Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Kenai Central head coach Dan Verkuilen and assistant Brad Nyquist celebrate winning the Division II girls state soccer title Saturday, May 25, 2024, in Wasilla, Alaska. (Photo provided)

It’s personal

Kenai Central’s Verkuilen, Nyquist reflect on coaching careers

 

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Central High School Marching Band performs “Snakes and Songbirds: The Music of the Hunger Games” during the Kenai Marching Showcase at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai on Saturday.

Marching ahead

Kenai band showcase marks growth of Alaska scene

 

Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, May 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board hears bond update, seeks way forward for Soldotna schools

Central to the conversation was the increased cost of reconstruction of Soldotna Elementary School

Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, May 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Center, from left: Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland; Borough Mayor Peter Micciche; Seward High School Student Council President Otto Nipp; and Seward High School Principal Dr. Henry Burns participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new turf field at Roger Steinbrecher Memorial Field at Seward High School, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Center, from left: Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland; Borough Mayor Peter Micciche; Seward High School Student Council President Otto Nipp; and Seward High School Principal Dr. Henry Burns participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new turf field at Roger Steinbrecher Memorial Field at Seward High School, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Marching Band debuts their new routine based on “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” during an exhibition at Kenai Central High School on Aug. 16.
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Marching Band debuts their new routine based on “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” during an exhibition at Kenai Central High School on Aug. 16.
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Former KPBSD custodian charged with sex abuse of a minor

The charges stem from incidents alleged to have taken place while the man was working at Soldotna Middle School in 2013

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche speaks to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during their work session in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly gets update on 2022 bond package projects

Voters approved a $65.55 million bond package to address a list of 10 critical maintenance projects around the school district

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche speaks to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during their work session in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer City Hall. (Homer News file photo)
Homer City Hall. (Homer News file photo)
Students sit down to read books on the first day of the school year at Tustumena Elementary School in Kasilof, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Right back into the swing’

Students return to KPBSD schools for 2024-2025 year

Students sit down to read books on the first day of the school year at Tustumena Elementary School in Kasilof, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Community Ride for Parking Policy Change rolls along Nikishka Beach Road in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski parents organize drive in search of looser ATV policy

Organizers are hoping to see change in the school’s parking policy to allow students to ride their ATVs or other off-road vehicles to school

The Community Ride for Parking Policy Change rolls along Nikishka Beach Road in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A voting booth for the Kenai Peninsula Borough and City of Homer elections is photographed at Cowles Council Chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)
A voting booth for the Kenai Peninsula Borough and City of Homer elections is photographed at Cowles Council Chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)
Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce, left, and committee Chair Jason Tauriainen participate in the first meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Four Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce, left, and committee Chair Jason Tauriainen participate in the first meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Four Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kelley Cizek speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD reverses budget cuts after Dunleavy approves one-time funding increase

The additional funding KPBSD will receive includes around $11.4 million in per-student money and $740,000 for student transportation.

Kelley Cizek speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/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)

State correspondence allotment program to continue unchanged

Alaska Supreme Court sides with state, overturns Superior Court ruling that called program ‘unconstitutional’

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)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy is pictured with members of the House Majority after signing the fiscal year 2025 budget bills on June 27 in Anchorage. From left to right: Reps. Stanley Wright, Tom McKay, Thomas Baker, Craig Johnson, Kevin McCabe, Julie Coulombe, and Laddie Shaw. (Photo provided by Office of the Governor)

Dunleavy signs budget with most education funding intact

Dunleavy cut nearly $12 million that was set to go to school districts, including KPBSD, in outstanding pandemic relief funds

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is pictured with members of the House Majority after signing the fiscal year 2025 budget bills on June 27 in Anchorage. From left to right: Reps. Stanley Wright, Tom McKay, Thomas Baker, Craig Johnson, Kevin McCabe, Julie Coulombe, and Laddie Shaw. (Photo provided by Office of the Governor)
Kenai Central High School stands under clear skies in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough issues contract for new KCHS concession stand

The $733,000 contract covers the cost of the construction of a new building that’s 24 feet by 36 feet

Kenai Central High School stands under clear skies in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
An arch marks the entrance to the Church of St. Nicholas on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Nikolaevsk, Alaska. In rear, cars are parked in front of a building that has been used this school year as a makeshift classroom for families part of a home-school cooperative. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikolaevsk, Forest School charters not moving forward

Nikolaevsk’s application sought a school with closer adherence to the practices of Nikolaevsk’s Russian Old Believer community

An arch marks the entrance to the Church of St. Nicholas on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in Nikolaevsk, Alaska. In rear, cars are parked in front of a building that has been used this school year as a makeshift classroom for families part of a home-school cooperative. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Clayton Holland, superintendent of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, speaks during a meeting of the Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, June 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Holland to remain KPBSD superintendent

Clayton Holland will remain the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s superintendent through June 2027 after the district’s Board of Education on Monday approved a new… Continue reading

Clayton Holland, superintendent of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, speaks during a meeting of the Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, June 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Zen Kelly, president of the board, speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s School Board in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, April 15, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board directs KPBSD to begin restoring cut positions

The board had previously advanced and approved a budget based on “the worst-case scenario” of no additional funding for the state

Zen Kelly, president of the board, speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s School Board in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, April 15, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)