School district gets budget answers

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s looming question has been answered — they will receive status quo funding from the state for the 2017 – 2018 school year.

With the first day of school slated for Aug. 22, the district has been sitting on a preliminary budget passed in April that worked off the assumption of status-quo funding from both the state and the Kenai Peninsula Borough.

After months of uncertainty, the Alaska State Legislature adopted a budget that includes status quo funding for K-12 education which would allocate approximately $87.1 million of funding to the district in Fiscal Year 2018, according to district budget documents. This includes $79.2 million from the state Foundation Funding Formula.

“We thank and appreciate the efforts of our legislators and local leaders in this process,” Superintendent Sean Dusek said in a release on Friday.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough also appropriated $49.73 million to education in FY18, a $1.5 million increase over FY17.

“It is our hope that future funding for K-12 education will be decided much earlier in the process to avoid the uncertainty of programs and opportunities for our students experienced during these past several months,” Dusek said. “We will continue to work with the legislature to fulfill the goal of a sustainable, responsible, long-term fical plan that will allow Alaska to continue to be a vibrant and attractive state in which to live.”

The district passed a preliminary budget in April based on status quo funding that projected total general fund revenue at $136.7 million, with $87.1 million from the state and $48.2 million from the borough.

The preliminary FY18 budget covered a $3.4 million defecit with $2.6 million in reductions and a $1.1 million transfer from the district’s fund balance, according to budget documents.

Following the borough’s budget announcement earlier this month, the district was able to fill 12 open teaching positions out of 30 positions that were frozen due to the unknown nature of the FY18 budget.

“We will fill open teaching positions as best we can,” Dusek said.

The district hopes to have a full staffing recommendation for the school board to approve soon, according to Dusek.

“We thank our staff, families and community members who invested time and effort to learn about education revenue and expenditures, as well as advocate to the legislature and borough on behalf of our excellent schools in the KPBSD,” Dusek said.

Reach Kat Sorensen at kat.sorensen@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Kenai Peninsula College Director Cheryl Siemers speaks to graduates during the 55th commencement ceremony at Kachemak Bay Campus on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Kenai Peninsula College leadership sees temporary transitions

KPC Director Cheryl Siemers is serving as interim UAA chancellor, while former KBC director Reid Brewer fills in her role.

Ash-Lee Waddell (center) of Homer is one of six recipients of the 2025 First Lady’s Volunteer Award at the Governor’s Residence in Juneau, Alaska, on May 13, 2025. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor
First lady honors Alaskan volunteers

Volunteers from Homer and Nikiski were recognized.

The front of the Kenai Police Department as seen on Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Update: Middle schooler reported missing found after 24-hour search

The student was seen leaving Kenai Middle School at around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The Oceania Riviera stands out against a bluebird sky at the Homer Harbor on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Over 1200 passengers from aboard the boat explored Homer throughout the beautiful day. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Homer tourism season kicks off with arrival of cruise ships

The first cruise ship of the season arrived April 28 with 930 passengers.

tease
‘Tomorrow — remember you are still a learner’

Kachemak Bay Campus graduated 49 students during its 55th annual commencement hosted on May 7.

Mt. Redoubt rises above Cook Inlet and the Anchor River drainage as fireweed is in bloom, as seen from Diamond Ridge Road on Friday, July 22, 2022, near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Native plants provide lifeline for local songbirds

Shorebird Festival talk highlights importance of native plants.

Sterling Elementary School students collect trash from the banks of the Kenai River near Bing’s Landing in Sterling, Alaska, during the 10th Annual Kenai River Spring Cleanup on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Cleaning up the mess that’s left behind

Students from six local schools combed for litter during the 10th Annual Kenai River Spring Cleanup.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai land sales proposal delayed amid council concerns

The ordinance would amend city code to add new language allowing officers and employees to participate in property sales.

Greg Springer delivers a presentation on sockeye fishing during A Day at the River at Centennial Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Gearing up for summer fishing

Trout Unlimited and the Kenai Watershed Forum host “A Day at the River.”

Most Read