Nikolaevsk, others speak to KPBSD about school closures, budget cuts

Dozens of people spoke to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Homer on Monday, during a meeting where the board decided to strike most schools from closure consideration and began work on draft budgets that describe deep cuts to school programs and staffing in the face of a $17 million deficit.

Public testimony stretched for over two hours in the Homer High School auditorium. Many who spoke did so in support of Nikolaevsk School, which remains under consideration for closure.

A pair of young Nikolaevsk students said they wanted their school to stay open because its more easily accessible than trying to reach a bus stop outside of their community and then bus to Chapman Elementary — the solution described for Nikolaevsk students in a presentation delivered to the board that day. They said they worry about getting to school and the time they would spend on the bus.

Steve Klaich, a retired Nikolaevsk teacher, said he wanted to advocate for all small schools that are the hearts of their communities. Kids can’t always get to larger schools, and their parents may be unable to homeschool. Nikolaevsk is uniquely integrated into the calendar, culture and language of its community, he said.

Blake Sawyer, a Nikolaevsk parent and a former student, said that his community is growing and that the loss of the school would “cut the legs out” from that growth. Homeschool isn’t an option for every family.

“My wife and I aren’t teachers,” he said. “I know how to fix computers, I don’t know how to teach kids.”

Diane Maples, principal and teacher at Nikolaevsk School, said that her school is beginning to rebuild trust with its community.

“These 23 students are not just families on a PowerSchool roster,” she said. “They’re children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, my grandson. And they were entrusted to us.”

Many others spoke about the various opportunities that students could lose because of proposed budget cuts.

Christopher Brown, principal of Homer Flex High School, responded to the board’s decision only hours prior to explore closing alternative schools like his own.

“What we need to understand about alternative programs is we’re there because our traditional schools don’t serve all the students,” he said. “We’re there to catch the ones that fall through the cracks — that won’t graduate in your traditional high school.”

Eric Waltenbaugh, principal of West Homer Elementary, presented on the successes and growth of his students as measured above national averages.

“You have a school to be proud of,” he said. “If anyone tells you your neighborhood community school is failing, they are grossly misinformed.”

Jennifer Ransom, of Seward, pointed to a proposed cut in the distance education program — which means students in smaller schools will lose the option to take some classes.

Homer Mayor Rachel Lord said that she “hated” the budget conversations she heard from the board that day — also that she understood the situation the district is facing. She said she hoped the district didn’t further cut its administrative offices, where staff are already tasked with doing multiple jobs.

“When schools suffer from budget cuts, families begin to move elsewhere,” she said. “Taking their skills, businesses and tax dollars with them.”

Bruce Jaffa, of Moose Pass, said that a state with “$81 billion in the bank” and no income or sales tax “shouldn’t have to make this kind of decision.”

Darcy Marcou, a K-Beach Elementary School teacher, said she didn’t want to see proposed cuts to Quest gifted and talented programs implemented. She said her students in those programs need the challenging learning opportunity and the chance to collaborate with “like-minded peers.”

A full recording of the meeting will be available at the KPBSD’s BoardDocs website.

This story was corrected on Wednesday to correct the spelling of Steve Klaich’s name, and on Friday to add Tiasa Prevost’s name to photo captions.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.