Soldotna, January 16, 2016—On Wednesday evening, during collective bargaining, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) negotiating team responded to a high deductible health care offer presented by the Kenai Peninsula Education Association (KPEA), and the Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association (KPESA). After thorough analysis, the District provided an 11 page response* outlining costs and reasoning, with the conclusion it could not accept the proposal because the district’s health care costs would increase by $1.1 million, among other reasons.* In response to the KPEA and KPESA offer, on January 13, 2016, KPBSD presented the two Associations with a health care proposal** that also included a high deductible health care plan, but with a monthly cap on the employer contribution. The offer also included opt-out provisions for employees with alternate health care coverage. The District’s proposal was rejected by the KPEA and KPESA on January 13, 2016, and the two Associations did not present a formal counter proposal to KPBSD. Links
*January 13, 2016: KPBSD Response to KPEA and KPESA October 14, 2015, Health Care proposals
**January 13, 2016: KPBSD Health Care Proposal to KPEA and KPESA
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Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, Communications Liaison
communications@KPBSD.org | 907.714.8888
www.KPBSD.org
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
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
“For many reasons, Homer Flex High School is the kind of school I wish I could have attended. At Flex, teachers encourage students to be self-motivated and tailor their education to their learning style, while still providing enough structure and support that students aren’t lost in an ocean of options. It is also one of the most accepting places I’ve had the pleasure of spending my time. And that’s what I’d like to celebrate: Flex’s ability to accept a range of quirky characters and find a way for them all to fit.
Roughly 35 students attend Flex, and each of them has their own way of making themselves known. Where one student might wear a fedora, another will come in with a cape. On any given day there will be pinks, blues, and purples scattered throughout the brown, black, blonde, and red hair of Flex’s population. Students who might inhabit opposing cliques in a different school will work together to create a rap defining and exemplifying literary terms (with a little social commentary in there, too). And then you realize that one student’s shirt is covered in kittens all silently judging the world in their cat-like way.
But those kittens are the only ones judging. Students and staff alike accept those who walk in ready to learn. “It wouldn’t be the same without them,” can be heard from one student about a peer they routinely find annoying. This recognition of the importance of each other’s different personalities is fostered in a myriad of ways, one of which is the school’s small size which allows for close relationships between students. In one exercise students were assigned to different groups and asked, over the following few days, to write notecards about each of the others in their group naming positive characteristics, and then present them to each other in front of the group. Because of the school’s size, most students have enough exposure to each other that they could easily find responses. Even students who were absent the day of the assignment were able to step into their group upon returning and name positive aspects of everyone else’s personalities.
This isn’t to say Flex is a magical school where everyone gets along and only sees the best in each other. Like in all schools, drama rears its ugly head, but Flex’s “leave drama at the door” mantra reminds students that the school strives to be a comfortable, safe place and every person who walks through its doors is responsible for maintaining that environment. And they do.
Flex changes a lot every year, every semester, as students come and go, but their level of acceptance remains a constant.”
Story contributed by Deb Meadows, a local skill provider from The Center, in Homer, Alaska
Homer Middle School Enrichment Opportunities
Exciting changes happened to the master schedule at Homer Middle School. In an effort to offer students a variety of enrichment classes, every seventh and eighth grade student takes band or choir for thirty minutes each day. In addition to the core content classes, each student has an enrichment period to take one quarter of robotics, art, business, and health. In the robotics class course, students are given an opportunity to use meaningful problem-based learning, a hands-on approach to math and science, integrate and apply knowledge of engineering, math, and science, and work in cooperative teams. At the end of each quarter, students compete with one another in the Robot Challenge in which the robots are programmed by students to complete an obstacle course. The challenge requires the robot to follow a black line, complete maneuvers and listen to voice commands.
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Golden Apple Award
December 7, 2015 Clayton Smith, Special Education Paraprofessional
Clayton Smith, Golden Apple recipient and school board member Sunni Hilts
Clayton Smith has been a motivating leader and dedicated teammate in the Homer High School (HHS) intensive needs classroom for 15 years. He is considered the team captain in the room, based both on his positive attitude and enthusiasm for his work, as well as his vast knowledge and experience in the classroom. Clayton has taken time to get to know each student he works with very well. His experience with them allows him to identify their individual needs, to voice ideas and ways to meet those needs and support the students in very specific and personal ways. Clayton’s many years working in the school with various classes and teachers has resulted in his being considered a jack of all trades. His student ‘toolbox’ is filled with strategies and methods that he uses based on the situation and need. Because of his vast knowledge of the students, school, and teachers, Clayton is incredibly flexible in his work. If a co-worker is absent, and a substitute is present, Clayton gladly adjusts his schedule to work with different students as needed. This flexibility is present in helping out team members as well. His knowledge base is critical in ensuring high quality supports for students in the school at all times. Clayton embraces the culture of inclusion at HHS, and finds creative ways to ensure students experience success and inclusion with peers daily. He wants all students to be a vibrant and vital part of the school community, and participate as fully as possible.
Clayton has been dedicated to KPBSD since 1992, when he first began as a custodian at McNeil Canyon School. He then worked as a paraprofessional at Homer Middle School for two years before transferring to Homer High School as a paraprofessional in 2002. In spite of his many years of work and commitment, Clayton continues to seek out new ways to learn and improve in his field. Clayton identifies areas of need in the team, and suggests topics that they would benefit from training in. He participates actively in trainings, and his newly learned approaches are seen incorporated into his daily work. He exemplifies the ideals of a lifelong learner.
Clayton engages in outreach within the school regularly. He gets to know students in the school outside of the intensive needs classroom, and makes great efforts to connect with all students in HHS. Clayton is known for his birthday greetings; he somehow knows the birthdays of every student in the school, and on their birthday, he seeks each one out and gives them a personal birthday greeting. This desire to connect with every student in the building, and willingness to take the time out of his very busy days to recognize and make a student feel connected and noticed exemplifies his approach to his work, going above and beyond his regular duties daily. He also helps in the development and implementation of school traditions. Annually for three years and counting, Clayton has served as the school host for a Thanksgiving lunch, providing a warm, home-cooked meal to students who have participated in or helped with activities in the intensive needs classroom, or worked individually with students in the room. This dinner is highly attended and valued; last year over 50 students came to eat together and be recognized for their efforts.
In addition to all his efforts connecting with students during the school day, Clayton has also been very involved with extracurricular events in the school. He has volunteered for the track team for 15 years, and was a girls’ basketball JV coach for five years. Clayton uses his knowledge of athletic activities and his coaching skills to identify creative ways for general education students to aid intensive needs students, in order to include them more in the school setting. An example of this is his development of Paired Pairs in athletic activities. Clayton helped pair general education students to play next to an intensive needs student during an athletic activity; the general education student provides assistance both in showing the rules of the game, or what to do, as well as modeling the physical skills and actions necessary. Annually in the fall and spring, Clayton runs a tennis activity at the end of the day during the school Focus on Learning block, encouraging a general education student to play alongside students with intensive needs. This activity has been wildly successful; many students ask to participate in this venture. Last spring over 30 students participated in this weekly event.
Another example of this was when Clayton used his track knowledge to help discuss and initiate the development of a possible unified track team. Using his coaching knowledge and skill set, Clayton began advocating that a student he was working with may be successful in a school-based team such as track or cross country. Through Clayton’s encouragement and knowledge, skills were taught to prepare this student slowly to possibly join the team. The student then began participating in running events over the summer. With the help of many adults, including the teacher, the cross country coach, and parents, school athletic director, the student joined the cross country team this fall, participating in practices, and even running in meets and regionals. At the awards banquet at the end of the season, he was recognized with an award for having the courage to start the race. Clayton’s skill at noticing student strengths and building on them was the foundation for this student experiencing this success.
Clayton has used his experience as first mate on the Predator to help in the school setting. He helped shape the Homer Marine Trades Association Focus on Learning series at HHS, which introduces students to specific marine trades based in Homer. Clayton spoke with students about the opportunity, offered to contact individuals to present, attended presentations, and offered guidance in material to be presented. His passion for all students in the school setting shines in many more acts throughout his many years working at HHS.
Clayton exemplifies outstanding personal dedication and commitment to the school community that he serves. He is a devoted grandpa, dad, husband, teacher, teammate, and friend. He uses his knowledge and experiences to help shape all students as they learn and grow. He shares in the learning journey with his classroom team. His hard work ethic that is utilized as he serves as first mate on the Predator, also is exemplified daily at school with students. Clayton is grounded, salt-of-the earth, with a big heart that shows when he is overcome with emotion when students make small gains as well as epic milestones. Clayton shows students that he won’t give up on them, and they in turn make efforts to grow and to prove him right.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Mr. Clayton Smith for his dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future. Links
News Release 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
Nearly every community in Alaska has a head start program; KPBSD is proud to receive the Head Start Award for Collaboration with the Kenaitze Early Childhood Center (ECC) Head Start program. Teresa Smith, Kenaitze Childhood Manager, and Robin Evans, KPBSD, receive the Head Start Award for Collaboration on behalf of the KPBSD.
“We value our relationship with Kenaitze Head Start and feel that we are fortunate to have their outstanding staff working with our future students,” said Clayton Holland, director of pupil services. “The good work of the Kenaitze Head Start staff with our students and families has made a significant difference in how we perform as a school district and how our students do on an individual level. The collaboration between Kenaitze Head Start and the school district is truly about mutual welfare and benefit for the students and families on the Kenai and is part of what makes this district and community special.”
For seventeen years the Kenaitze Early Childhood Center (ECC) – Head Start has had a strong relationship with KPBSD Pupil Services, Child Find, administrators, and kindergarten & Pre-K staff.
The Child Find Coordinator works with our program to ensure all developmental screenings are completed and reviewed prior to the 45 day deadline required by Head Start,” said Teresa Smith. “This collaboration allows students with possible developmental delays to be observed and referrals made as early as possible in the school year. Through each school year KPBSD will include ECC staff in their trainings and events. Over the years our relationship has grown to be positive and flexible. Concerns regarding a certified special needs child are resolved timely with a phone call, emails or face to face meeting between ECC staff, KPBSD staff and parents. Our strong Memorandum of Agreement clearly defines roles and responsibilities and provides the framework for our collaborative process to provide the best possible services for children and families.
Each year, for the last fifteen years, ECC has hosted a “Transition Night Dinner” for all of our graduating preschoolers, their families and KPBSD kindergarten staff and principals. On Transition Night, teachers and principals from the LEA kindergartens join us and our families for a dinner to meet and provide information about the schools in which their children will be enrolled. This is a very well attended activity, and is a good opportunity for families to begin developing a relationship with their new school. The goal is to allow for smooth transition of children and families from Head Start into kindergarten. In addition kindergarten teachers have scheduled transition meetings with our Education Coordinator to discuss specific needs and possible placement suggestions prior to students moving on. Some teachers have even come over to observe students in their preschool classroom in the late spring.
The KPBSD continually, year after year, works collaboratively with us to ensure that together we provide quality preschool services in our community. We are privileged to work together with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District to serve children and families in this community.”
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District News Release
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
KPBSD students sing, dance, make merry
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 ElementarySchool – December 10, 6:00 p.m.
West Homer Elementary School – December 8, 6:30 p.m., Mariner Theater
News Release
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
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
### 6th Annual Candlelight Vigil for Youth and Families who are homeless Care notes for students enrolled in the SIT program
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
News Release Soldotna, November 23, 2015—Each year two Alaska schools are honored as a National Title I Distinguished School. This year, Chapman School in Anchor Point was recognized for exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years. Nikolaevsk School in Nikolaevsk was recognized for significantly closing the achievement gap between student groups.Both schools are in the diverse Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD).
We are very proud of the schools,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “Their staff, students, and communities have worked very hard. There is an obvious focus on meeting individual student needs which has shown great results. We are very excited that the schools have earned this honor from the state level.”
A November 20, 2015, press release from the State of Alaska Department of Education and Early Development stated: “Title I schools receive federal funds to support programs that supplement instruction to meet the educational needs of low-achieving students in high-poverty schools. The National Title I Distinguished Schools Program is a project of the National Title I Association. Selected schools must have a poverty rate of at least 35 percent and have been recognized by the state as a reward school in either the highest performing category or the highest progress category. Each state, using its own selection process, may select one school in each category for the honor.”
“The educators, students, and parents of Chapman School and Nikolaevsk School believe that all students can achieve, and they prove it every day,” said Commissioner Mike Hanley. “It is a great pleasure to congratulate these school-communities for their well-deserved recognition.” Chapman School
Chapman School focuses on interventions and supports for grades K-3 in an effort to help decrease the learning gap between student groups. The foundation for these interventions is based on district-adopted and research-based curriculum partnered with strong data-based decision making for all students. The students at Chapman get a rich and varied education experience thanks to strong community partnerships.
“Through our Title I programs, Response To Intervention (RTI) program, community involvement, and top-notch staff, we continue to make it possible for all of our students to achieve—our students continue to rise to the challenge and do just that,” said Principal Conrad Woodhead. Nikolaevsk School
Nikolaevsk School is proud of its high expectations for students and consistent 100% graduation rate. All students at Nikolaevsk develop SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound) based on their personal academic data and lead their own student-parent-teacher conferences. All Nikolaevsk teachers work as a cooperative team and operate under a shared philosophy that every student is everyone’s responsibility.
Principal Michael Sellers said, “As a result of the teachers’ efforts toward focusing on individual student needs, adopting programs that fit within those goals, and focusing on research-based methods in instruction, Nikolaevsk has seen years of success as a five-star school and a school with successful students.”
Alaska identifies eligible schools for the award based on their students’ performance on state standards-based assessments. Identified schools then must choose to apply for the honor, providing evidence of effectiveness in research-based instructional strategies, opportunities for all children to achieve, coordination of Title I with other programs, professional development of staff, and partnerships with parents, families and communities. Links and contacts
