Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Students sing “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” at Mountain View Elementary in Kenai, Alaska, during a celebration of Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mountain View Elementary recognizes Veterans Day

During a celebration of Veterans Day at Mountain View Elementary School on Monday, a sea of elementary schoolers peered back at more than a dozen… Continue reading

Students sing “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” at Mountain View Elementary in Kenai, Alaska, during a celebration of Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The cast of “Annie” rehearse at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central hits the big stage with ‘Annie’

The production features actors from Kenai Central and Kenai Middle School

The cast of “Annie” rehearse at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski takes a selfie with Rose Burke at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Burke won the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest and will travel to Washington, D.C., in December to light the tree. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Connections student to light U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

Rose Burke, 9, won the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest and will travel to Washington D.C.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski takes a selfie with Rose Burke at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Burke won the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest and will travel to Washington, D.C., in December to light the tree. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Aurora Borealis Charter School parents fill every seat and spill from the doorway during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Charter Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board work sessions to tackle charters, 4-day week, cellphone policies

During work sessions Monday and Tuesday, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education will discuss several high-interest topics including a proposed four-day school… Continue reading

Aurora Borealis Charter School parents fill every seat and spill from the doorway during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Charter Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Teams assemble towers during the Spontaneous Challenge portion of the Mind-A-Mazes competition at Skyview Middle School near Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Putting their minds to the test

District youth compete in annual engineering, problem-solving competition

Teams assemble towers during the Spontaneous Challenge portion of the Mind-A-Mazes competition at Skyview Middle School near Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Parents and supporters of Aurora Borealis Charter School fill the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Charter Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Aurora Borealis Charter School renewal application advanced

They will next be heard during a Nov. 4 work session of the school board

Parents and supporters of Aurora Borealis Charter School fill the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Charter Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Chair Patti Truesdell speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education Charter School Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD Committee hears charter applications from Kenaitze, Aurora Borealis

Both groups were asked to bring more information to Oct. 21 meeting

Chair Patti Truesdell speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education Charter School Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board, district explore effects and uses of generative AI

AI advocate spoke to KPBSD Board of Education and teachers last week

Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Administrative Secretary Nikkol Sipes administers oaths of office to Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education members Kelley Cizek and Sarah Douthit on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. Cizek was reelected to represent Sterling and Funny River, Douthit was elected to represent Kenai during the Oct. 1 municipal election. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of Education swears in members, assigns leadership roles

The board held to a status quo organization

Administrative Secretary Nikkol Sipes administers oaths of office to Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education members Kelley Cizek and Sarah Douthit on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. Cizek was reelected to represent Sterling and Funny River, Douthit was elected to represent Kenai during the Oct. 1 municipal election. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
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

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)
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

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.
Sarah Douthit and Jeanne Reveal participate in a candidate forum for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Jamie Diep/KBBI)

School board candidates address budget issues, homeschooling, 4-day weeks at forum

Each of the open seats is for a three-year term expiring in October 2027

Sarah Douthit and Jeanne Reveal participate in a candidate forum for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Jamie Diep/KBBI)
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)

‘A symbol of a new era of Seahawks football’

Seward High School celebrates installation of new football field

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.

Kenai band goes big

The school’s marching band continues to grow

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 council supports statute change to include web-based public noticing

Resolution 24-088 requests that the Alaska Municipal League take up the issue

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)