Apr 22
19
Celebrate KMS Principal Vaughn Dosko
Principal Vaughn Dosko, Kenai Middle School, is awarded the 2022 Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) Region 3 Principal of the Year for 2022!
“The positive culture and traditions at Kenai Middle School are a direct result of the good work of Mr. Vaughn Dosko,” said Superintendent Clayton Holland. “Mr. Dosko has strived to build positive relations with his staff, families, the community of Kenai, and most importantly with his students. This work has resulted in having a building that produces positive student outcomes and the inclusion of all students. Congratulations to Mr. Dosko for this well-deserved recognition!”
For the past 11 years, Mr. Dosko has been the leader of Kenai Middle School, and he is completing his 16th year in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. After learning about this award, Principal Dosko said, “Jubilation in evoked in me because this is not a one person award this is an award for the staff, students, community and district. I thank the staff at KMS, the district office staff, students, and the community of Kenai. My wife and kids need a huge shout out as well because I am not there as much as I would like because KMS eats up a lot of time.”
Assistant Superintendent Kari Dendurent shared that Principal Dosko puts students first. “When one walks into Kenai Middle School it is evident KMS is student friendly and has a welcoming and safe aura. This is seen immediately at the entrance with student work, the many student engagement activities, through observation in student-to-student interactions as well as the multitude of events throughout the school year.”
Mr. Dosko attended high school in Craik, Saskatchewan, Canada, earned his Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Special Education at Minot State University, in Minot, North Dakota, and a Master of Education from the University of Idaho.
A favorite aspect to his work each day is bus duty! Mr. Dosko says, “I love doing bus duty. There is nothing better than to see and greet all the kids as they get off the bus or dropped off by mom, dad, or a sibling.” He shares that, “While in high school I volunteered in the special education room working with students who needed extra help” and this inspired his career path. Advice from Principal Dosko to younger people is, “Keep a journal of your journey!”
Helping others become their best is an important quality in Principal Dosko. He said, “For the past three years, I have worked with the State of Alaska principal mentorship program. I enjoy giving back to the profession to help new to the state and new administrators be successful. If I had not had people step up and help me, I would not be where I am today.”
The KPBSD joins Kenai Middle School to celebrate Principal Vaughn Dosko. You can visit the school Facebook page or website to learn more about the great things happening in this school.
Links
- Kenai Middle School website
- Kenai Middle School Facebook
- Essay: How have you embedded the needs of each student as a guiding value to inform organizational decision-making? by Vaughn Dosko, Principal Kenai Middle School
About AASSP
AASSP sponsors regional and statewide Principal of The Year recognition awards to honor the educational leaders who play such a pivotal role in student success. They may be nominated by anyone–students, staff, parents, district office staff or principal peers—with awards finalized by AASSP members in their region. Regional Principals of The Year are eligible to be in the running for the statewide Alaska Principal of The Year.
Each AASSP 2022 Regional Principal of The Year will be awarded and recognized at the 56th Annual Alaska Principals’ Conference, scheduled to be held in Anchorage October 14-15, 2022.
Three principal candidate interviews for the new Tustumena Elementary principal will be on Zoom, Tuesday, April 19, 2022, beginning at 4:00 PM. Doors for the public to the zoom room are open for ten minutes at 4:00, 5:00, and 6:00 PM, then close during the interview so there is no disruption to candidate. Everyone who participates will receive a survey link to provide audience input.
Interviews at 4:10; 5:10; 6:10 PM
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 881 2586 7172
Passcode: 711175
Principal candidate interview for the new Port Graham School principal will be on Zoom, Monday, April 18, 2022, beginning at 4:30 PM. Everyone who participates will receive a survey link to provide audience input.
Interviews at 4:30 PM
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 853 8879 4279
Passcode: 159213
Three principal candidate interviews for the new Port Graham School principal will be on Zoom, Thursday, April 14, 2022, beginning at 3:05 PM. Everyone who participates will receive a survey link to provide audience input.
Interviews at 3:05, 4:05, and 5:05 PM
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 853 8879 4279
Passcode: 159213
Shaping the future for Fireweed Academy
The purpose of the community meeting and survey is to learn about the attributes that students, parents, staff, and community members seek in the next Fireweed Academy school principal.
A Community Input meeting for Fireweed Academy will be
April 14, 2022, 6:00 PM, at Little Fireweed, or on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 873 0371 5591 with Passcode: 293900
A public input survey will open for five days on April 11, 202, at 8:00 AM, and close on April 15, 2022, at 5:00 PM. Results will be compiled at the KPBSD district office.
Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Fireweed_Prin_Input
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
April Board of Education Meeting and Worksessions
The following school board meetings and work sessions will be held in the
Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers at 144 Binkley Street, Soldotna AK unless otherwise noted.
PLEASE NOTE: The meetings are open to the public. The public is invited to attend in person and to listen and participate as noted below.
(877) 853-5257
Conference ID: 708 024 188
When prompted for an Attendee ID, press #.
Zoom ID: 708 024 188
Meeting Schedule
April 11, 2022
Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers
10:00 a.m. Policy Review Committee Meeting (Public Listening)
11:00 p.m. Information Committee Meeting (Public Listening)
Work Sessions-(Public Listening)
1:00 p.m. KPSAA Handbook Changes–
1:30 p.m. Alaska Star Assessment
2:00 p.m. Curriculum Update
2:30 p.m. Bond Resolution
3:00 p.m. Finance
3:30 p.m. Board Policy Review
4:00 p.m. Board Discussion
6:00 p.m. Business Meeting: (Public Listening and Participation will be as noted on the Agenda in BoardDocs )
April 12, 2022
Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers
Quarterly Work Session
9:00 a.m. Strategic Plan
11:00 a.m. Board Training
If you would like to pre-register to testify telephonically (optional) or if you have any technical difficulties or questions, contact Lisa Gabriel at lgabriel@kpbsd.k12.ak.us, 907-714-8836, Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To view the agenda and packet items, log on to: http://www.boarddocs.com/ak/kpbsd/Board.nsf/public. To view the live Broadcast log on to https://kpbsd.org or Live Broadcast
“Please join me to celebrate our wonderful paraprofessional staff today. Paraprofessionals assist teachers and other school personnel in the delivery of high quality education and support services for students. Our paraprofessionals provide the glue that holds our schools together by providing instruction and care for our most at-risk students. On a daily basis, they provide academic instruction, assist with self-care, basic hygiene, behavior management, recognizing and handling emotions, and so much more. Our paraprofessionals work tirelessly each day to support students & teachers, and today we honor them for their service. Please join me to thank your paraprofessionals!”
– Superintendent Clayton Holland
Hiring a School Principal – Public Involvement Opportunities
Everyone is invited to watch the principal candidate interviews live via Zoom, and then provide written feedback through a new survey link provided during the live interview.
Thank you for your participation in the selection and hiring of KPBSD principals.
Check back to this page for updates, or additional schools that are hiring a new administrator.
Format
On the hour, Zoom audience members join interview process. The Zoom doors will close when each candidate interview begins, so make sure to join the call at the top of the hour, and no later than 10 minutes later.
:10: Introduction of Candidate followed by 45 minute candidate interview
Example:
4:00 – 4:10 Zoom audience members join call when doors open
4:10 – 4:15 Candidate arrives and is introduced. Doors close
4:15 – 5:00 Interview with candidate
Public Comment
Everyone present at the interview may submit written candidate feedback. Details will be provided during the Zoom call.
Nikolaevsk and Ninichik Regional Principal
Wednesday, April 6, 2022, with interviews at 4:00, 5:00, and 6:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting with Meeting ID: 867 2554 3002 and Passcode: 135826
Curious about openings in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District? We are hiring!
Visit the HR webpage and current openings.
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Mar 22
22
Education Bills: Focus on Five
resources and tips: The Legislature and KPBSD webpage
Flyer: KPBSD and BSA Bills HB 272 (Increase the BSA) and HB 273 (Inflation proof the BSA)
KPBSD legislative informational packet, February 2022 Board of Education meetings with legislators in Juneau
Thank you for sharing your positive stories and outcomes in KPBSD schools, while talking about the importance and value of K-12 education for our youth, our future, and healthy communities.
Parents and guardians, school safety is a top priority in the KPBSD. It’s important for you to know what to do before, during, and after a school emergency, weather related delay start, or school closure. Kindly read KPBSD Emergency Guidelines for Parents and Guardians. KPBSD regularly practices safety drills in schools, and includes law enforcement in our ALICE trainings for school emergencies. School delays and closures protocol.
Before A School Emergency
PARENTS NEED TO BE PREPARED
Contact information entered in PowerSchool is used to make emergency contact with parents. So that KPBSD can keep you informed, make sure your child’s emergency contact information is accurate, current, and updated as needed. That information may be used during an emergency to generate automated phone messages, emails, or text messages to parents from schools or the district office. Parents need to go to the school office to update and sign their information.
- Download the KPBSD Mobile App so you can automatically receive emergency update push notifications
- Become familiar with the KPBSD Facebook and Twitter social media sites where emergency information is posted
PARENTS NEED TO BE INFORMED
Familiarize yourself with these KPBSD emergency terms and procedures:
- Stay Put: A “stay put” takes place when a potential threat is identified in the school’s neighborhood. All school doors are locked but classes continue inside as normal. No entry into or exit from the school is allowed. Students will not be released until the situation is resolved and the “stay put” has been rescinded.
- Safety Closure: A “safety closure” takes place when a violent intruder is identified on school grounds or in the school building. The ALICE protocols will be followed. No entry into or exit from the school is allowed. Students will not be released until the situation is resolved and the “safety closure” has been rescinded.
- Shelter-In-Place: A “shelter-in-place” takes place when students take refuge in designated areas to be protected from hazardous materials or severe weather. Entry or exit from the schools will be controlled.
- Evacuation: In the event of certain building emergencies, students will be relocated to an appropriate evacuation assembly area. Students will be released to parents per district student release procedures.
During A School Emergency
PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
- Should trust that during an emergency the school and district is first doing what is needed to protect students, and then communicating to parents as quickly as possible when we have full and accurate information.
- Should trust that staff and students are prepared for emergency situations. Schools participate in emergency drills throughout the year, and staff and emergency responders know the best procedures for keeping students safe.
- SHOULD NOT call or rush to your child’s school
- Phone lines, staff, and local roads are needed for emergency response efforts.
- SHOULD NOT phone or text your child
- The sound or vibration from cell phones and phone conversations could put students in danger. Also, students need to be paying attention to the instructions from trained staff. Conflicting instructions from parents may put a child’s safety at risk.
After a School Emergency
HOW WILL I BE REUNITED WITH MY CHILD?
Parents and guardians will be directed by school or public safety officials to their child’s specific location. This information will be distributed via the previously discussed emergency modes of communication. Students will be released ONLY to parents and guardians or other designated individuals who are documented as emergency contacts. All individuals will be required to present a valid picture ID such as a driver’s license, military ID, or passport. Please remember to bring your ID with you and inform your child’s emergency contacts that they will be required to show proper identification if they are picking up your child.
The reunification process can be time-consuming, so everyone is urged to be patient.
RECOVERY
Following an emergency, we encourage parents to:
- Listen to and acknowledge your child’s concerns
- Provide reassurance that your child is safe
- Assure your child that additional prevention efforts are being put in place
- Seek help from school personnel or a mental health professional if concerns persist
Should your child have serious concerns in response to an emergency or crisis, contact your school directly for information and guidance.
Questions?: Please contact your school principal or office.
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
2:30 PM UPDATE:
On March 17, 2022, at 9:38 am, the Alaska State Troopers were notified that a threatening phone call had been received by staff at Nikiski North Star Elementary School. The Alaska State Trooper and Alaska Wildlife Troopers immediately responded to the school to establish and maintain security, and school officials placed the school in stay put status. The Alaska State Troopers immediately launched an investigation into the origin and nature of the phone call. Based on a preliminary investigation, Troopers believe the phone call originated from outside of Alaska, and the threat made was false. There was no threat to any of the students or staff at Nikiski North Star Elementary School or any other Kenai Peninsula Schools. School officials lifted the stay put status around 12:30 pm today. Troopers are continuing to investigate the origins of the phone call.
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March 17, 2022, 12:28 PM UPDATE: The “Stay Put” at Nikiski North Star Elementary is lifted at 12:30 p.m., and afternoon buses will run on a normal schedule.
►INFORMATION about Nikiski North Star Elementary and local area schools
The Alaska State Troopers are investigating a suspicious phone call made to Nikiski North Star Elementary School. There is no known immediate threat to any of the students or staff at Nikiski North Star Elementary School, or any other Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Schools, at this time. Nikiski North Star Elementary was placed in stay put status by school officials as a precautionary measure. There is a large Alaska State Trooper presence in the area as law enforcement investigate the phone call.
Local area school actions:
►The “Stay Put” was lifted at 12:30 p.m. Afternoon buses will run on a normal schedule.
Today, March 17, 2022, Nikiski North Star Elementary School is in a “Stay Put” mode and we anticipate that it will be lifted by the end of the school day. The school principal will send regular updates to parents until the Stay Put is lifted. This post will be updated when the “Stay Put” is lifted.
► Nikiski Middle-High School was in a brief “Stay Put” this morning while the investigation began.
►Kenai area school administrators were initially notified as is standard protocol.
Safety of staff and students is a top priority, and KPBSD will always act from an abundance of precaution.
Please review the KPBSD Emergency Guidelines for parents and guardians
