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Vol. 49, Issue 284
In the news
Quake rattles Southcentral
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake rattled Southcentral just after 5 p.m. Monday. The University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Earthquake Center reported that the earthquake originated 28 miles west of Willow, 19 miles southeast of Skwentna and 46 miles north of Tyonek. The earthquake, which struck at 5:09 p.m., was measured at 43.4 miles deep, according to the latest information from the Earthquake Center.
UA regents mull accreditation plans FAIRBANKS — The University of Alaska Board of Regents has voted to consider both singleand multiple-university accreditation models, a report said. New language was added during a board meeting in Anchorage on Friday enabling two options for accrediting the state’s universities, The Fairbanks Daily NewsMiner reported Saturday. University President Jim Johnsen has proposed a plan that would consolidate the three separately accredited universities in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau into a singleaccredited institution. The consolidation could lower costs and absorb a $70 million budget cut by Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy. The $70 million cut would be stretched over the next three years but still leave the university system with $25 million in reductions this fiscal year, officials said. The fiscal year began July 1. Regents voted in July to consider a plan to consolidate into a single university. New language Friday urges university leaders to consider “single and multiple institution accreditation.” Some appeared to support the path toward a single university. Leaders in the Legislature are urging quick action. The consolidation plan has generated opposition among faculty, students and members of the public. Regents met Thursday to hear public testimony regarding consolidation, feedback that almost entirely consisted of criticism of the plan. “The students come first, and if the students are imploring us not to drive See news, Page A3
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NFL
State sues public employee union
Beckham stars; Browns rip Jets
Alaska / A2
Sports / A7
CLARION
Partly cloudy 59/47 More weather, Page A2
W of 1 inner Awa0* 201 Exc rds fo 8 e r Rep llence i o n rt * Ala ska P i n g ! res
P E N I N S U L A
Tuesday, September 17, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
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$1 newsstands daily/$1.50 Sunday
Schools closed as talks continue By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
As contract negotiations with two education associations dragged late into the night Monday, school district officials announced a school closure for Tuesday. The closure was announced in advance of a strike the Kenai Peninsula Education Association and the Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association had slated to start at 7 a.m. Tuesday. After contract negotiations hit a standstill last week, the education associations notified the school district Friday of their intent to strike. David Brighton, president of the Kenai Peninsula Education Association, said Saturday that he hoped the school board would come out of the executive session planned for Monday night ready to sign a contract and avoid a strike. At 9:30 p.m. Monday, the district team presented a package proposal to the educator association bargaining teams, Pegge Erkeneff, district director of communications, said in a 10:30 p.m. letter to parents and guardians. “It is likely bargaining will continue late into the evening, so at this time, plan for no school on Tuesday, September 17, 2019,” Erkeneff said. Brighton said just after 10 p.m. that the associations were reviewing the offer from the school district put forward following the executive session. Brighton said the education associations intended to look it over and respond once they understood it. As of press deadline at 10:45 p.m., Brighton did not provide an answer on whether teachers would strike and be on picket lines Tuesday. The associations and the district have been negotiating for a contract
Victoria Petersen / Peninsula Clarion
Educators rally Monday in front of Kenai Central High School ahead of a strike slated to begin Tuesday.
for nearly 600 days, and bargaining has snagged on the rising cost of health care. If a strike does occur, it will continue until a tentative agreement is reached between the district and associations. Once a tentative agreement is reached, the district will notify the public. Depending on when the agreement is reached, school will be reopened accordingly. The bargaining teams from the associations and the district — on behalf of what the school board has authorized — are responsible for coming to a tentative agreement. Should a strike happen, principals
will not be participating and will be on-site at their schools during working hours. Signs will be posted at every school notifying the community of the school’s closure. In the case of a strike, every school in the district would be closed, including Connections Homeschool, charter and alternative schools, and distance delivery programs. School closures include all before and after-school activities, sports, community school activities, pools, and any rentals or usage of school facilities, including Boys & Girls Clubs activities in every district school or facility. Only individuals
approved by the superintendent will have access schools and facilities. Make up of any canceled high school sports and extracurricular activities are subject to the rules of Kenai Peninsula School Activities Association (KPSAA), affiliate region boards, and Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA). Some may or may not be able to be made up. Days and staff work days that are missed due to a strike must be made up, and will be added to the end of the 2019-2020 school year calendar in May. Daily updates will be issued about by the district in the event of a strike.
election 2019 | Borough Assembly
Meet the candidates Profiles by Victoria Petersen u Peninsula Clarion
District 7: Brent Johnson
District 4: Tyson Cox
Clam Gulch resident Brent Johnson is a commercial fishJohnson is running for his erman and has lived in Alaska third term on the Kenai for 64 years, according to his Peninsula Borough Assembly. candidate file. He served on the assembly What qualifies you to from 2010 to 2016. Johnson is serve on the assembly? running for District 7, which is I have six years of expericurrently held by Paul Fischer. Brent ence working on the assemJohnson District 7 is an area stretching bly. I served for 15 years on just north of Kasilof all the way south the planning commission, which of Happy Valley and Nikolaevsk. See johnson, Page A6
Soldotna resident Tyson attended the University Cox is seeking a seat in District of Alaska Anchorage and 4 — encompassing the earned a bachelor’s degree Soldotna area — on the Kenai in education, with a minor Peninsula Borough Assembly. in mathematics. He currently The seat is currently held by serves on the Soldotna City Dale Bagley. According to his Council. candidate file, he works in real Tyson Cox What qualifies you to estate and property manageserve on the assembly? ment. He has been an Alaska resiI’ve been on our city council for dent for 25 years, his file says. He See cox, Page A6
District 7: Holly Odd
District 4: Rose Henry
Clam Gulch resident Holly Odd is running for the District 7 seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. District 7 represents an area stretching from just north of Kasilof all the way south of Happy Holly Odd Valley and Nikolaevsk. The seat is currently held by Paul Fischer. According to Odd’s candidate file, she’s been a resident of
Soldotna resident Rose Henry is running for the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s District 4 seat, which encompasses the Soldotna area. The seat is currently held by Dale Bagley. According to her candidate Rose Henry file, Henry has lived in Alaska for 17 years and works in Soldotna as a pharmacist. She has a Bachelor
Alaska for 44 years and is a retired flight attendant. What qualifies you to serve on the assembly? I’ve been a flight attendant for almost 40 years, and am recently retired. I have communicated with people all over the world. I have See ODD, Page A6
of Science in pharmacy from St. Louis College of Pharmacy, her file said. What qualifies you to serve on the assembly? I’ve been a pharmacist for 30 years, managing most of that time. I’ve been used to taking state and federal See henry, Page A6
Level 1 READY alert removed for Cooper Landing By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
The Level 1 evacuation alert for Cooper Landing will be removed beginning Tuesday at 12:01 a.m., a release from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management said. The Northern Rockies Team 4 team managing the Swan Lake Fire, in
coordination with the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management, removed the alert level. The alert was removed because of the work of fire crews, a continuing weather pattern of rain and cooler temperatures, according to the release. Residents in Cooper Landing are asked to remain vigilant, aware and
prepared until a fire season-ending weather transition occurs. “Fire managers suggest several inches of rain across all areas of the Swan Lake Fire are needed before the fire will be identified as controlled,” the release said. Swan Lake Fire information and safety topics will be available on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management website,
www.kpboem.com, and on Facebook, at KPBalerts. Residents can sign up for the phone notification system by texting KPB to 99411, and following the prompts to register using your borough physical address. The Office of Emergency Management continues to staff an information line Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5p.m. at 907-262-4636 (262-INFO).