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Kenai School District hires as Borough Assembly raises funding

Photo courtesy of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Teachers and schools across the Kenai Peninsula received good news Tuesday evening. The Kenai Peninsula Borough approved Borough Mayor Mike Navarre’s budget proposal, appropriating $1.2 million more than the school district had requested.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Spokeswoman Pegge Erkeneff said several open teaching jobs are now being filled as a result.

“What that allowed us to do this morning is to offer positions to a handful of local teachers, some of whom were not retained for budget. They accepted positions today,” Erkeneff said. “There are other positions now that a handful of principals are interviewing.”

Four of the 12 open positions are in the Lower Peninsula, including West Homer, McNeal Canyon and Chapman elementary schools.

About 17 open teaching jobs will remain on hold until the state Legislature commits to a budget. Governor Bill Walker and the House have called for flat funding while the Senate eyes a 5 percent cut to education. The district would sustain about a $5 million loss at that level.

Depending on where a cut is made, it could reduce the amount the borough is able to contribute to the district.

“The borough’s maximum amount that they could contribute to the school district is a little over $50 million. But, the borough has put in their budget $49.7 million,” Erkeneff explained. “Right now, if there was a 5 percent state cut, the borough could still fund what they funded us.”

Erkeneff said the district has heard from several legislators that they can expect at least a 1.5 percent reduction. As the Legislature works through the special session, the district may have to dip into budget reserves, depending on the results of the budgeting process.

Erkeneff adds that filling these open jobs is a priority as the pool of qualified teachers shrinks.

“Perhaps a principal has an eye on somebody, but until we can offer it, I think a lot of those potential employees and teachers and staff are also making plans they can count on in their own lives as they get offered positions elsewhere,” she said.

Gov. Walker suggested a compromise package to deadlocked legislators Monday. Walker’s office said the plan would dwindle the $2.5 billion budget gap to about $300 million.

Aaron Bolton has moved on to a new position in Montana; he is no longer KBBI News Director. KBBI is currently seeking a News Director, and Kathleen Gustafson is filling in for the time being.
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