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For the second consecutive meeting, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District employees packed the borough assembly chambers Tuesday to voice their request and/or to show support for funding education to the cap.

Most were in attendance to due to ordinance 2008-19-47, appropriating $260,059 from the borough general fund to provide supplemental funding from local sources for school purposes during fiscal year 2008-2009.

"This appropriation basically rounds out funding to the cap," said Assemblyman Bill Smith. The extra funds were requested because of an increase of 203 students from the estimated enrollment.

"Every teacher should be able to end the year knowing they'll be back next year," said Kasilof resident Kellie Schneider. "We just need to keep teachers in the classroom."

"I would urge you to fund this and also to fund to the cap," said Mike Boyle, of Kenai. He said children need the best possible education.

LaDawn Druce, president of the Kenai Peninsula Education Association, said the school district needs to be able to attract and retain its teachers. "We must educate the public in this area ... or a small minority will determine the fate of this borough," she said.

Soldotna Middle School Principal Sharon Moock told the assembly she had to tell six of her teachers they might lose their jobs. "It tears me up and makes me not want to stay," she said. Moock said should the district not be funded to the cap, programmatic staffing programs, such as music classes, will have to be cut.

"I believe in fully funding to the cap," said Jennie Hammond, of Nikiski. She said she understands that education accounts for 70 percent of the entire borough budget and supports it.

"I accept that as a parent, I accept that as a taxpayer," Hammond said.

"It's not a lot of money but it does demonstrate our willingness to fund the cap," said Assembly Vice President Pete Sprague.

Sterling Assemblyman Charlie Pierce said the school district has $9 million in its savings, which could be used to round out funding to the cap. "This one falls on the administration," he said.

"What does this $260,000 do?" asked Assemblyman Paul Fischer, of Kasilof. "It will have no effect at all on whether teachers get cut. It's going into the surplus. The impact will be nilch."

Assembly President Milli Martin said otherwise.

"It is a part of this year's funding and I do think we need to fund to the cap," she said. Martin said the school district needs its fund balance.

She also cited a letter written to Borough Mayor Dave Carey, dated Saturday, signed by six state legislators, requesting he fund education to the cap.

"As competition for available funds intensifies, it is increasingly important that the Kenai Peninsula Borough differentiate itself from other boroughs in the state," the letter reads. "One way in which the borough can distinguish itself is by its support for education. We kindly suggest that the borough consider funding education to the cap. Funding to the cap demonstrates the value the borough places on education and is a commitment the Legislature is likely to look favorably upon when funding decisions are made. In the past, full funding by the Kenai Peninsula Borough has given us a great tool to use when we compete for education dollars. It places the borough in an improved position to receive funding and signals our strong support of area students."

The letter was signed by Sens. Gary Stevens and Tom Wagoner and Reps. Mike Chenault, Mike Hawker, Kurt Olson and Paul Seaton.

The ordinance passed on a five-to-four vote. Assembly members Pierce, Fischer, Gary Superman and Gary Knopp were opposed.

At the meeting, Carey said he will ask for $40 million for the school district.

"The $40 million I am requesting for 2010, along with the addition $709,329 the state has promised for 2010, along with last night's $260,059 represents $40,969,388 to be used for 2010, which is only $177,557 less than the $41,146,945 appropriated by the Assembly last June," he said in a written statement Wednesday. "This is a four-tenths of one percent decrease from the original local share for the current year."

Carey's proposed budget will be introduced at the May 5 assembly meeting in Seward.

Mike Nesper can be reached at mike.nesper@peninsulaclarion.com.