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Summer is on its way and another school year is winding down. For the last nine months, 9,200 students, which represents 18 percent of the Kenai Peninsula Borough's total population, have been transported, educated, exercised, fed, motivated, counseled and kept safe and warm for the majority of their weekday, waking hours.

Playing such a large part in the lives of our borough's most precious individuals is no small undertaking.

Borough Mayor John Williams has recently shown his support for the efforts of the students and employees of the Kenai Peninsula School District in a big way. Last month the Alaska Legislature passed and the governor signed a historic three-year education funding bill. The bill increased educational funding statewide and, in particular, addressed the needs of the far flung and diverse KPBSD.

Our legislators stepped up to the plate for our borough and school district. Mayor Williams then responded in kind.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly is now deliberating the level of funding they will provide to the KPBSD for the next school year. This process begins with the mayor submitting a budget for the assembly's approval. Mayor Williams' budget includes an increase of $3.1 million for the KPBSD. This level of funding is the maximum allowed under the new education funding law.

The borough has a long-term tradition of looking to the future and funding education to the cap. I would like to thank the mayor for putting before the assembly a budget that continues this tradition. The governor, Legislature and mayor have all agreed that the financial sacrifices necessary to prepare our children for the future are worth the investment. Let's hope that the assembly reaches the same conclusion.

Karl Kircher

Kasilof