, Winter Performance, KCHS Auditorium
  • Nanwalek School – December 30, 4:00 p.m.
  • Nikiski Middle-High School – December 10, 7:00 p.m., Middle & High School Choir & Band
  • Nikiski North Star Elementary School – December 3, 6:00 p.m., Grades 1-2, Winter Holiday Concert, NMHS Auditorium; December 10, 6:00 p.m., Grades PreK-K, Christmas Concert, NNS Gym
  • Ninilchik School – December 15, 7:00 p.m.
  • Paul Banks Elementary School – December 10, 1:00 p.m., Bugz Christmas Performance, Homer High Mariner Theater
  • Port Graham School – December 18, 6:00 p.m.
  • Redoubt Elementary School – December 3, 6:00 p.m., Grades 4-6 Winter Concert, Soldotna High School; December 10, 6:00 p.m., Grades 5-6 Band Concert, Redoubt Gym
  • Seward Elementary School – December 10, 5:30 p.m., Grades 3-5, Art Show and Potluck, South wing
  • Seward Middle School – December 10, 1:50 p.m., Holiday Strings Performance, Auditorium; December 15, 1:40 p.m, Holiday Drama Performance, Auditorium
  • Skyview Middle School – December 15, 7 p.m., Band and Choir Winter Concert, Skyview Commons
  • Soldotna Elementary School – December 1, 6:30 p.m., SoHi Auditorium (Joint with Soldotna Montessori)
  • Soldotna High School – December 8,  7 p.m., Soldotna High School Auditorium (Joint with Soldotna Prep)
  • Soldotna Prep – December 8,  7 p.m., Soldotna High School Auditorium (Joint with Soldotna High School)
  • Soldotna Montessori Charter School – December 1, 6:30 p.m., Soldotn High School Auditorium (Joint with Soldotna Elementary)
  • Sterling Elementary School – December 9, 6:00 p.m., Grades Pre-K-3; December 14, 6:00 p.m., Grades 4-6
  • Susan B. English School – December 8,  7 p.m., Middle and High School Band Concert;December 15, 6:30 p.m., Grades K-12 Christmas Program
  • Tebughna School – December 16, 6:00 p.m.
  • Tustumena Elementary School – December 10, 6:00 p.m.
  • West Homer Elementary School – December 8, 6:30 p.m., Mariner Theater

Link
KPBSD Winter concerts online list, http://bit.ly/2015WinterMusicConcertsKPBSD
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Let’s turn 10K into 20K for students who are homeless

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

What’s Your One Thing?

Soldotna, November 25, 2015—A generous person who believes in kindness learned about the Candlelight Vigil for KPBSD students who are homeless, and wants to make a difference. So, the donor offered a gift: a 100% matching challenge up to $10,000 for all financial donations to the Students In Transition (SIT) program through December 18, 2015.

Help make it $20,000. Why?
KPBSD anticipates serving close to 300 students who are homeless this year; already 185 students are enrolled. Our student numbers are on the rise, needs are increasing. One of the highest expenses is for basic clothing and winter gear. In addition, emergency food supplies, hygiene products, school supplies, and other unexpected expenses. The 2015-2016 McKinney-Vento grant funds are spent. Thus, the program relies on generous donations that come from student advocacy, school projects, private donations, and fundraisers, such as the spaghetti feed and silent auction the Kenai Central High School student leaders are hosting on December 4, 2015, at 6:00 p.m.

“This is an incredible offer of generosity, and I am truly grateful; it is also an incredible opportunity for the community to make a significant impact. My hope is that people with a heart for homeless children and youth use this challenge as a catalyst for conversation, contribution, and extension of care.” – Kelly King, KPBSD homeless liaison

How to contribute
Monetary donations can be made through the school district into a designated KPBSD account.
One hundred percent of every donation goes directly to supports and services. Donations are 100% tax deductible. To donate, contributions can be made at the district office—make sure to indicate it’s for the SIT program. Additionally credit card* donations can be made through the KPBSD website online payments link on the Students-Parents tab or via the online payments icon on the KPBSD mobile app. Questions? Call Kelly King or the district office. *There is a 3.61% processing fee calculated on all payments, no exceptions. This is the actual cost of the processing fee from RevTrak, and is not a source of revenue for the district.

“We are very appreciative that a donor is willing to make such a substantial and generous donation to our SIT program. I am very thankful for this opportunity and for all of the donations that are coming in for our program.” – Sean Dusek, superintendent

This school year
The SIT program has enrolled 185 students since the start of the school year in August, 2015, and this number will continue to increase as the year progresses. These students range from pre-kindergarten to the twelfth grade and are in every community within our school district. In the central peninsula, 136 youth are enrolled, 31 are unaccompanied youth, and 105 are with a family unit. In the southern peninsula, 49 students are enrolled, 19 are unaccompanied youth, and 30 are with a family unit.
The purpose of the SIT program is to ensure educational programs for students are not interrupted while they are in transition. 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
KPBSD SIT program website http://bit.ly/TransitionsKPBSD
KPBSD Students in Transition on Facebook
December 4, 2015, public event KCHS Spaghetti Feed and Silent Auction Fundraiser
KPBSD Highlight Story
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6th Annual Candlelight Vigil for Youth and Families who are homeless
6th Annual Candlelight Vigil for Youth and Families who are homeless

Care notes for students enrolled in the SIT program
Care notes for students enrolled in the SIT program

News Release: KPBSD students are homeless // come to a candlelight vigil

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

News Release
Candlelight vigil for KPBSD students who are homeless

Soldotna, November 12, 2015—Families and unaccompanied youth are homeless on the peninsula. An invisible reality to many residents, would it surprise you to know that 253 is the average number of students who experience homelessness, but are enrolled in the KPBSD Students In Transition (SIT) program, and attend a KPBSD school, everyday?
The SIT program has enrolled 183 students since the start of the school year in August, 2015.
People of every age are invited to the 6th Annual Candlelight Vigil for Homeless Youth and Families
Thursday, November 19, 2015
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Farnsworth Park
Birch Street, Soldotna, Alaska
The event is posted on the KPBSD Students in Transition Facebook page. Please connect there, then share the event invitation in social circles.
Guest speaker Pegge Erkeneff, KPBSD communications liaison, will help raise awareness about the reality of homelessness on the Kenai Peninsula, and invite us to become a voice, advocate, and welcoming presence to our young people who are homeless. Music will be provided by Vickie Tinker, the Knight in Shining Armor Award will be presented, and information for high school students regarding the Scholarship of Hope will be shared. Learn ways everyone can help support local homeless students, and connect with our caring community members. This is an outdoor event, please dress for the weather.
2014 Candlelight Vigil
“For the past several years we have seen an increase in the number of students in transition across our district,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “This is very challenging, but through the efforts of Kelly King, homeless liaison, our district is stepping up to support our students and meet this challenge. The public vigil is an excellent opportunity for all of us to stop and reflect on our students in transition. The vigil is also a time to re-focus attention on this issue to further benefit our students in transition.”
About 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
KPBSD SIT program website http://bit.ly/TransitionsKPBSD
KPBSD Students in Transition on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kpbsdStudentsInTransition
2014 Vigil for Youth and Family Homelessness KPBSD story
An outpouring of advocacy, care, and service for students who are homeless: 2015 students helping students story
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Title VII Indian Education meeting is October 8, 2015

News Release, October 2, 2015 | Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictTitle VII Indian Education Meeting is October 8, 2015
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Title VII Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting – Interested tribal elders, community members, students and parents are encouraged to participate. 
The Title VII Advisory Committee is comprised of parents and guardians of Title VII students who have been appointed by school site councils.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Borough Assembly Chambers,
Borough Administration Building
144 North Binkley Street, Soldotna, Alaska 99669
The KPBSD Title VII, Indian Education Program, supports Alaska Native and American Indian students for a successful experience throughout their K-12 schooling years. The Title VII Program is designed to assist and support students’ academic achievements, social and emotional development, and cultural awareness in the classroom. KPBSD Native students will be supported and enabled to receive an educational foundation, and given the skills to respond successfully with adults, situations, circumstances, activities and opportunities in school and life.
Over 114 Alaska Native Tribal affiliations are represented in the nearly 1,200 identified Native students in the KPBSD Title VII Program.
Agenda includes

  • Outreach in schools to identify all students who quality for Title VII services, online form
  • Review of past priorities and outcomes in 2014-2015; Set 2015-2016 priorities
  • Project Grad

Please RSVP to Maribeth Snell, MSnell@KPBSD.k12.ak.us
Questions? ContactConrad Woodhead, KPBSD Native Education Program Coordinator, CWoodhead@KPBSD.K12.ak.us, 907.235.8671; or Tim Vlasak, Director of Federal Programs and Assessments TVlasak@KPBSD.k12.ak.us, 907.714.8829
KPBSD webpage: Title VII Indian Education
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Eleven KPBSD Title VII schools designed and created unique banners for their schools as well as a banner representing the collective Native pride that exists in KPBSD. This project was made possible by a Youth Cultural Heritage grant from Alaska State Council on the Arts. Title VII Indian Education Meeting is October 8, 2015
Eleven KPBSD Title VII schools designed and created unique banners for their schools as well as a banner representing the collective Native pride that exists in KPBSD. This project was made possible by a Youth Cultural Heritage grant from Alaska State Council on the Arts.

Teens can meet college representatives at Kenai Peninsula College Fair

News ReleasePrint
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
Soldotna, October 2, 2015—Peninsula high school students have an opportunity to meet representatives from more than 40 educational institutions

Tuesday, October 20, 2015
10:00—1:00
Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska

Choosing a college takes time and effort so KPBSD is making it easier for students to dream for and plan their future education path by inviting college representatives to come and meet with students here on the Peninsula. The sixth annual Kenai Peninsula College Fair is free, and no appointments are needed.
KPBSD juniors and seniors will attend with their schools. Connections, IDEA and Cook Inlet Academy students can sign-in at the door.
Students and parents can learn more about scholarships, loans, state and federal financial aid programs at the Financial Aid booth.
KPBSD students must sign-up with their school counselor to attend; transportation is provided.
Confirmed educational institutions: Alaska Bible College, Alaska Christian College, Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, Alaska Job Corps OA/CTS, Alaska Pacific University, AVTEC – Alaska’s Institute of Technology, California Baptist University, Central Washington University, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University, Colorado Mesa University, Colorado State University, Eastern Washington University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Fort Lewis College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Idaho State University, Institute of American Indian Arts, Kenai Peninsula College, Lincoln College of Technology, Linfield College, Mayville State University, Northern Arizona University, Northern Industrial Training, Oregon Coast Culinary Institute, Oregon Institute of Technology, Pacific Lutheran University, South Dakota State University, Southern Oregon University, Southwestern Oregon University, St. Olaf College, The Art Institutes, The College of Idaho, The Master’s College, UAA College of Engineering, Universal Technical Institute, University of Alaska – Anchorage, University of Alaska – Fairbanks, University of Alaska – Southeast, University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Idaho, University of Portland, Willamette University.
2015 college fair flyer
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KPBSD students will Drop, Cover, and Hold On at 10:15 am

News Release, October 1, 2015 | Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

KPBSD schools ShakeOut on October 15

All K-12 schools in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will participate in the Great Alaska ShakeOut “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” earthquake drill on Thursday, October 15, 2015, at 10:15 a.m.

2015 ShakeOut_Global_JoinUs_160x600KPBSD students and staff join more than 69,000 Alaskans who have already registered to participate. Dave Jones, assistant superintendent of instructional support, said, “We need to be prepared for incidents we hope never happen, but if they do, we can minimize the danger to our students, staff, and community.”
Earthquake preparation and the proper “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” technique is valuable safety education for our students and employees. We will also practice a radio check-in to the district office from each of our schools following this earthquake drill.
Alaska schools, families, and businesses are also encouraged to participate by signing up at
Resources, including audio clips for the drill, are available online at http://www.shakeout.org/alaska/ 

News Release, October 1, 2015: Great Alaska Earthquake Drill is October 15
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News Release: Mediation Concludes

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictPrint
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
Mediation Concludes

Soldotna, September 22, 2015—The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) was unable to reach a tentative agreement with Kenai Peninsula Education Association (KPEA) and Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association (KPESA) through the mediation process, which took place September 21 – 22, 2015.
A meditator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) met with all three parties and exercised shuttle diplomacy between the groups, which in essence means conveying questions, supposals, and information seeking to find areas of compromise. Everything that took place during mediation remains confidential, and mediation was closed to the public.
The KPBSD bargaining team is analyzing and reviewing what transpired in the mediation process.
Unless all parties agree to return to face-to-face negotiations, the next step in the collective bargaining process is advisory arbitration.
KPBSD employees continue to work under contracts which expired June 30, 2015. When the new fiscal year began on July 1, 2015, all eligible employees did receive salary and wage movement on the predetermined salary and wage schedules.
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1:1 iPads bring dynamic learning opportunity to Nanwalek School through White House ConnectEd initiative

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

News Release
iPads bring dynamic learning opportunity to Nanwalek

Soldotna, August 17, 2015—Palpable excitement is in the air today at Nanwalek School, where 80 kindergarten through twelfth grade students anticipate receiving their own Apple iPad on Tuesday August 18, 2015.
A year in the planning, the rollout celebration to begin the comprehensive 1:1 technology solution for every student and teacher, including Apple hardware, software, and services, begins at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 18, 2015, with guests and dignitaries present to speak to students, staff, and the community. The upcoming year is a game-changer for Nanwalek School, the only school in Alaska, and one of 114 schools in the country, to receive an Apple grant as part of the White House ConnectEd initiative begun in 2013.
Nanwalek School is located in a small village on the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, across the bay from Homer, Alaska. By giving students access to the latest technology and powerful learning tools, we’re working to transform the classroom into a place of deeper exploration and creativity.
“We are very excited about this opportunity for our students in Nanwalek,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “A key part of any initiative is professional development for our teachers and through the training commitment from Apple, we are confident that the new technology will have a tremendous positive impact for all of our Nanwalek students.”
As a result of the initiative to receive iPads, Apple TVs, and MacBook laptops for teachers:

  1. Students and teachers will be introduced to a new level of technology that they have not previously experienced in the village or school. This experience will be enhanced by faster Internet installed by the district through ACS in September 2014
  2. Academic core learning will be strengthened through resources and e-books on the devices
  3. This grant includes professional development for teachers in differentiation to strengthen core instruction, and intervention processes to increase achievement

IMG_9979Nanwalek School honors cultural identity while developing students to be effective members of society. School goals for the ConnectEd initiative include:

  • Students, parents, and community will be our partners
  • Teaching will be transformed
  • Students will be active learners
  • Students will strengthen their academic learning
  • Students will have a tool for preservation of language and culture
  • Students will have more possibilities for postsecondary options

 Links

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Please contact me with questions or connections to be made for your KPBSD district and school stories.