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Nikiski Middle/High School Principal Shane Bostic stands near a track and field long jump sand pit on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. The track is one of several projects in a bond package Kenai Peninsula voters will consider during the Oct. 4 municipal election next month. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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‘Critical needs’: Nikiski athletes await upgrade

Funding for long-delayed school projects on Oct. 4 ballot

Members of United Academics - American Association of University Professors/American Federation of Teachers Local 4996 gathered on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, to call on University of Alaska officials to agree to a negotiated contract. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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After close to a year of negotiations, university, faculty union still at odds

The two sides disagree over what contract will be in effect until a new agreement is reached

A classroom at Kenai Middle School is photographed on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Weeks from restarting, schools across Alaska are struggling to find teachers

District, state solutions face hurdles with little time to spare

Clarion file photo

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Mat-Su schools’ ban on transgender girl athletes raises concern for ACLU, may violate federal law

Multiple federal agencies affirm rights of transgender people

A classroom is seen at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Can public funds be used for private school classes? Education department isn’t sure

‘Any effort to divert public funds to private schools is a blatantly unconstitutional act’ says opponent to the…

Armands Veksejs, Hager Elserry, Dady Thitisakulwong, and Haewon Hong attend a farewell potluck barbecue in Nikiski on Monday, May 23, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

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‘A life in a year’

Foreign exchange students receive send-off in Nikiski

UAS The Alaska State Capitol seen on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)

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House passes bill to protect higher education funding

Bills aims to exempt scholarships from annual ‘sweep’ debate

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney stopped by the Empire offices in Juneau on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, to talk about the system’s future. Mostly recovered from budget cuts and the COVID-19 pandemic, Pitney said the university is ready to start building Alaska’s workforce. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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Pitney: UA ready to train Alaska’s workforce

‘Getting people through the pipeline.’

Krista Schooley (left) testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Board of Education on Monday, June 7, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Screenshot)

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A ‘groundswell’: Conservative coalition seeks to expand influence on school policy

The vision of KPCCC is to “restructure and build the foundation of the 7 Mountains of Influence in…

University officials are hoping that increased collaboration between the University of Alaska’s three schools of education will result in more Alaskans becoming teachers. The Univerity of Alaska Southeast, seen here in this October 2020 file photo, offers teacher training and retention programs. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Help wanted: Alaskans to teach Alaska’s students

New consortium and marketing campaign aims to retain and recruit teachers

KPBSD Superintendent John O’Brien sits in his office in the George A. Navarre Administration Building, on Monday, May 24, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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A ‘second act’: O’Brien plans for life after KPBSD

Superintendent John O’Brien spoke with the Clarion about his 16 years of service in the Kenai Peninsula Borough…

Connections Homeschool Principal Rich Bartolowits speaks to graduates during their graduation ceremony at Soldotna High School on Thursday, May 20, 2021. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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‘Whatever you’re going to do, give it 1,250%’

Connections graduates 99

Valedictorians Rosalie Anderson, Lillian Carstens and Samuel Smith give their commencement address at the Nikiski Middle/High School graduation on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 in the gymnasium. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

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‘Ready for something new’

Nikiski honors graduates during commencement ceremony

Jullian Miller (left) and Alivia Howard speak during Kenai Alternative High School’s 2021 graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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‘Like having another family’

Kenai Alternative High School graduates 10

Soldotna High School students celebrate their graduation on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at the high school football field. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

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‘Trust your book is a good one’

SoHi honors graduates in outdoor ceremony

Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration and Assembly meet for a joint work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021.

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KPBSD recruiting new staff at most schools

The district is looking to hire more than 50 new staff members for schools across the borough.

From left to right: Landon Vyhmeister, Jared Vyhmeister, Jamie Hyatt, Emily Warix, Jacob Topp and Isaac Johnson are photographed before their graduation ceremony at Cook Inlet Academy in Soldotna, Alaska on Sunday, May 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

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Cook Inlet graduates 6

“I’m just looking forward to new adventures and just a new chapter in my life.”

The Juneau School District, it's headquarters seen here in this Juneau Empire file photo, will receive a portion of Alaska's more than $358 million in federal relief money for schools. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Alaska to receive over $358 million to reopen schools

Reopen “quickly and safely.”

A magnet promoting the Alaska Reads Act released by the state last year sits atop a stack of Alaskan-authored and Alaska-centric books. A shortened session last year meant the bill, announced by Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, didn’t make it through the last Legislature. But there’s a new bill, nearly the same as the old bill, working its way through the Senate. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

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Reworked reading bill gets 2nd act in Legislature

Still a ways to go.

Mike Barnhill, deputy commisioner of the Alaska Department of Revenue, speaks following the drawing of names during the second annual PFD Education Raffle. During the event, state officials and lawmakers wore masks with an education raffle logo. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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Roll out the barrel: 2nd annual PFD education raffle held

Four Alaskans win thousands.