Tag: transportation

news release: New KPBSD bus routes, times, and practice run

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KPBSD welcomes Apple Bus Company
The first day of school is Tuesday, August 22, 2017*, and Apple Bus Company is in final preparations for the new school year.

Find new bus route and pickup and drop-off times

Apple Bus Company routes and times are now online and searchable via the Kenai Peninsula Bus infoFinder

Practice Run, Monday, August 21, 2017!

All Apple Bus Company buses will run their scheduled routes, in real time, stopping at all known stops, both in the morning and afternoon on Monday. Please do not think you have missed the first day of school, and your child has missed the bus! This is a full practice run, in real time, to finalize route timing and pickup and drop-off times.
Parent idea: On Monday, in conjunction with the Apple Bus bus practice, do your own practice run to determine how long it takes you to arrive at your bus stop, so on Tuesday, students are ready to step aboard a new year!

KPBSD bus questions?
Please call Apple Bus Company:

  • Central peninsula area (Kasilof, Kenai, Nikiski, Soldotna, Sterling): 907.262.4900
  • Southern peninsula area (Anchor Point, Ninilchik, Homer area): 907.235.0124
  • Seward area: 907.224.3571

Links

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, Communications Liaison, communications@KPBSD.org
907.714.8888
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*Variances – school begins:

  • August 15, 2017: Kachemak-Selo; Razdolna; Voznesenka schools
  • August 21, 2017: Nanwalek; Nikolaevsk; Port Graham schools
  • August 22, 2017: all other KPBSD schools

Changing school start and end times : community meetings

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School start and end times will change in southern peninsula schools served by bus transportation

Soldotna, September 14, 2016—Changes are coming next year, and in order to inform and gather input, three southern peninsula community meetings will take place in September. Discussion centers around the necessary adjustments to school start and end times, modification of bus schedules, and additional implications because of these changes. Parents, KPBSD staff, students, and community members are invited and encouraged to attend a community meeting:

  • Homer area: Monday, September 19, 2016, 6:00 PM, Homer High School

     

  • Ninilchik area: Tuesday, September 20, 2016, 6:00 PM, Ninilchik School

     

  • Anchor Point area: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 6:30 PM, Chapman School

When the school board awarded a ten year transportation contract to Apple Bus, and also approved a change from the current single tier busing to double tier (or two-tier) busing starting in August, 2017, the ramification is that to implement two-tier busing, school start times will need to stagger in order for buses to serve two routes every day. Running two tier busing requires a minimum of 60 minutes between the first and second bus run schedules.
Changes will take place at southern peninsula schools served by bus transportation and include:
Chapman School
Fireweed Academy
Homer Flex School
Homer High School
Homer Middle School
McNeil Canyon Elementary
Nikolaevsk School
Ninilchik School
Paul Banks Elementary
West Homer Elementary
Two-tier busing throughout the rest of the school district has been in place for many years. Southern peninsula schools will collaborate to select new school start and end times.
Next steps
After these preliminary community meetings, school principals will work with district administrators to analyze the input and feedback, then propose school start and end times and create draft bus schedules. Follow up school-based or area meetings may be scheduled, if needed. The district intends to finalize changes for the 2017-2018 school year by early spring, 2017.
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, communications liaison, 907.714.8888
September 14, 2016 News Release
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Caution: student safety traveling to and from school

PrintSoldotna, November 12, 2014—This morning, November 12, 2014, an elementary age student was taken to Central Peninsula Hospital with what appears to be a non-life-threatening injury, after being struck by a passenger vehicle near K-Beach Road in Soldotna, while walking to a bus stop.
Student safety is always the district’s top priority. In response to this accident, KPBSD will review what took place this morning and then as necessary, take corrective action. If you have concerns about other bus stops and routes to schools, please contact either KPBSD transportation at 907-714-8824, or First Student, our bus transportation provider, at 907-260-3557.
SAFETY REMINDER: With the late sunrise and early sunset, many of our students are traveling to and from school in the dark. The lack of light and snow may make it difficult to see students. Parents: safety and reflective tape is available from Kenai Peninsula Safe Kids—please make sure your child is visible at bus stops and while walking or riding a bicycle. Reflective tape on jackets, backpacks, and caps is helpful! Drivers: please watch out for students, and slowdown in school zones.
TIP: Contact Jane Fellman with Kenai Peninsula Safe Kids if you would like to receive free reflective tape or a reflective zipper pull tab for your child’s jacket, backpack, or cap. The reflective tape increases visibility. Call 907-714-4539, or email safekids@cpgh.org.
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Walk your child to school KPBSD

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.

When a bus stops…

Do you know what to do when a bus is stopping or stopped on a road? Alaska State Law lists eight “Stops Required” for motorists. Number seven is: 

School bus — “Stop when red flashing lights are in operation, and stop arm is extended. Drivers meeting and following bus must stop.”

Please drive with caution during our dark winter months, in winter driving conditions, especially while busses travel their routes and stop frequently. 
We all appreciate seeing children wearing reflective clothing alongside the dark roads, and adults waiting with children at bus stops. It would be nice if moose could wear reflective vests or caps too!
KPBSD busses travel 7,725 miles every day, transporting 2,500 plus students throughout the school district.
Links