Miss Stephanie awarded Golden Apple

Golden Apple Stephanie Young PBE

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Golden Apple Award | March 6, 2017
Stephanie Young

“Miss Stephanie” Young is an exemplary community partner at Paul Banks Elementary School in Homer, Alaska.
The kids call her “Miss Stephanie,” and she cares deeply about the students and staff of Paul Banks Elementary, and the community of Homer. A skills trainer through The Center, Miss Stephanie has a firm but gentle way with her clients and the students she serves at Paul Banks. She is always kind while simultaneously providing rigorous support. She is one of those people who bring out the best in not only the students, but the adults around her. She is always positive and supportive. Miss Stephanie goes beyond normal expectations in many ways, for example, by donating her lunch hour to support a teacher meeting with a parent. She gives her clients extra attention because they really need it, and she lends a hand wherever it is needed.
Always willing to chip in, she invests her time training other skills trainers, and is very effective, and frequently called upon to provide guidance to other skills trainers. Paul Banks staff says, “We know that we have become better teachers and Paul Banks has become a better school from having her in the classrooms!”
Stephanie takes time to think things through, wants to brainstorm about what is working, and what might work for her often very difficult clients. Due to student confidentiality, we cannot share specific stories, however, staff members say, “She is always willing to meet, even on her own time and has excellent ideas to share. When things are not working, Stephanie stays patient and supportive of both the students and staff, and works together with us to find solutions.” Often staying after the school day, she will meet with students and teachers to better meet the needs of students. When she has down time from her work she supports other families in need, and provides support beyond her duties as a Skills Trainer on her own time, doing things such as helping to create manipulatives, activities, and schoolwide activities.
Outside of the school, Stephanie helps out with church activities and has been a foster parent. For many years, she helped with youth groups. Youth group is a place for kids to come together to sing, and to play sports and other recreational games. Through community service projects they make it a point to visit and sing at Long Term Care several times a quarter. She also helps with the Truth Seekers program.
The Paul Banks staff believes, “When we think about people that are truly good for kids and good for our schools, we think of people like ‘Miss Stephanie’ Young!”
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize “Miss Stephanie” for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Links
Click here to nominate a business, community member, volunteer, or KPBSD staff for Golden Apple recognition
Golden Apple recipients
Stephanie Young Golden Apple PBE

Cinderella's Closet is open for prom shopping!

The Soldotna Prep School music room is transformed, and open Monday and Tuesday from 3:00-6:00 for all area teens from schools in the KPBSD.
Local area ladies in 9th through 12th grade are invited to shop for prom shoes, dresses, and makeup.
Thank you to the volunteers, and for donations from businesses, and ladies in the area—all items are free to the teens who shop!
CC MArch 2017 2
CC MArch 2017 3
CC MArch 2017 4
CC MArch 2017
Cinderellas Closet at SoHi 2017

Celebrate KPBSD music teacher Jonathan Dillon

2017_Jonathan Dillon - concert picture mountain view

Meet Jonathan Dillon, music teacher at Mountain View Elementary!

In 2016, three Alaska Arts Educator Fellowships were awarded, including a music specialist, a visual arts specialist, and a kindergarten teacher. All three were awarded to KPBSD educators!
Mr. Dillon, Mountain View Elementary music educator,  furthered his study of elementary choral conducting through the Kodály Program at Seattle Pacific University in July 2016. During the program, Dillon participated in choral conducting masterclasses, performed in lab choirs directed by professional conductors, taught an elementary general music lesson, wrote a number of new learning plans, and more—all under the guidance of some of the top elementary music and conducting experts in the Pacific Northwest. Dillon used his follow-up grant to start an elementary choral music library for the Mountain View Youth Chorus, an after-school program in Kenai, Alaska.
In his final report, Dillon reflected:

“This professional development program exceeded my expectations as an opportunity to improve my craft as a conductor and artist, but also prepared me to become a better teacher in general … I’m ecstatic about putting what I’ve learned into practice!”

Links
Facebook: Mountain View Elementary, Kenai, Alaska
Website: Mountain View Elementary
Website: Alaska State Council on the Arts

Meet KPBSD Teacher of the Blind and Visually Impaired

Mrs. Engebretsen and two of her students visit a KPBSD elementary school during Celebraille month!
Mrs. Engebretsen and two of her students visit a KPBSD elementary school during Celebraille month!

Do you have a dream?

 

Meet Jordana Engebretsen, KPBSD teacher of the blind and visually impaired! Mrs. Engebretsen teaches KPBSD students who are blind and visually impaired, and she herself is blind. Jordana organizes community events and outreach in KPBSD schools to aid sighted people learn about braille and blindness. #Celebraille

 

In addition, Jordana has a vision, and serves students with disabilities through summer camps. She entered The 2017 Holman Prize for Blind Ambition competition to expand that service, and Jordana needs your vote by March 7, 2017, to progress in the competition. Winning will help her realize her dream to expand her summer camps for children with disabilities to Iceland and Peru.
Meet Jordana in her 85 second video, and CLICK HERE to vote

I have always want to give to others. Yes, I am blind and mobility impaired, however, I am blessed beyond comprehension. I am alive, able to talk, to touch, to hear, and to think. I have a beautiful family, a strong faith, a job that I like and so much more! I believe what Hellen Keller said, ‘The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but no vision’.
I entered the The 2017 Holman Prize for Blind Ambition competition, which could allow me further my dream to expand camps for children with disabilities if I’m awarded $25,000! I made a video, that needs your popular vote in order to progress to the next level of competition. Yes, I’m blind, and made a video!

I uploaded a YouTube video of my project, and it’s titled “Jordana Engebretsen: Reaching Your Full Potential No Matter Your Ability.”  I want to develop camps in two new locations: Iceland and Peru.
Your help is needed for me to progress, please watch the video and please give it a thumbs up.
I want to give more children and youth with disabilities the opportunity to participate in a camp experience. You can check out what I’m currently doing at our website www.cristovive.net. I have developed and led these camps for several years.
Muchas gracias,
Jordana Engebretsen
KPBSD teacher of the blind and visually impaired, TVI, MA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIMRR9jrHrE&index=7&list=PLBgTkRMP5uaz784GjDzUKRvog4TSpAwPA
Holman Prize for Blind Ambition

“The Holman Prize is not meant to save the world or congratulate someone for leaving the house. This prize will spark unanticipated accomplishments in the blindness community. You will see blind people doing things that surprise and perhaps even confuse you. These new LightHouse prizes will change perceptions about what blind people are capable of doing.”
 — Bryan Bashin, CEO at LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Jordana and vision impaired student

Jordana and KMS ramp 2011

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

Parent Survey: Do student early release days make a difference?

KPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALLPlease take a brief survey for parents open February 22 – March 11, 2017, to share your perceptions and thoughts about the six early release days for students.

KPBSD staff is also completing a similar survey.

“Each school day, more than 1,200 KPBSD employees do all that they can to provide a quality education to our district’s students. A part of this work is our continuous improvement process that requires us to regularly evaluate our practices so that we can in turn, make the necessary changes to help our students’ find success. An intricate piece of our improvements is our professional development for our certified staff.
With the need to do more for our staff in this area, for the past four school years we designated six school days as minimum days–with a 90 minute early release for students, while staff works a maximum day in order to deliberately devote time to collaborate and collectively address the learning needs of our students.
Now that you are familiar with these shortened student school days, we want to receive your feedback. Please complete these questions, and provide your optional comments.” – Sean Dusek, superintendent

Link: Take the survey now

http://bit.ly/2017KPBSDEarlyReleaseSurveyPARENTS
Thank you very much for your time.
The next early release date is April 5, 2017
Links

FY17 Early Release
survey

K-Beach fourth grade engineering and design

Fourth grade students were guided through the engineering design process by a parent who is an engineer! Hands-on learning included brainstorming, designing, constructing, testing, and redesigning. The three day tower project included seismic, wind, and strength tests. Winners were determined based on their performance. We had a lot of fun and learning!
“We are thankful for our involved parents, Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, who visited our class for the three day tower project with the K-Beach fourth grade students!” –Jason Daniels, fourth grade teacher, K-Beach Elementary School
IMG_1895
IMG_1905
IMG_1907
IMG_1914
IMG_1915
IMG_1916
IMG_1917 - cover
IMG_1920
IMG_1923

The 2017 Book Battles!

The winning KPBSD Battle of the Books teams will represent KPBSD at state battles the beginning of March!
#golden #AKlearns
Congratulations!
Grades 3- 4: Connections Homeschool
Grades 5- 6, and Middle School: Cooper Landing School
High School: Voznesenka School

Soldotna Connections 3-4 Grade Team
Grades 3 – 4 – Soldotna Connections

 
Cooper Landing Grades 5-6
Grades 5 – 6 – Cooper Landing School

 
Middle School – Cooper Landing School
Middle School – Cooper Landing School

 
High School – Voznesenka School
High School – Voznesenka School

Voznesenka HS reading
High School – Voznesenka School

 

Opportunity to testify – HB 115 Comprehensive State Revenue Restructing

Slide7

Statewide Public Testimony Opportunity
Friday, February 17, 2017
1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
In person, by telephone, via email*

House Bill 115 – Comprehensive State Revenue Restructuring Act
STATE INCOME TAX; PFD CREDIT; PERM FUND INCOME
“An Act relating to the permanent fund dividend; relating to the appropriation of certain amounts of the earnings reserve account; relating to the taxation of income of individuals; relating to a payment against the individual income tax from the permanent fund dividend disbursement; repealing tax credits applied against the tax on individuals under the Alaska Net Income Tax Act; and providing for an effective date.” Read the full bill.

The number one KPBSD Board of Education legislative priority is, “Provide sustained, reliable, and adequate education funding for Alaska’s students.”

If a solution to the state fiscal challenge, and funding public education is a priority to you, please be part of the solution, and make time to tell your story or offer your opinion on Friday. The House Finance committee will listen to public testimony about the proposed bill HB 115 for two hours.
*HOW-TO TESTIFY

Go to a local LIO office in Homer, Kenai, or Seward; call-in; or email your testimony.

General instructions

  • Public testimony limited to 2 minutes per testifier
  • If you are a member of a group with the same message, in the interest of time, please select a spokesperson to testify for the entire group
  • Identify yourself (first and last name), the community in which you live, and any relevant affiliations

By Phone (LIO offices in Homer, Kenai, and Seward, plus Off-Net):

  • Public members are strongly encouraged to testify from their Legislative Information Offices (LIOs), as there are limited Off-Net phone lines that are prioritized for those who are unable to physically reach their LIO;
  • If public members cannot reach their LIO, they may use the limited Off-Net phone system
  • 844-586-9085 (toll-free) or 907-586-9085
  • All Off-Net callers are required to hang up immediately after testifying in order to keep as many lines open as possible for other callers.

Written testimony:

2017 KPBSD Budget Awareness_Page_1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

invitation: Possibility becomes reality for Project SEARCH interns

You are invited!Project SEARCH
Project SEARCH intern showcase

Possibility becomes reality when a school district and hospital collaborate to create a business-led, one-year, school-to-work program for students with disabilities.

Everyone is invited to discover how Project SEARCH is a positive impact in our community.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Denali Room, Central Peninsula Hospital, Soldotna, Alaska

 Families, local employers, educators, partner organizations, and the community are invited to:

  • Meet student interns who will showcase learning from their internship rotations
  • Talk with the teacher and job coach; meet the hospital job mentors
  • Light refreshments will be served


 2017 intern
The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a total workplace immersion, facilitating classroom instruction, career exploration, and relevant job-skills training in strategically designed internships. Through targeted internship rotations, 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.
Local employers of previous interns include: Safeway Bakery; Fred Meyer; Wal-Mart; Central Peninsula Hospital; Heritage Place; Blue Moose Bed and Biscuit; Charis Place Assisted Living; Walgreens; KPBSD.
 
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, Frontier Community Services, and the Kenai Job Center.
Questions? Contact: Cindy Worley, Project SEARCH Instructor, KPBSD and CPH, 907.513.9691
2017 intern 2