EKenai Lots-Habitat for Humanity Partnership 2017-02-06

4:00 p.m.

Background Information:

The KPBSD Administration recently began conversations with the Central Peninsula Habitat for Humanity organization on formalizing a partnership with the intent of giving our construction program students an opportunity to engage in project-based learning by helping build Habitat for Humanity houses.

As referenced in an August 8, 2016 memo to the Board of Education from Julie Cisco:

“School district records indicate that as part of the vocational educational building program nine lots were purchased . . . for $103,500 in 1981.  There are seven remaining vacant parcels”, whose titles were recently transferred to Kenai Peninsula Borough ownership.  The KPB Assembly took ownership of the land in late 2016, with the intent of working with the school district to maintain the original purpose of using the lots to support the CTE program.

The conversation of a partnership with Habitat for Humanity began when the District administration was exploring options for what to do with the land, while trying to keep within the original intent of using the land to support a construction program in the high schools.

Regardless of what the KPBSD Board of Education ultimately decides to do with the land, the administration intends to continue developing a formal partnership with Habitat for Humanity to provide our students home building experience opportunities.  This could be on the lots owned by the Borough or different lots acquired by Habitat for Humanity.

Regarding the land, the KPBSD Board of Education will eventually have to provide guidance on what to do with the parcels themselves, and more than likely will have three options:

1.    Donate specific lots to Habitat for Humanity, and thus directly support the partnership with Habitat for Humanity, and each lot donated would result in one house being cooperatively built by Habitat for Humanity and the CTE construction program.

2.    Sell specific lot to Habitat for Humanity for a nominal amount, again supporting the partnership, and the proceeds going directly to the construction program.

3.    Sell specific lots at full market value, then deciding what to do with the proceeds.