Soldotna Area Schools Reconfiguration

May 14, 2014: Soldotna reconfiguration requires Skyview students to determine school of eligibility for sports. Click to learn more.

Connect on Facebook with the KPBSD Soldotna 7-12 Grade Schools Reconfiguration page. You will find the most pertinent links, newsletters, and factual information about the Soldotna Schools Reconfiguration. Click this link, or go to Facebook and search for KPBSD Soldotna 7-12 Grade Schools Reconfiguration to connect.

The Soldotna area 7-12 grade schools reconfiguration will begin with the new school year on August 19, 2014.

  • Soldotna area grades 10-12 will attend Soldotna High School
  • Soldotna area 9th grade students will attend Soldotna Prep at the current Soldotna Middle School site
  • Soldotna area 7-8th grade students will attend Skyview Middle School at the current Skyview High School site
  • River City Academy will move to the current Soldotna Middle School, which will be named Soldotna Prep

On December 5, 2013, the school board approved:

  • The administration recommendation for school mascots for the Soldotna 7-8 grade school (Panther), the 9th grade school (Star), and the 10-12 grade high school (Star)
  • The administration recommendation for school colors for the Soldotna 7-8 grade school (Blue, Purple, Black and White), the 9th grade school (Blue, Purple, Black and White), and the 10-12 grade high school (Blue, Purple, Black and White)
  • An amended motion to approve the administration recommendation for school names for the Soldotna 7-8 grade school (Skyview Middle School), and the 9th grade school (Soldotna Prep School)
  • An amended motion to approve the school name for the Soldotna 10-12 grade high school (Soldotna High School)

Soldotna School Advisory Committee

Option 1 Soldotna Schools 7_8_9

The Board unanimously approved the following changes, effective August, 2014:

  • Soldotna area 9th grade students will be housed at the existing Soldotna Middle School
  • Soldotna area 7-8th grade students will be housed at the existing Skyview High School
  • River City Academy will be moved to the existing Soldotna Middle School

On April 1, 2013, the KPBSD Board of Education approved an amended motion to reconfigure Soldotna area high schools into one high school for grades 10-12, to be located at the current Soldotna High School: school board meeting.

The Soldotna schools reconfiguration for grades 7-12 will start in August 2014, at the beginning of the school year.

Timeline

  • Ongoing: staffing, planning and operations activities, course offerings, student scheduling, transition activities, and so forth.
  • September, October, November: Advisory Committee meets
  • August 13, 2013: KPBSD seeks Soldotna Schools Advisory Committee applicants
  • August 5, 2013: Transition Coordinator presentation at school board work session
  • June 3, 2013: School board meeting, 7:00 p.m., recommendation for 7-8-9 Soldotna schools reconfiguration
  • May 13-23, 2013: Soldotna 7-8-9 schools reconfiguration survey open
  • May 7, 2013: Community focus group
  • May 6, 2013: Dr. Atwater announced the reconfigurations will take place in August 2014
  • April 1, 2013: School Board approves one 10-11-12 grade Soldotna area high school
  • March 4, 2013: school board work session prior to School Board Meeting
  • February 12, 2013: principal work group reconvenes to discuss individual school meetings
  • February 11- 22, 2013: feedback welcomed by principals and the District (electronic or paper feedback forms)
  • February 11, 2013: meetings held at ten schools in Soldotna and greater area
  • Late February: feedback to be reviewed by the work group

Background documents and process:

In March of 2012, principals from K-Beach Elementary School; Redoubt Elementary School; Skyview High School; River City Academy; Soldotna Elementary School; Soldotna Montessori Charter School; Soldotna High School; Soldotna Middle School; Sterling Elementary School; and Tustumena Elementary School together with school district administration began meeting to discuss how to best meet the educational needs of students and future students from these ten K-12 KPBSD schools.

Beginning in 2008-2009, KPBSD began facilitating shared educational opportunities between Skyview High School and Soldotna High School, and while recognizing a declining enrollment trend continued, sharing was minimal. In 2012, the updated five-year strategic plan provided impetus for further discussion, and a Middle School conversation provided context to change the Soldotna area educational delivery and evolution to a new high school experience and configuration for 7-12 grade students. Furthermore, each of the ten schools held numerous informational meetings with their respective site councils, communities, students, and staff, providing both written information from principal meetings, and opportunities for everyone to ask questions, participate in a public survey, multiple community meetings, and during school board meetings. Click these documents to learn more: