Tag: BSA

News Release: Senate proposes 5% cut to KPBSD

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Alaska Senate proposes 5% cut to education funding

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:

  • What is one simple way that your KPBSD school has made a difference to you or your family?
  • How are innovations in the classroom preparing children for their future?
  • How did your KPBSD public education prepare you for your current work or career?

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.
How to contact your legislator
Senate Finance Committee 5% Base Student Allocation (BSA) cut to education in HB57:

  • State contribution to KPBSD is reduced by $5,293,712
  • Borough maximum allowable contribution to KPBSD is reduced by $1,217,554
  • Additional potential FY18 revenue loss: $6,511,266

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.)

  • Already, the FY18 budget includes a deficit of $3.49 million
  • Expenditure reductions of $2,619,308 includes the elimination of 30.5 full time equivalent (FTE) positions, and use of General Fund savings

“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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How would you spend 160 million dollars?

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictPrint
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:

• Tuesday, February 18, 2014, 5:30 p.m., Seward High School library
• Wednesday, February 19, 2014, 5:30 p.m., Soldotna High School library
• Tuesday, February 25, 2014, 5:30 p.m., Homer High School library

Link
KPBSD finance department and budget documents: http://bit.ly/FinanceKPBSD

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SB 182: Pupil Transportation Funding

February 23, 2012–KPBSD encourages your support of SB 182: Pupil Transportation Funding. We’ve made announcements that public testimony would be taken on Friday morning, at 8:00 am.

This afternoon  the LIO office announced  that the scheduled SB 182 public testimony hearing scheduled for Friday, February 24, 2012, at 8:00 AM status has been changed to testimony by invite only.
However, you can offer written testimony which will be treated and weighed like oral testimony.
Send your e-mail (or letter) regarding SB 182 (or any bill) to your LIO office. The LIO office will compile e-mails, and forward them to the committee. (Also contact your local legislator.)
The teleconference can be viewed live online at Legislative TV at http://alaskalegislature.tv/
Homer LIO
Homer_LIO@legis.state.ak.us  
345 W Sterling Hwy, Ste#102A, Homer, AK  99603
235-7878; Fax: 235-4008 
Kenai LIO
Kenai_LIO@legis.state.ak.us   
145 Main St Loop #217, Kenai, AK   99611
283-2030; Fax: 283-3075
Seward LIO
mailto:Seward_LIO@legis.state.ak.us302
302 Railway Suite 107 Seward, AK 99664
224-5066; Fax: 224-5067
Several education bills are in the current legislative process. In particular, KPBSD is supportive of these three:
SB 171: Increase Base Student Allocation (BSA) An Act increasing the base student allocation for public schools; and providing for an effective date. Increases the base student allocation (BSA) each of the next three years resulting in a FY13 BSA of $5,805; FY14 BSA of $5,935 and FY15 BSA of $6,070. (Increases of $125, $130 and $135)
SB 182: Pupil Transportation Funding An Act amending the amount of state funding provided to school districts for pupil transportation.
 SB 3: Funding for School Meals An Act providing for funding for school lunch and breakfast; and providing for an effective date.