Meeting in Seward on Monday, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School Board addressed the need for public involvement in the budget process for fiscal year 2007. The board also welcomed a new student representative to the board, heard a construction update on Seward Middle School’s new building and approved budget transfers and personnel changes.

Chief Financial Officer Melody Douglas requested the elimination of the budget review committee and presented the board with a schedule for numerous public meetings around the district at these times and places:

Budget orientation meetings for site councils, staff and public:

· Kenai Central High School little theater, 7 p.m. Thursday;

· Homer High School library, 7 p.m. Monday; and

· Seward High School Library, 7 p.m. Oct. 27.

Public budget hearings prior to board meetings:

· Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly chambers, 6 p.m. Oct. 17 and

· Homer High School library, 6 p.m. Nov. 7.

Public budget forums:

· Seward High School library, 7 p.m. Jan. 23;

· Skyview High School library, 7 p.m. Jan. 25; and

· Homer High School library, 7 p.m. Jan. 30.

Kelly King, a senior at Soldotna High School, was approved as the board’s new student representative.

Seward Middle School Principal John Cote presented the plan for transitioning into the new school building due for completion prior to the end of the school year.

Bringing to code the existing 50,000-square-foot facility would have cost the district $10 million, according to Board President Sammy Crawford.

“The community had an opportunity to weigh in on it and decided they wanted a smaller, newer school,” Crawford said of the decision to build a 38,000-square-foot new school for $11 million.

The board unanimously approved the following budget transfers:

· $12,091 requested by Connections to purchase software site licenses for student computers and

· $49,000 to pay for removal of old playground pavement, regrading, compacting the site and laying new pavement for Aurora Borealis Charter School.

The next meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School Board is Oct. 17 at the Borough Administration Building in Soldotna.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.