education

The field trip was meant to teach students about how their local government works.

Those who oppose ABC’s expansion say pushing out the alternative program would unfairly target the district’s most at-risk students and crowd whatever other school is asked to absorb Kenai Alternative students and staff.

The board will consider adding a high school program to Aurora Borealis Charter School, renewing the charter for Soldotna Montessori Charter School and creating a new charter school in Nikolaevsk.

The building can house up to 96 students. But when spring classes start Jan. 12, Residence Hall Coordinator Hunter Moos says they’ll cap the number of residents at around 25 to start, then reevaluate based on demand.

Kenai Peninsula students consistently score higher on standardized tests than the statewide average. But a majority are not considered proficient.

When considering which schools to close, Superintendent Clayton Holland says the 12-person committee will consider building conditions and deferred maintenance, potential cost savings and larger regional impacts.

Thousands of students returned to Kenai Peninsula Borough School District classrooms Wednesday for the first day of the new school year.

The board approved two groups of contracts. The first was for nontenured teachers. The second was for teachers who will achieve tenure once the next school year begins.

The budget now heads to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, which’ll decide on school funding next month.

State lawmakers failed to override the governor’s veto of a bill that would have increased funding for K-12 schools by $1,000 per student.