Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Amid misconduct allegations, new district policies promise diligence

KPBSD says it is confident the Title IX policies implemented will prevent harm against students by staff members

The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna Elementary School Principal Dr. Austin Stevenson points out corroded insulation outside of the school building on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska.

School district moves ahead with bond projects

$65.5 million in bonds will fund deferred maintenance projects at 10 KPBSD schools

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna Elementary School Principal Dr. Austin Stevenson points out corroded insulation outside of the school building on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska.
LaDawn Druce asks Sen. Jesse Bjorkman a question during a town hall event on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Druce returns as head of teachers union

The special election followed the firing of former president Nathan Erfurth, who was arrested in May on charges of sexual abuse of a minor

LaDawn Druce asks Sen. Jesse Bjorkman a question during a town hall event on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Mountain View Elementary School students use their hands to build works using methodology from the University of Florida Literacy Institute during a board of education meeting on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

New reading curriculum to cover Alaska history, culture instead of religion

The change comes after some teachers and community members questioned whether some of the proposed topics, specifically Judaism, Christianity and Islam, were age-appropriate

Mountain View Elementary School students use their hands to build works using methodology from the University of Florida Literacy Institute during a board of education meeting on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Robert Summer sits at Kaladi Brothers in Soldotna, Alaska, in November 2004. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion file)

Voices of the Peninsula: Remembering Mr. Summer

We’ve lost one of the great ones

Robert Summer sits at Kaladi Brothers in Soldotna, Alaska, in November 2004. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion file)
A sign opposing the participation of trans girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. The Alaska Board of Education met in the building to discuss a resolution that would ban trans girls from girls high school sports. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Peninsula residents protest trans girls in sports at state school board meeting

The Alaska Board of Education last week met at the George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration Building in Soldotna

A sign opposing the participation of trans girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. The Alaska Board of Education met in the building to discuss a resolution that would ban trans girls from girls high school sports. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Robert Summer sits at a desk in his classroom at Kenai Middle School in Kenai, Alaska, in April 1997. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion)

‘The legend of Mr. Summer is going to grow’

Community remembers Kenai Middle teacher

Robert Summer sits at a desk in his classroom at Kenai Middle School in Kenai, Alaska, in April 1997. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion)
Protest signs hang on the entryway wall at the Kenai Peninsula Education Association office on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Voting underway to determine next head of teachers union

The election follows the firing of former president Nathan Erfurth, who was arrested in May on charges of sexual abuse of a minor

Protest signs hang on the entryway wall at the Kenai Peninsula Education Association office on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna High School senior Josiah Burton testifies in opposition to a proposed cut of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District theater technicians while audience members look on during a board of education meeting on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Awaiting state funding, board of ed works to bring back staff positions

Alaska lawmakers this session passed a budget bill that includes $175 million in one-time funding for Alaska’s K-12 schools

Soldotna High School senior Josiah Burton testifies in opposition to a proposed cut of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District theater technicians while audience members look on during a board of education meeting on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Education Association President Nathan Erfurth speaks from the bed of his truck in support of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District teachers and support staff outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Erfurth was removed this week as president of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s teachers union, days after he was arrested Saturday on two charges of sexual abuse of a minor. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Update: Former Soldotna high school teacher charged with sex abuse of a minor ousted as head of teachers union

A bail hearing has been set for Thursday

Kenai Peninsula Education Association President Nathan Erfurth speaks from the bed of his truck in support of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District teachers and support staff outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Erfurth was removed this week as president of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s teachers union, days after he was arrested Saturday on two charges of sexual abuse of a minor. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
KPEA President Nathan Erfurth speaks before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, July 12, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna teacher, union head arrested for sexual abuse of a minor

Nathaniel E. Erfurth, a former teacher at Soldotna High School and president of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s teachers union, was arrested Saturday on… Continue reading

KPEA President Nathan Erfurth speaks before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, July 12, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Connections Homeschool students prepare to enter the auditorium ahead of the Connections Homeschool graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Connections students get personalized send-off at 2023 commencement

Students from around the Kenai Peninsula gathered for the event

Connections Homeschool students prepare to enter the auditorium ahead of the Connections Homeschool graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central High School graduates prepare to enter the auditorium for their graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘The generation of change’

Kenai Central High School graduates 87

Kenai Central High School graduates prepare to enter the auditorium for their graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward graduate Renee Elhard parades down 4th Avenue in Seward, Alaska on Friday, May 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward graduates 24

The town held a celebratory parade for the seniors on Friday

Seward graduate Renee Elhard parades down 4th Avenue in Seward, Alaska on Friday, May 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski Middle/High School graduates prepare to receive diplomas at a ceremony on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Opportunity to forge our own path’

Nikiski celebrates 2023 commencement

Nikiski Middle/High School graduates prepare to receive diplomas at a ceremony on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD Superintendent Clayton Holland

Reflecting on a year of growth and resilience

A message from the superintendent

KPBSD Superintendent Clayton Holland
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Secretaries to see pay boost after reclassification

Twenty-three secretaries working at schools in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will be paid more during the upcoming school year. That’s following the successful… Continue reading

The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Graduates walk in to a ceremony at Soldotna High School on Monday, May 15, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘You have been set up for success’

Soldotna High School graduates more than 120 at Monday night ceremony

Graduates walk in to a ceremony at Soldotna High School on Monday, May 15, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Alternative High School graduates deliver roses to their supporters during a graduation ceremony on Monday, May 15, 2023, at Kenai Alternative High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Graduating from a school that feels like a family

Kenai Alternative High School graduates 20

Kenai Alternative High School graduates deliver roses to their supporters during a graduation ceremony on Monday, May 15, 2023, at Kenai Alternative High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Elementary students prepare to stock rainbow trout in Johnson Lake during Salmon Celebration on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Johnson Lake in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kids gather for annual Salmon Celebration at Johnson Lake

They stocked rainbow trout in the lake and visited dozens of booths to learn about fish, wildlife, habitat and regulations

Elementary students prepare to stock rainbow trout in Johnson Lake during Salmon Celebration on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Johnson Lake in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)