Soldotna Elementary parents and staff seek to convert their school to a charter

A Kenai Peninsula Borough School District committee on Monday, Oct. 19, will again take up a plan by Soldotna Elementary parents and staff to turn their school into a charter school. The Charter School Oversight Committee postponed the application Oct. 5 to keep reviewing it.

The proposal comes as district and borough plans for consolidation, redevelopment and potential partial demolition may affect the school's building, the application says. One parent tied the two together in comments included in the application: "I know myself and many other parents are highly opposed to [combining] with Redoubt; however, this feels like it's being pushed on us as a school and community. I think creating a charter will give parents more input." Another respondent opposed the proposal over concerns about spreading funding across more expenses, the application notes.

The school would convert in fiscal year 2028, the 2027-28 school year. Kids who live in the current Soldotna Elementary boundary could still attend without applying or entering a lottery. Families from outside the boundary could request a seat, with a lottery only if requests outnumber seats.

"Soldotna Elementary Charter School is intended to show that charter flexibility and neighborhood-school accessibility can coexist," the application says.

Of 54 families who answered the applicants' survey, 47, with 77 children, said they were very or somewhat likely to attend. The applicants estimate the school has about 180 families. Fourteen of 16 teachers who responded said they were likely to teach there.

What would change

A committee of parents and staff, called an Academic Policy Committee, would govern the K-6 school. The program would include STREAM (science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and math), weekly social and emotional lessons, and dedicated science, music and PE teachers. The applicants say that specialist staffing is one position more than the district's formula provides.

District reviewers asked in writing how the plan affects "families who do not want their child to attend a Charter School that is operated by an APC." The applicants answered that in-boundary students would be eligible, not automatically enrolled, and that families who decline could go to another district school through a placement process.

Money and a building

The budget model assumes 290 students and about 33.72 staff positions, compared with 34.96 in the school's current budget. The district would keep about $1.33 million for indirect costs, services such as maintenance and insurance, and rent. The application says corrected district figures sent Oct. 9 removed Quality School Funding and raised projected utility costs by about 3,600%.

The applicants would prefer to stay in the current building but say no location is secured. Other options include temporary use of the building, space in the Soldotna Prep or Redoubt building at a consolidated campus, or another district, borough or leased site.