Education

Professor of Process Technology Jeffrey Laube explains equipment to Kachemak Bay Campus Director Brian Partridge at a showcase of Kenai Peninsula College’s career and technical education programs in the college’s Career and Technical Center in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula College showcases career programs to Board of Regents

A group of KPC students were first to speak during the full board meeting Thursday afternoon.

Professor of Process Technology Jeffrey Laube explains equipment to Kachemak Bay Campus Director Brian Partridge at a showcase of Kenai Peninsula College’s career and technical education programs in the college’s Career and Technical Center in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Orion Willis, a student of Soldotna Montessori, holds up a rainbow trout he caught during Salmon in the Classroom ice fishing at Sport Lake in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Annual ADFG student ice fishing trip stymied by warm weather

Owing to continued warm weather, the annual Salmon in the Classroom ice fishing event put on for Kenai Peninsula Borough School District students by the… Continue reading

Orion Willis, a student of Soldotna Montessori, holds up a rainbow trout he caught during Salmon in the Classroom ice fishing at Sport Lake in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
University of Alaska President Pat Pitney speaks during a meeting of the UA Board of Regents at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 22, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Pitney: UA, KPC seeing momentum, attendance growth

The university president described KPC as “a leader of the pack” in enrollment growth at the university

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney speaks during a meeting of the UA Board of Regents at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 22, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna High School student Ethan Anding asks a question during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna High School student Ethan Anding asks a question during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor Sean Parnell speaks at a celebration of the 60th anniversary of Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Opinion: KPC offers opportunities and transforms lives

For over 60 years, KPC has created career pathways and served as a trusted community partner.

University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor Sean Parnell speaks at a celebration of the 60th anniversary of Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education member Penny Vadla and student representative Emerson Kapp speak to the joint Alaska House and Senate education committees in Juneau, Alaska, on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. (Screenshot courtesy Gavel Alaska/KTOO)

KPBSD among dozens of districts to deliver in-person testimony to Alaska Legislature

Districts spotlighted programs already lost over years of stagnant funding that hasn’t met inflationary pressure.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education member Penny Vadla and student representative Emerson Kapp speak to the joint Alaska House and Senate education committees in Juneau, Alaska, on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. (Screenshot courtesy Gavel Alaska/KTOO)
Rep. Bill Elam, R-Nikiski, speaks during a town hall meeting hosted by his office at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Bill Elam, R-Nikiski, speaks during a town hall meeting hosted by his office at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Balancing Act’s homepage for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. (Screenshot)

KPBSD launches ‘Balancing Act’ software, calls for public to balance $17 million deficit

The district and other education advocates have said that the base student allocation has failed to keep up with inflation.

Balancing Act’s homepage for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. (Screenshot)
Milly Hornung and Halle Blades speak in opposition to a possible closure of Nikiski Middle/High School during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD discusses possible school closures in face of $17 million deficit

A presentation from borough administration to the board on Tuesday outlined a series of scenarios for closure of up to nine schools.

Milly Hornung and Halle Blades speak in opposition to a possible closure of Nikiski Middle/High School during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Board member Tim Daugharty speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Board member Tim Daugharty speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress fourth grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Amid calls for increased education funding, Dunleavy debuts reform package

KPBSD is facing a $17 million deficit driven by stagnant funding that’s failed to keep up with inflation.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress fourth grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the KPBSD Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the KPBSD Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Senators Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Bert Stedman (R-Sitka), and Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) discuss key priorities for the Senate Majority Caucus on Tuesday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

As session starts, senators discuss legislative priorities

The Alaska Senate majority and minority held separate press conferences Tuesday.

Senators Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Bert Stedman (R-Sitka), and Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) discuss key priorities for the Senate Majority Caucus on Tuesday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Tim Daugharty speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD launches conversation on $17 million deficit

The district says overcoming the deficit without heavy cuts would require a substantial increase to the BSA.

Tim Daugharty speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy is photographed during a visit to Juneau, Alaska, in November 2022 . (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Alaska’s charter schools are leading the nation — It’s time to expand their reach

Expanding charter schools isn’t just about offering alternatives; it’s about giving every child the chance to succeed.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is photographed during a visit to Juneau, Alaska, in November 2022 . (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A copy of “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion newsroom in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.

Off the Shelf: ‘Anxious Generation’ underserves conversations about cellphones

The book has been cited in recent school board discussions over cellphone policies.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A copy of “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion newsroom in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes presents information on the district’ fiscal year 2024 budget at Kenai Central High School on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD to hold community budget meetings in Homer, Kenai and Seward

The school district prepares budgets for fiscal years that run from July 1 to June 30

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes presents information on the district’ fiscal year 2024 budget at Kenai Central High School on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Deena Bishop and Gov. Mike Dunleavy discuss his veto of an education bill during a press conference March 15, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Federal government drops pursuit of maintenance of equity funding for KPBSD, other districts

The state has newly been found to be compliant with federal requirements

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Deena Bishop and Gov. Mike Dunleavy discuss his veto of an education bill during a press conference March 15, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Kelley Cizek speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kelley Cizek speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board mulls community survey for possible 4-day week

The board considered a set of surveys gauging from staff, parents and older students

Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

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