Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Senior Elijah Royal-Reyna receives his diploma during Kenai Central High School’s Class of 2020 Graduation Parade in Kenai, Alaska on May 20, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Masks required for adults at KPBSD graduations; other protocols school-specific

Graduation ceremonies will cap the end of a school year that saw tensions rise between the district and parents.

Senior Elijah Royal-Reyna receives his diploma during Kenai Central High School’s Class of 2020 Graduation Parade in Kenai, Alaska on May 20, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
One of the two buildings used to teach elementary school children in Kachemak Selo sits on the outer edge of the village Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 in the village at the head of Kachemack Bay. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Borough, school district ask lawmakers to move K-Selo money

Efforts to construct a new K-12 school building in the remote village of Kachemak Selo have been in the works for years.

One of the two buildings used to teach elementary school children in Kachemak Selo sits on the outer edge of the village Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 in the village at the head of Kachemack Bay. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Charlie Pierce, Jesse Bjorkman and Brandi Harbaugh attend a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly votes down $48 million school district funding floor

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce has said that he is committed to funding the school district at the district’s requested $48 million

Charlie Pierce, Jesse Bjorkman and Brandi Harbaugh attend a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos arrives for an event in the State Dining room of the White House, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

School district crafting Title IX policies

The move is aimed at bringing the district into compliance with federal changes governing how instances of sexual harassment and discrimination are handled by administration.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos arrives for an event in the State Dining room of the White House, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
All 12 finalists of the Caring for the Kenai competition recieve their awards at Kenai Central High School on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.

Caring for the Kenai names finalists

The winning idea proposed using beehives to divert local birds from peninsula landfills.

All 12 finalists of the Caring for the Kenai competition recieve their awards at Kenai Central High School on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
From left to right: Rhys Cannava, 16, Quinn Cox, 17, and Jolie Widaman, 16, are pictured here in Soldtna, Alaska on Thursday, April 15, 2021. The three Soldotna High School juniors got vaccinated against COVID-19 in March 2021.

‘I didn’t want to be a spreader’

SoHi teens discuss living with pandemic, why they got vaccinated.

From left to right: Rhys Cannava, 16, Quinn Cox, 17, and Jolie Widaman, 16, are pictured here in Soldtna, Alaska on Thursday, April 15, 2021. The three Soldotna High School juniors got vaccinated against COVID-19 in March 2021.
Rhonda Baisden testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on March 1 in Kenai. Baisden has been a vocal critic of school board COVID-19 mitigation policies implemented by the school district. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘You can’t expect people to live in bubbles forever’

Parents organize proms as tensions continue on school mitigation protocols.

Rhonda Baisden testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on March 1 in Kenai. Baisden has been a vocal critic of school board COVID-19 mitigation policies implemented by the school district. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board kills efforts to phase out insurance benefits for board members

Members of the board receive a monthly stipend in addition to being eligible for district insurance.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna assistant football coach Eric Pomerleau checks the temperature of sophomore Joseph Whittom before summer workouts Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna assistant football coach Eric Pomerleau checks the temperature of sophomore Joseph Whittom before summer workouts Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central High School is seen in this 2018 photo in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

School district to submit funding request

The $48 million the district plans to request Tuesday reflects compromises by the district and by the borough.

Kenai Central High School is seen in this 2018 photo in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD opens enrollment survey

Uncertainty surrounding fall 2021 enrollment numbers has created challenges in the budget process.

Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo by Katelyn Engebretsen / Homer High Yearbook
Zoe Adkins and Emmet Wilkinson prepare pretzels in a high school food and nutrition class at Homer High School.

Homer High teacher resurrects nutrition program

The high school hasn’t had a foods and nutrition teacher for a number of years.

Photo by Katelyn Engebretsen / Homer High Yearbook
Zoe Adkins and Emmet Wilkinson prepare pretzels in a high school food and nutrition class at Homer High School.
Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Birthed by circumstance’: SoHi takes on COVID-19 in spring play

Soldotna High School students will share their COVID-19 experiences beginning on April 8 during a three-day in-person performance of “Pandemic: A Retrospective.” Director Sara Erfurth,… Continue reading

Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD to save teaching positions with federal funds

Through the federal CARES Act, the district received about $2.3 million in original ESSER funds.

Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Eric Pederson, principal of Paul Banks Elementary School, stands with his family outside the school in this undated photo in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Eric Pederson)
Eric Pederson, principal of Paul Banks Elementary School, stands with his family outside the school in this undated photo in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Eric Pederson)
A large tarp hangs in the Homer High School gymnasium to catch water leaking through the roof at the school in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Doug Waclawski)
A large tarp hangs in the Homer High School gymnasium to catch water leaking through the roof at the school in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Doug Waclawski)
Richard Derkevorkian speaks at a borough and district work session on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough, district step toward compromise

The board reviewed their initial request and agreed to approach the borough with a new, lower request of $50 million.

Richard Derkevorkian speaks at a borough and district work session on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
John O’Brien remotely addresses the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough, district to hold 2nd budget work session Tuesday

The meeting can be streamed live via Zoom or on the district’s media page

John O’Brien remotely addresses the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sanitization equipment is seen inside of a classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sanitization equipment is seen inside of a classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)