Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

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)
Tracy Silta (left) administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to Melissa Linton during a vaccine clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, Feb. 26 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Tracy Silta (left) administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to Melissa Linton during a vaccine clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, Feb. 26 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Cooper Landing School student Linnaea Gossard is named ASTE’s student of the year during a remote ceremony on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (Screenshot)

Cooper Landing student named ASTE student of the year

Linnaea Gossard was honored at a surprise ceremony on Friday

Cooper Landing School student Linnaea Gossard is named ASTE’s student of the year during a remote ceremony on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (Screenshot)

Connections enrollment doubled this year

The surge in enrollment put a strain on the home-school program.

Michael Wojciak stands in front of the middle and high school building of Kachemak Selo School Nov. 12, 2019, in Kachemak Selo, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

K-Selo sticking point on KPBSD project bond package

The amount of money requested for the project — $5.39 million — reflects the 35% local match the borough would need to provide

Michael Wojciak stands in front of the middle and high school building of Kachemak Selo School Nov. 12, 2019, in Kachemak Selo, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, at the Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School district to begin budget process

FY 2022 Education funding request to formally begin with joint work session Tuesday

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, at the Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/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)

School district identifies almost $30M in critical projects

The 19 projects would impact 38 of the district’s 42 schools.

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)
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)
Clayton Holland

Holland to be next superintendent

The board unanimously supported Holland, who will take over from O’Brien later this year

Clayton Holland
Pegge Erkeneff (left) virtually interviews Dr. Clayton Holland (right) on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. (screenshot)

Superintendent finalists share experience, visions

Ahead of interviews, the three candidates participated in QAs with the district’s communications director

Pegge Erkeneff (left) virtually interviews Dr. Clayton Holland (right) on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. (screenshot)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Superintendent John O’Brien (courtesy photo)

School board to interview superintendent candidates

The new superintendent, who will replace Superintendent John O’Brien, will begin serving on July 1.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Superintendent John O’Brien (courtesy photo)
Image via Kenai Peninsula School District

Eastern peninsula students to return full time on Monday

Includes Seward Elementary, Seward Middle, Seward High and Moose Pass schools,

Image via Kenai Peninsula School District
Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion

Eastern peninsula schools drop to medium risk

When a school or region shifts to medium risk, all students will be allowed to return to on-site learning every day with enhanced COVID-19 mitigation protocols in place

Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
The River City Academy class of 2019 awaits the walking ceremony Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

City of Soldotna now accepting scholarship applications

In total, the committees will award up to a combined $55,100 to eligible applicants

The River City Academy class of 2019 awaits the walking ceremony Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Joey Klecka/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)

Schools head to ‘medium’ risk

Eastern and southern peninsula schools may return to in-person learning five days a week for all grades on Jan. 25

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)

As in-person learning resumes, parents ask for more changes

Many called for allowing students in all grades to resume in-person learning five days a week or for eliminating mask requirements for student athletes while active.

Sanitization equipment is seen inside of a classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Vaughn Dosko adjusts a basket for sanitizing rags at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

More students resume in-person learning

Students returned to in-person learning on Monday in response to downward trends in COVID-19 case trajectories

Vaughn Dosko adjusts a basket for sanitizing rags at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Vaughn Dosko (left) and Sarah Hutchison (right) discuss COVID-19 mitigation in Hutchison’s classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘A change in culture’: Kenai Middle prepares for return of more students

The school is one of many preparing for the return of more students to in-person learning on Monday

Vaughn Dosko (left) and Sarah Hutchison (right) discuss COVID-19 mitigation in Hutchison’s classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)