Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education

In a finance committee meeting intended to inform the school board and public about different expenditures, members discussed the costs of extracurriculars, pools and theater techs. The school district is facing a large deficit for the second year in a row, and has warned of possible cuts.

In the latest installment of the Budget 101 series, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes explained the district's fund balance.

During a six-hour deliberation, board members praised the effort of the charter group, but retained concerns about budget, curriculum and technical issues in the application. The board ultimately rejected the charter in a 5-4 vote.

The school district kicked off its Budget 101 series in September, with the hope of educating the public about its budgeting and funding process. Last month's lesson focused on the state funding formula, and October's was about in kind services.

Clayton Holland has been the KPBSD superintendent since 2021. The Board of Education voted Monday to begin negotiations on another three years at the job.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly voted to express support for the resolution currently being considered by the state school board. It passed 6-2 after much public testimony and discussion.

After Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed half of a one-time funding boost from the state legislature, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District made revisions to its budget to avoid cutting positions or programs. Officials stressed, however, that the district will face the same battle next year.

Middle school PE teacher Matt Fischer was fired in December following a years-long insurance dispute with the district. On Tuesday, the district's board of education voted to affirm that decision.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is facing a $13.1 million deficit for the next fiscal year. This issue comes as districts statewide struggle with a lack of inflationary adjustments to the education funding from the state.

The group behind the Homer Forest Charter School has pushed back their planned start from fall 2023 to fall 2024 to have more time to secure a facility.