Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
News Release
Proposed reductions to education funding in Alaska
Soldotna, April 3, 2015—The Senate Finance Committee has amended HB 72, proposing a 4.1 percent reduction to the Foundation Formula educational funding. The reduction to the state contribution also impacts the maximum allowable contribution the Kenai Peninsula Borough (KPB) can contribute to the school district. KPBSD is analyzing the potential impact of this additional reduction in revenue to our 2015-2016 budget, together with our commitment to provide stability for our students, staff, and community within the changing fiscal climate. The impact of the unanticipated HB 72 reductions to the KPBSD budget are:
Senate Finance Committee proposed education Foundation Formula reduction of 4.1 percent:
- Reduces state contribution to KPBSD: $4,238,432
- Reduces local (borough) contribution to KPBSD: $977,007
Governor Walker’s proposed operating budget reduction of educational One-Time Funding:
- Reduces state contribution to KPBSD: $2,262,989
- Reduces local (borough) contribution to KPBSD: $520,487
Potential FY16 revenue loss: $7,998,915
Total possible reduction in state funding to KPBSD: $6,501,421
Total possible reduction in local (borough) funding to KPBSD: $1,497,494
“I’m very concerned that the legislature is proposing these further reductions to education funding, particularly this late in our process of budgeting and staffing for next year,” said Superintendent Sean Dusek. “KPBSD is committed to deliver a quality education to our students, and provide stability for our staff and communities. These reductions compromise our ability to prepare our students for their future. We will discuss the budget and potential ramifications with the school board during a previously scheduled worksession on Monday, April 6, 2015.”
Over 80 percent of the 2015-2016 budget is related to staff (salary and benefits). An $8 million reduction translates into the potential loss of up to 100 positions.
Links
KPBSD and the Legislature webpage
The Alaska State Legislature webpage
April 3, 2015 News Release: Legislative Reductions to Education Funding
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Posted in News Release by .
KPBSD Information
Alaska Measures of Progress (AMP) Assessment FAQs
Soldotna, April 2, 2015—The annual student assessment required by state law to meet federal requirements takes place for our students in grades 3 through 10 between March 30 and May 1, 2015. In 2015, the Alaska Measures of Progress (AMP) assessment replaced the Standards Based Assessment (SBA). With AMP, students will take two tests—English language arts and math–instead of three, with fewer questions overall.*
Several questions have been asked about the type of data and personal information that is collected in the AMP assessment—it is the same as has been collected by SBAs and other state assessments since 2005. To note:
- “Basic student information and student test scores are collected. Basic student information includes the student’s name, Alaska student ID number, and specific demographic information. EED does not collect sensitive information such as physical addresses, mailing addresses, or Social Security numbers.”*
- “No data about individual students is ever given to the federal government. No data is sold to companies.”*
- “Individual student test data is provided to the student’s school district to inform instruction. Only authorized school district staff that have a legitimate educational interest (such as the student’s teacher or principal) may see a student’s data.”*
- All data is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the federal law protecting the privacy of student education records, and that governs student data and what can be collected and reported.
Please contact your school principal with any questions or concerns about the AMP assessment.
April 2015: AMP FAQ sheet from KPBSD
*LINKS from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
EED: FAQs about Student Assessment Data
EED: 10 Benefits of New Assessment
EED: Requirement to Test Students on Statewide Assessments
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Posted in Communications by .
Dear KPBSD parents and guardians,
Please take a brief four question survey, open April 1 – 24, 2015, to share your perceptions and thoughts about the six early release days for students.
KPBSD staff is also completing a similar survey.
“Each school day, more than 1,200 KPBSD employees do all that they can to provide a quality education to our district’s students. A part of this work is our continuous improvement process that requires us to regularly evaluate our practices so that we can in turn, make the necessary changes to help our students find success. An intricate piece of our improvements is our professional development for our certified staff. With the need to do more for our staff in this area, for the past two school years we designated six school days as minimum days—with a 90 minute early release for students, while staff works a maximum day in order to deliberately devote time to collaborate and collectively address the learning needs of our students. Now that you are familiar with these shortened student school days, we want to receive your feedback on them. Please complete these questions, and provide your optional comments. Thank you very much for your time.” – Sean Dusek, Superintendent
Links
Posted in Education by .
Several staff members at Voznesenka School have diligently worked to create an environment that makes students feel connected to our school, rather than school being something they attend as a requirement. Making aesthetic modifications to the facility, offering additional courses of interest, implementing a school-wide student management system and providing opportunities for our students to participate in cocurricular activities are some of the approaches we have used to produce this transformation. To the outside eye our most visible changes are the athletic opportunities we now offer our students.
Two years ago our school only had a few intramural activities available to students. Next year, we will have four ASAA sanctioned sports available at Voznesenka School, as well as a few activities for our elementary and middle school students. These opportunities bring a sense of pride, belonging and commitment to Voznesenka. Since the school is the only public entity in our village, it has been challenging to increase school-community interaction. Sporting events have opened new doors of communication among staff, students, and community members through attendance at games and meets.
Increased cocurricular opportunities are also positive persuaders for students’ academic accomplishments. Grade checks keep our athletes motivated to meet school and district expectations. Participation in practice and games is dependent on attendance, which positivity impacts students’ time in school. Furthermore, athletics will encourage more students to graduate from Voznesenka School.
We are proud of the student-centered initiatives shaping the culture of Voznesenka School. Striving to meet the needs of our students is our first priority, which does give them a sense of belonging. Continued efforts will enhance the engagement of students at their school.
Story contributed by Principal Michael Wojciak
Posted in Community Partners School Stories Sports by .
Tebughna Garden
How does your garden grow? We do not have silver bells or cockle shells. However, our ‘pretty maids all in a row’ are the ladies who work for the Tyonek Tribal Conservation District (TTCD). These “dirt ladies” coordinate and collaborate with the school and the community to create a successful and productive community garden.
The “Dirt Ladies”
Christy Cincotta – Executive Director
Christy has been with the Tyonek Tribal Conservation District since October of 2011
Tonya Kaloa – Program Assistant Tonya Kaloa started working for TTCD in February, 2014
Nicole Swenson – Conservation Project Manager
Nicole began working with TTCD in April of 2014
Shortly after spring break they begin having the students plant the seeds. It is the responsibility of the students to water and care for the sprouts until mid-May when they have the students plant the sets into the prepared ground at our community garden plot.
On August 23, 2014, a community harvest meal was celebrated. People prepared their favorite dishes made from the produce gathered from the community garden. We took this opportunity and held the Open House at that time as well. Due to the fire in Tyonek last spring, we were unable to have our promotional celebration for our students, so we presented trophies and awards to our students at this celebration. Great food and trophies, who could ask for anything better?
The TTCD ladies, Nicole Swenson and Tanya Kaloa have provided and continue to provide fun activities for our students. So far they helped our students make pumpkin muffins from pumpkins harvested from our community garden. They also baked some of the pumpkin seeds. Yum-yum!!! They were at the school in January and helped the students build a watershed model and demonstrated how a watershed works and what happens when conditions in a watershed change. On February 25, they plan to take the students ice fishing for pike and later we will be dissecting some of the pike. Then in March we will begin the preparation for the new garden plants again.
We were fortunate to have Deborah Kane, the National Director of USDA’s Farm to School Program, visit our school along with the Alaskan Director, Johanna Herron. They were here to see how effectively the school is working with TTCD to help provide fresh produce for our village and to work on a plan to have some of the garden products used within our school lunch program. They spoke with our students, staff and Dean Hamburg. A couple of our students taught them how to do the seal hop.
We may not have silver bells and cockle shells, but we sure do have fresh vegetables from our local garden which are not always available to us here in a fly-in village. The garden also provides a great way for us to learn new things about science and nutrition.
Posted in Community Partners School Stories by .
Leadership is many things to many people. For this year’s Skyview Middle School Panther Student Council (StuCo), leadership can be summed up in three words: courage, compassion, and commitment.
Each of those words was exemplified in the work Panther StuCo did to raise funds for the KPBSD Students in Transition program earlier this school year. Program liaison, Kelly King, was a guest speaker at a lunch time meeting. The library was packed with seventy plus student council members who hung on her every word as she described the students and families she assists, their situations, and what our council could do to be helpful to the program. StuCo members asked great questions, the compassion for their peers in need evident in every word. And then courage made an unexpected appearance as one of our StuCo members raised his hand and shared how important the SIT program is to people in need. He knows. He was one of them. The commitment of the young people in that room grew ten-fold as they listened to their friend’s words. And that commitment resulted in a Penny War fundraiser that gathered over $700.00 in donations for the SIT program.
The young people who make up our Panther Student Council are not elected. They are not nominated. There are no speeches, campaigns, or popularity contests to win to be in StuCo. Instead, students in good academic and behavior standing sign a Membership Commitment agreeing to the following:
- Work with others to establish a welcoming environment for ALL students at SMS
- Model behavior that demonstrates kindness and helpfulness toward ALL students and staff
- Value and respect the ideas and contributions of ALL members of our school community
- Organize and participate in activities and events that promote a positive culture at SMS
- Identify and organize ways to serve our community: local, national, global
- Actively promote and participate in activities that serve our community
- Demonstrate commitment to community by meeting service requirements each semester
- Maintain academic eligibility in order to participate in Student Council meetings and events
- Meet Attendance criteria in order to participate in Student Council meetings and events
- Meet high behavior expectations required of a leader at Skyview Middle School
- Serve as an ambassador for SMS at events such as conferences, orientations, celebrations
Lunch time meetings held in our school library are packed and table leaders work with advisor, Mrs. Pothast, to ensure agenda items are covered, votes taken, and attendance recorded. Activity Nights, Pep Rallies, and Service Projects are coordinated through committees, e-mails, bulletin board sign up sheets, and the tireless efforts of students working together to get things done.
Given the right opportunity, encouragement, and guidance leadership ability blooms in all of us. Organizers, chairpersons, artists, craft creators, music DJs, set up crews, clean-up crews, photographers, poster makers, food collectors, announcers, mascots, spirit leaders, game supervisors and more have emerged from this group of seventy plus Student Council members as each has found his or her niche, a way to step up, share a talent, and lead.
Cameron Blackwell, Maia Whitney, Whitney Benson, and Danica Schmidt sort coins for the Penny Wars fundraiser to benefit the KPBSD Students in Transition program
Reva Lovett, Mrs. Goodwill, Clara Moore, Ayla Clark, and Kianna Holland count and roll coins from the Penny Wars fundraiser
Kortney Birch and Haley Buckbee sort coins for the Penny Wars fundraiser
Posted in Inspiration School Stories by .
Apr 15
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Seward High students grow greens
Students at Seward High School are using their greenhouse to supply the school with healthy greens, which provides essential nutrients and supports the local student body. Greenhouse preparations began in November and planting started the first week of January. Seeds were planted a week apart in order to have a sustained yield, which means the students can harvest every week. The first batch of lettuce was delivered on Wednesday, February 11, 2015, and demand exceeded supply.
By utilizing the greenhouse, students can extend the growing season in Alaska throughout the winter. The project will conclude before the spring term ends. The greenhouse is an interactive way of getting greens locally, which is fresher, cleaner, and helps consumers know what is put into their food. This is project-based experiential learning. It helps students in finance with business planning, students in environmental science with agricultural understanding, and students in statistics with concepts and data.
–Story contributed by George Reising, Seward High School math and science teacher
Posted in Education School Stories by .
Apr 15
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Job shadow: a big, heavy project
Seward High School students Marcus Sharamek and Kris Hettick spent Friday March 20, 2015, with Troy Hager and his heavy equipment class. The job shadow day was arranged through the Kenai Peninsula School District and John Clare. It allowed Kris and Marcus to see what AVTEC is like and to get a taste of the type of work a Heavy Equipment mechanic does. The guys had fun and it was “cool to see how the excavator came apart,” said Hettick. They enjoyed the new trucks, being in the shop, and getting hands on experience with the other students. It was fun to be involved taking the tracks off of the John Deere 135 Excavator and seeing how it actually works. Both Sharamek and Hettick feel this type of work is something they are interested in pursuing. They learned a little about shop operations, shop safety, and how to work with a team on a big heavy project. It was also good for the AVTEC students–they became the mentors and found out they learn more when they have to explain what is going on. AVTEC hopes to extend this type of opportunity to other high school students around the peninsula or state.
Story contributed by Kent Berklund
Posted in Community Partners by .
Nurses in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District constantly encourage healthy lifestyles. Frequently there are Medic First Aid classes for district employees and students taught by one nurse or a group of nurses. Nurse Pam Howard works with a group of students who travel to schools in the district to encourage their peers not to take up smoking, or to stop smoking before it becomes an ingrained habit. Many of the nurses are involved in teaching portions of health classes at a variety of ages and grades such as Matt Neisinger who recently planned several lessons for 4th and 5th graders. Daily the nurses teach students on a one-to-one basis about health habits that will improve their performance and help them feel better.
Recently Yolanda (Yoly) Ifflander, the nurse at Seward Middle School (SMS), made a gigantic leap to educate her students by submitting a video for the NutriLiving UNI Project. (See her video at http://bit.ly/UNIwin1). The video captured the attention of the team at NutriLiving and Ifflander and Seward Middle School were awarded $10,000 to benefit the students by improving their nutrition. Seward Middle School was one of five schools across the nation to receive this excellent award. The UNI Project is designed to help students learn the benefits of healthy eating and to explore how nutrition effects them.
The kick-off for the UNI Project at Seward Middle School was held February 17, 2015, in the commons. Students selected to participate were given a Nutribullet to practice at home the nutrition habits they will learn over a 90 day period. That evening the students and their parents were treated to samples of two types of Nutriblasts that contained leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, seeds and either coconut water or almond milk. Additionally, the students received hoodies and other items designed to encourage their participation and remind them to have a “blast” at school each day. NutriLiving staff and parents assisted in focused assessments of students. At the end of the program, students will again be assessed by the same criteria. The goal is that student will see positive changes in their performance and general well-being as a result of improved nutrition. The students are off to a great start in improving their health and well-being.
Nurse Yolanda Ifflander and her daughter Naomi, a 7th grader at Seward Middle School
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Mar 15
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Huskies collect cans
Homer Middle School students Charity Stewart, Timberlee Davis, Mattea Allen, Sierra Clark
Homer Middle School Huskies shared the love during the Month of February to give back to the community and to show their spirit. The students at Homer Middle School partnered with the Homer Food Pantry to collect and donate 765 cans and other non-perishable items. The Student Government sponsored the event; Mrs. Jen Booz’s class won a pizza party for their class donation of 195 cans. In addition to the food drive, Student Government sponsored an ice cream fundraiser to purchase a gift card for Angelica Haakenson, a fellow student from Chapman School involved in a car accident earlier this year.
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