APPROVED 10-5-20

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

148 N. Binkley St., Soldotna, AK 99669

Board of Education Meeting Minutes (Monday, September 14, 2020)

Generated by Lisa Gabriel on Tuesday, September 15, 2020

1. Opening Activities

A. Call to Order

Mrs. Vadla called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.

B. Pledge of Allegiance/National Anthem/Alaska Flag Song

National Anthem performed by Miss Julianna Hamilton

C. District Mission Statement

Ms. Truesdell read the District Mission Statement.

D. Roll Call

Members present
Debbie Cary, Mike Illg, Zen Kelly, Greg Madden(Via Polycom), Matt Morse, Jason Tauriainen, Penny Vadla, Patti Truesdell, Virginia Morgan

E. Approval of Agenda

The agenda was approved as presented.

F. Approval of Minutes

The minutes from the August 3, 2020 meeting were approved as printed.

2. Awards and Presentations

A. Golden Apple Recipient Ms. Judy Cox, Mountain View Elementary

The Board presented Ms. Judy Cox with the Golden Apple Award for his service to the District and its students.

B. Golden Apple Recipient Ms. Krista Etzwiler, West Homer Elementary

The Board presented Ms. Krista Etzwiler with the Golden Apple Award for his service to the District and its students.

3. School Reports

A. Homer High School, Mr. Doug Waclawski

Mr. Doug Waclawski shared his school report from Homer High School.

B. Razdolna School, Mr. Gregory Melvin

Mr. Gregory Melvin shared his school report for Razdolna School.

4. Public Presentations/Comments (Items not on the agenda)

A. Public Presentations/Comments (Items not on the agenda.)

Mr. Paul Marks commented on the Outlook storage. Having speaker systems and microphones in the classroom would be helpful and having issues with online textbooks being available. Some High School subscriptions ran out this year. He appreciated the board.

Kate Veh appreciated people who are wearing masks.

May Britton has students at Northstar and Nikiski High School. As a parent she expressed her concerns about communication.

Mr. Harrison DeVeer expressed his frustration with Covid protocols. He shared pandemic numbers.

Mr. David Brighton shared his concerns about equitable education as remote learners.

Mr. Jesse Bjorkman spoke about safety with mitigation plans. He expressed concerns with curriculum and insufficient materials to support them.

5. Hearing of Delegations

None.

6. Communications and Petitions

A. Mr. O'Brien
Mr. O'Brien appreciated substitute teachers and substitute support staff. School officially opened for some KPBSD students in our villages on August 18th. On August 24th school started for the remainder of students. On the Central Peninsula, on site in-person instructional options opened on September 8th. He urged the greater KPB communities and community members to wear face coverings when in public, stay away from large congregate gatherings, physically distance, and practice safe pandemic behaviors.

7. Representatives selected by the following: Advisory Committees, Site Councils and/or Authorized Student Support Organizations, K.P.A.A., K.P.E.A., K.P.E.S.A., Borough Assembly

A. Speakers

Mr. David Brighton, KPEA president, appreciated the Golden Apple recipients. He appreciated Jen Booz. He expressed his concerns regarding the hours teachers are working. He is concerned about burn out.

Ms. Anne McCabe, KPESA president, appreciated Judy Cox for her dedication and their commitment to subbing. She applauded the raise in pay for subs. She supports substitute recruitment. She discussed the health care plan committee meeting. She appreciated the board for their hard work.

Mr. Tyson Cox, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, he encouraged emails to the assembly for the hold harmless funding. He added a note that the clerk’s office is working very hard on absentee ballots. On a personal note, he thanked the board for allowing kids back in school.

8. Superintendent's Report

A. Mr. O'Brien

Mr. O’Brien reported that this year’s District wide student council gathering to elect the student representative to the BOE and other important student representatives for district committees will be held later this month virtually at Homer High School on September 23. He appreciated school counselors and school psychologists. He attended the first joint counselor/school psychologist meeting of the year on Friday. He welcomed the new elementary school counselors and thanked the Board of Education for their foresight, leadership, and advocacy for the social, emotional, and mental health needs of KPBSD’s students.
Mr. O'Brien noted that the single biggest challenge facing Alaska’s school districts will be this year’s drop in enrollment and the stark revenue shortfalls this creates due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with existing hold-harmless statues for districts experiencing a 5% or more reduction in brick and mortar student enrollment KPBSD stands to lose over 2 million dollars in revenues from the State of Alaska. He noted that they will continue to engage the Commissioner, Governor, and our legislators on this critical issue.

Mr. O'Brien noted that we have been in Green status throughout all regions of the District now for several days and trends are looking good for the central peninsula. School staffs have had the opportunity to work out the kinks to their building level operations. With tourism season now at its tail-end and droves of out of state visitors leaving, we anticipate being able to continue operating in green. He welcomes those students who have chosen a remote or even homeschool option to come back in for in-person schooling at their neighborhood schools. For the vast majority of students and families remote learning is not the best or most effective learning option. Now is a great to re-enroll in your neighborhood school.
Mrs. Vadla called a recess at 8:04 p.m.

Mrs. Vadla called the meeting back to order at 8:14 p.m.

9. Reports

A. July Finance Reports 2020-9-14

Mr. Jones presented the finance report through 9-14-2020.

B. Board Reports

Mr. Illg reported that on September 10th he attended KPSAA meeting.
Ms. Cary reported that she attended the Superintendent Search Committee on September 2 and 10.
Ms. Morgan reported that she attended the Superintendent Search Committee on September 2 and 10. On September 10, she attended the Seward site council meeting, on August 7, she attended the Alaska Library Association Virtual Meeting and on August 17 she attended the Moose Pass Site Council Meeting.
Ms. Truesdell she reported she went on a hike at Skilak with support staff. On August 17 she attended the Kaleidoscope APC Meeting, September 7 she attended the Fireweed APC meeting,
Dr. Madden has spoken to stakeholders.
Mrs. Vadla met with KPBSD Auditors on September 10, on September 2 and 10 she attended the Superintendent Search Oversight Committee meeting. On September 11 she attended the Joint School Counselor and Psychologist meeting, and on September 12 and 13 she did a set check at KCHS to prepare for the meeting.

C. Committee Reports

Ms. Cary reported that the Board Policy Review Committee met earlier in the day and discussed their agenda items.

Mr. Tauriainen reported that the Board Information Committee met earlier in the day and discussed their agenda items.

Mr. Kelly reported that the Finance Committee met earlier in the day and discussed their agenda items.
Mrs. Vadla reported that the Superintendent Search Oversight Committee met on September 2 and September 10 and discussed their agenda items.

D. Board Work Session Report

Board Work Session Report
Mrs. Vadla reported that the board held work sessions entitled: Board Policy, Board Policy Review
Fall 2020 Pandemic School Start-Up and Pools and Facilities Updates, AASB Resolutions, State and Federal Legislative Priorities, Kachemak Selo, Superintendent Search Committee Update. She gave a brief recap of each session. All members present at the meeting, attended the work sessions.

10. Consent Agenda

A. Approval of Consent Agenda

Resolution: Move to approve Consent Agenda items 10 B-E

Move to approve Consent Agenda items 10 B-E

Motion by Jason Tauriainen, second by Matt Morse.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried