Seward Schools Site-Based Council

Our October Site Council Meeting will be held this Thursday, 10/15/15 at 6:00pm at the Seward Elementary School Library.  We are starting the meeting early this month so we can join the KPBSD Budget Work Session that will be happening District wide at the same time.

The agenda for our meeting is attached – Site Council Meeting Agenda 

Does a quality education and the future success for every young person living on the Kenai Peninsula matter to you? 

Yes? ... please participate in the budget development meeting which takes place at 23 KPBSD school sites on Thursday, October 15, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. Here are three reasons why:

1. Up front learning about how KPBSD is crafting a multi-million dollar budget in response to the fiscal reality impacting all aspects of state government and funding for public education
2. Give your feedback about areas of the budget that can be reduced or should be expanded, and suggestions for legislators about solutions to our funding shortfalls. What matters, what doesn’t?
3. Q & R: question and response opportunity

“The district is facing a fiscal gap for our 2016-2017 budget,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “We are prioritizing the programs and services we will be able to offer in our schools. The district may need to make difficult decisions depending upon the level of funding we receive from the state and borough. I encourage the public to use this meeting as an opportunity to learn about this fiscal reality, and to think in terms of what we can do differently to produce a balanced budget.”

Provide sustained, reliable and adequate educational funding for Alaska’s students

While the State of Alaska is currently experiencing fiscal challenges, a multi-revenue fiscal plan to eliminate the highs and lows of oil dependent funding must be developed. Adequately funding public education is a legal responsibility of the State of Alaska and is its primary financial concern. The education funding plan should be consistent, reliable and predictable. The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is accountable for the dollars entrusted to our District and supports measures that will allow our District to operate in a more efficient manner. The District stands ready to work with the Legislature to find the right solutions for solving today’s fiscal crisis.

Control health care costs to school districts

The cost of health care for KPBSD increases every year. Dedicating more funds for health care reduces the amount of funding that can be devoted to the classroom. KPBSD has worked hard to find efficiencies to lower these costs; it has not been able to slow the overall increases. In FY10 the total cost for health care services for KPBSD employees was $18,287,854. In FY15 the amount was $25,310,789, a nearly forty percent increase in five years. KPBSD recommends that the Legislature explore all options to control the increase of health care costs to all districts.

Fund early learning programs in Alaska

All children should have opportunities to learn during the formative early childhood years. The District uses a portion of its federal Title I money to offer preschool to about one-third of its four year olds. The students who attend our preschools are more likely read on grade level at the end of third grade. Thus, KPBSD has experienced a reduction in the need for remediation and the associated cost of services for these students. KPBSD recommends that the Legislature issue a block grant for early childhood education and encourages the DEED to apply for federal funds. Further, the District advocates that enrollment in early childhood education be accessible for all children

Review and reconsider the state’s bond reimbursement program moratorium

KPBSD’s facilities are aging and many have significant maintenance needs. In the past the Kenai Peninsula Borough voters have approved bond funding for school maintenance projects. KPBSD encourages the Legislature to review existing needs state-wide and reconsider the current moratorium. KPBSD appreciates past support and encourages the Legislature to reinstate this necessary program in order to maintain, upgrade, and replace existing facilities.

Our KPBSD Board of Education Representative is Lynn Hohl.  Her email is lhohl@kpbsd.k12.ak.us and her number is 224-7300.

The link to the KPBSD Board of Education information and agendas can be found HERE.

Reauthorize Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

KPBSD calls on Congress to reauthorize the ESEA with accountability provisions that are based on student growth. Further, KPBSD requests that the reauthorization consider unique state situations and not have the Act be a “one size fits all” as a way to respond to those provisions that are not suitable for Alaska.

Maintain funding for federal programs

The ESEA was designed to help students living in poverty. Over the years, our neediest students have benefitted greatly from these extra funds. Our District has relied on these funds to provide innovative professional development for our teachers and to lower class sizes in our neediest schools. While KPBSD understands the need to reduce federal spending, the District feels that reduction of support for ESEA should be a last resort.

Fund early learning programs in Alaska

All children should have opportunities to learn during the formative early childhood years. Studies show that for every $1 spent on early childhood education, $8 is saved in later services that are not necessary. Many of Alaska’s children are placed at risk for future school failure because they do not have access to rich early childhood learning opportunities. The District uses a portion of its federal Title I money to offer preschool to about a one-third of its four year olds. KPBSD recommends that Congress offer grant opportunities directly to school districts for early childhood education. Further, the District advocates that enrollment in early childhood education be optional for students.

Affordable Care Act (ACA) cost differential

The District is concerned that the Excise Tax (Cadillac Tax) on the value of health insurance benefits will cause a substantial cost increase, especially as the rate of costs will require ever increasing deductible thresholds to meet the ACA requirements. The District recommends that there be a regional cost differential recognizing that health care costs in the State of Alaska are the most expensive in the country.

The State Board of Education & Early Development has sent out for public comment six proposed regulations. Written comments are due by 4:30 p.m. October 30. To see the proposed regulations and submit written comments, click HERE

Briefly, the proposed regulations:

1. In keeping with a new state statute, make clear that school districts are required to offer only students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to challenge courses by demonstrating mastery of the material.

2. No longer require school districts to administer early literacy assessments to students in kindergarten through third grade.

3.  Remove an education regulation regarding the use of school funds in elections because it conflicts with a statute and regulation enforced by the Alaska Public Offices Commission.

4.  Add fetal alcohol spectrum disorder to the list of health impairments that may render a student eligible for special education and related services as a child with other health impairments; and allow advanced nurse practitioners with certification in psychiatry or family practice to diagnose fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in determining a student’s eligibility for special education and related services as a child with other health impairments.

5.  Adopt by reference the most recent edition of the publication Participation Guidelines for Alaska Students in State Assessments, that of December 2015, which reflects changes in assessments of English language proficiency and science.

6.  Add new trainings required by state law into the certification requirements for teachers, effective June 30, 2017; provide more options for content area examinations for the purposes of designating a teacher as highly qualified, obtaining a certificate and initial endorsements, and adding endorsements to a teacher certificate.

Additionally, the State Board adopted regulations to require school districts to give a high school diploma to persons who hold a certificate of achievement from the district and who take a college and career readiness assessment (SAT, ACT, or WorkKeys).

For more information on the State Board of Education happenings, click HERE

Soldotna, September 22, 2015 – The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) was unable to reach a tentative agreement with Kenai Peninsula Education Association (KPEA) and Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association (KPESA) through the mediation process, which took place September 21 – 22, 2015.

A meditator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) met with all three parties and exercised shuttle diplomacy between the groups, which in essence means conveying questions, supposals, and information seeking to find areas of compromise. Everything that took place during mediation remains confidential, and mediation was closed to the public.

The KPBSD bargaining team is analyzing and reviewing what transpired in the mediation process.

Unless all parties agree to return to face-to-face negotiations, the next step in the collective bargaining process is advisory arbitration.

KPBSD employees continue to work under contracts which expired June 30, 2015. When the new fiscal year began on July 1, 2015, all eligible employees did receive salary and wage movement on the predetermined salary and wage schedules.