This budget timeline calendar combines important dates for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, the Borough Assembly, and State of Alaska legislature and Office of the Governor.
It will be updated when additional dates are available. Current version: 1.10.20
PDF version: Education Funding Calendar for FY21 (2020-2021) school year
Today, January 28, 2019, legislation was introduced that would repeal a 2018-2019 appropriation of $20 million to K-12 public education in Alaska. Assistant Superintendent Jones emailed this letter to our Kenai Peninsula Senators Micciche and Stevens late today. This is how these already appropriated funds of $1.4 million were allocated in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District.
January 28, 2019
Good Afternoon Senators,
I have attached the OMB Change Record Detail page reducing $20 million appropriated to DEED for distribution to Alaskan School Districts in FY2019. The attachment also includes a page that shows the estimated effect to each district that DEED School Finance issued last May.
“On the Kenai, we budgeted this as $1.4 Million of General Fund Revenue and we reinstated 11.5 FTE teaching positions as well as 3 days for many of our support personnel that had previously been reduced from our budget. We have been employing and paying those folks since the start of the school year in August!”
KPBSD is currently running a deficit General Fund budget that requires us to spend approximately $675,000 in fund balance. We cannot afford to be forced to spend an additional $1.4 million dollars in fund balance.
It is my understanding that OMB Director Donna Arduin will be addressing Supplemental Budget Legislation with Senate Finance at 9:00 AM tomorrow morning, Tuesday, January 29, 2019. In Section 12(1) of SB 39, $21,800,000 is being appropriated from the School Fund. I believe that amount includes the $20 Million dollar reduction to school districts indicated in the attached Change Record Detail.
I am requesting your support in opposition to this repeal of the FY2019 one-time funding.
Please let me know if I can be of any assistance in this matter. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Dave Jones
Assistant Superintendent
KPBSD
(907) 714-8858
KPBSD will inspire all learners to pursue their dreams in a rigorous, relevant and responsive environment.
Links
News Release
State education funding cut scenarios for KPBSD
Soldotna, May 10, 2017—The HB57 Operating Budget conference committee is appointed. If you value public education in the KPBSD, please contact committee members* and local legislators now to request status quo education funding. In preparation for potential reductions to education funding, KPBSD administration anticipates:
The effect of a 1% reduction in state education funding for the KPBSD is $1,055,166
If a 1% cut were made, KPBSD would:
The effect of a 2% reduction in state education funding for the KPBSD is $2,110,332
If a 2% cut were made, KPBSD would:
These are the six legislators who will meet together representing the House and the Senate, and determine funding for public education:
Click here to send a Public Opinion Message to any or all legislators, or call any LIO and they can send it for you – 50 word limit.
Kenai Peninsula Legislators
These are legislators who represent schools and communities in the KPBSD:
School starts in three months. KPBSD has 30 positions on hold until we learn what our FY18 funding will be, in addition to millions of dollars and positions already reduced.
Budget Background
For several years, budget reductions have come through efficiencies, Pupil to Teacher Ratio (PTR) increases, and reduction of staff. Increased costs related to healthcare continue to rise.
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 already been reduced in KPBSD since FY15.
Links
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Your legislators need to hear from you now. Our schools need fiscal certainty, and our children need hope for the future. Please express your individual thoughts to your legislators today.*
It appears increasingly likely there will be a reduction of state education funding. The Senate is proposing a five percent reduction which equates to a $5 million dollar cut to our budget. This action will have serious, negative consequences for students. Also, this cut significantly reduces the potential funding capability of the Kenai Peninsula Borough by more than $1 million.
The legislative session is coming to its statutory end and education funding for the KPBSD has not been determined. This leaves your schools in a bind, as we develop an educational plan that begins in less than four months. Every one percent reduction to state education funding means a loss of over $1 million in revenue for our district.
KPBSD demonstrates excellent results, and these proposed reductions put our improvements and innovations at significant risk.
“The state has a constitutional requirement to maintain a system of public education and I believe that the system should be of the highest quality,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “Our kids are the number one, consistent and sustainable resource in our state. Students should be supported and not be caught in the middle of a larger political issue.”
The KPBSD Board of Education’s number one priority is a reliable, multi-revenue fiscal plan for the State of Alaska. Please join district administration to advocate for adequate school funding by contacting your legislators.
Senator Peter Micciche, District O | Senator.Peter.Micciche@akleg.gov
https://www.facebook.com/SenatorPeterMicciche/ https://twitter.com/AKSenMajority
Schools: Aurora Borealis Charter, Cooper Landing School, Hope School, Kaleidoscope Charter, K-Beach Elementary, Kenai Alternative, Kenai Central High, Kenai Middle, Marathon School, Moose Pass School, Mountain View Elementary, Nikiski Middle-High, Nikiski North Star Elementary, River City Academy, Skyview Middle, Soldotna Elementary, Soldotna High, Soldotna Montessori, Seward Elementary, Seward High, Seward Middle, Sterling Elementary, Connections Homeschool Program
Senator Gary Stevens, District P | Senator.Gary.Stevens@akleg.gov
https://www.facebook.com/AlaskaSenateMajority
Schools: Chapman School, Fireweed Academy Charter, Homer Flex, Homer High, Homer Middle, Kachemak-Selo, McNeil Canyon Elementary, Nikolaevsk, Ninilchik, Paul Banks Elementary, Razdolna, Susan B. English, Tustumena Elementary, Voznesenka, West Homer Elementary, Connections Homeschool Program
Representative Mike Chenault, District 29 | Representative.Mike.Chenault@akleg.gov
https://www.facebook.com/repmikechenault/ https://twitter.com/ChenaultRep
Schools: Cooper Landing School, Hope School, Moose Pass School, Nikiski Middle-High, Nikiski North Star Elementary, Seward Elementary, Seward High, Seward Middle, Sterling Elementary, Connections Homeschool Program
Representative Gary Knopp, District 30 | Representative.Gary.Knopp@akleg.gov
Schools: Aurora Borealis Charter, Kaleidoscope Charter, K-Beach Elementary, Kenai Alternative, Kenai Central High, Kenai Middle School, Marathon School, Mountain View Elementary, Redoubt Elementary, River City Academy, Skyview Middle School, Soldotna Elementary, Soldotna High, Soldotna Montessori, Connections Homeschool Program
Representative Paul Seaton, District 31 | Representative.Paul.Seaton@akleg.gov
https://twitter.com/RepPaulSeaton https://twitter.com/AKCoalition
Schools: Chapman, Fireweed Academy Charter, Homer Flex, Homer High, Homer Middle, Kachemak-Selo, McNeil Canyon, Nikolaevsk, Ninilchik, Paul Banks Elementary, Razdolna, Tustumena, Voznesenka, West Homer Elementary, Connections Homeschool Program
Representative: Louise Stutes, District 32 | Representative.Louise.Stutes@akleg.gov
https://www.facebook.com/RepLouiseStutes/ https://twitter.com/AKCoalition
Schools: Nanwalek School, Port Graham School, Tebughna School, Susan B. English, Connections Homeschool Program
News Release
Soldotna, April 4, 2017—The Senate Finance Committee proposed a 5% cut to education funding, creating an additional deficit hit of $5.29 million to the KPBSD. Plus, the 5% links to a second cut of $1.21 million by reducing the maximum allowable contribution the Borough may contribute to KPBSD, thus the cuts could total $6.51 million.
But, you can speak up now to tell our legislators why a cut this large will harm children, and the future of our youth and communities. Cutting education by 5% to solve the state fiscal crisis hurts classroom success and innovation, our youth, and future generations.
Therefore, this week, please call, write, testify, or speak face-to-face to Alaska Senators, and your local legislators.
Tell something true from your own experience. For example:
Please help propel the quality of education forward through a request for status quo education funding, and a viable solution to the state fiscal crisis.
Senate Finance Committee 5% Base Student Allocation (BSA) cut to education in HB57:
On April 3, 3017, KPBSD administration put forth the preliminary FY18 Status Quo funded budget to the Board of Education. (This budget does not include the additional 5% BSA cut.)
“I’m very concerned that the legislature is proposing these further reductions to education funding, particularly this late in our process of budgeting and staffing for next year,” said Superintendent Sean Dusek. “KPBSD is committed to deliver a quality education to our students, and provide stability for our staff and communities. These reductions compromise our ability to prepare our students for their future.”
Today, please take two minutes to tell the Alaska Senate why you believe education funding should not be cut so drastically, this late in the session. KPBSD believes every child counts. Give your perspective in person, by telephone, via email. Click to find legislator contacts.
Links
The number one KPBSD Board of Education legislative priority is, “Provide sustained, reliable, and adequate education funding for Alaska’s students.”
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Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
News Release
Conference Committee short funds education
Soldotna, May 18, 2016—The Conference Committee on the Operating and Mental Health Budgets HB 256 and HB 257 has eliminated the equivalent of the $50 Base Student Allocation (BSA) funding to education that was required by previous legislative action, included in the FY17 Governor’s budget, as well as in both the current House and Senate budgets.
We anticipate a floor vote on this action at some point today.
KPBSD has worked on our FY17 budget in a rigorous and transparent manner since August of 2015, and made over $3 million in reductions. Today is the last day of school in our district. Our district has issued contracts that will not be withdrawn.
Last night, this new action that the Conference Committee took is less than transparent, did not allow for a public input process, and created new turmoil.
The KPBSD has acted in good faith throughout the legislative process. We did not initially include the statutory $50 BSA increase in our FY17 budget until the last possible school board meeting prior to the deadline to issue teaching contracts as required by law. The inclusion of this revenue was only made after extensive discussion with many members of the legislature and accepting the previous vote by both the Senate and the House of Representatives to include the equivalent of $50 BSA educational funding.
Short funding education in the amount proposed by the Conference Committee equates to the loss of the $50 BSA. For the KPBSD, the unanticipated impact at this late date to our 2016-2017 budget is:
Potential 2016-2017 revenue loss to KPBSD: $1,090,241
“KPBSD is committed to work with the legislature to best address the fiscal challenges in our state,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “We understand that there are very difficult decisions to be made. However, in order to plan for our staffing and the educational needs for K-12 education and our students, we need to be included early in the process, and not receive financial surprises such as this, so late in the legislative session.”
Links
Alaska senators, representatives, and the Conference Committee member contacts
Kenai Peninsula Legislators:
Conference Committee on HB256 and HB257 members:
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Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
MEDIA RELEASE: How would you spend 160 million dollars?
Soldotna, February 14, 2014—Everyone interested in quality public education is invited to a public meeting about the 2014-2015 budget designed to provide a K-12 education for our local students on the Kenai Peninsula.
The reality is that when the budget process began, an $8,235,753 deficit for a status quo budget in 2014-2015 existed. This is to provide what KPBSD did in 2013-2014. Please step up to the plate and attend a public budget forum. You’ll take a deficit walk with Dave Jones, assistant superintendent of instructional support, and learn about the budget reductions we have already made, possibilities for the future, the role of the legislature, borough, and general fund balance. Do you know that in July 2013, the school board already determined a .5 increase for student-to-teacher ratio in the classroom to address the deficit? This equates to more than ten current positions which will not be funded next year. Even with this, other proposed expenditure reductions, and use of the general fund balance, KPBSD still has an unresolved deficit of $4,593,729 to solve.
Dr. Steve Atwater, superintendent, said, “The financing for our schools is complicated. I encourage the public to attend the budget forums so they can better understand this financing and to gain a sense of our deficit and what steps we are taking to close the revenue-expenditure gap.”
Parents, employees, students, community members—you are invited. Mark your calendar for one hour, and bring your inquiries and questions to KPBSD Budget 101, where you will learn about the district perspective, expenditures, revenues, and where to find specifics for your neighborhood school:
Link
KPBSD finance department and budget documents: http://bit.ly/FinanceKPBSD
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