Letters to the editor

Published 2:30 am Thursday, May 14, 2026

Library fundraiser another success

The 2026 Spring Book & Plant Sale is officially in the books! The Friends of the Homer Public Library would like to thank the community for its generous advance donations of books and for the wide variety of plant donations. This fundraiser and ‘friends-raising’ event can happen only because of a dedicated cadre of FHL volunteers (almost 30 of you this year!) who help move tables, move books, set up, sort, price, organize, cashier and then take everything down.

Thank you, Homer, for loving books (and plants!) and supporting the Friends. We look forward to seeing you all again at our Fall Book & Plant Sale, and yes, you may now start donating books again.

Judy Gonsalves, FHL Book & Plant Sale Volunteer Coordinator

Cheryl Illg, FHL Coordinator

Grateful for volunteer coach support

On behalf of our entire volleyball community, I would like to thank Brad Houser, Juniors Chairman for Alaska Volleyball, for volunteering his time at the Coach Clinic and Volleyball Camp benefiting the Lady Mariners from May 4-8.

Forty-two players from 4th through 11th grades and six coaches participated in this week-long event, with a goal of improving our skills both on and off the court. Mr. Houser brought instructional materials, enthusiasm and insight to the sport, but he also modeled the curiosity of a lifelong learner. He takes his oversight of juniors programming for the state very seriously, generously offering knowledge gleaned from developing thousands of athletes, and asking questions about our personal experience in order to inform education initiatives that address rural issues, such as transportation and recruitment.

Our program celebrated tremendous gains this first week of May, and now we look forward to the compounding impact of this investment for years to come.

Delane Blackstock

Homer

Upcoming fun run celebrates library anniversary

Homer Public Library and KBBI are collaborating on the Waves to Words Fun Run, to be held June 13. Meet at the KBBI station at 11:30 a.m. for a quick storytime. The run begins at noon, following a half-mile course through residential streets and down the Poopdeck and Story trails to end at the library. The bookmobile will be waiting for anyone who needs a read after running. Participants are encouraged to wear costumes, preferably book- or radio-themed. Thanks to the Kachemak Bay Running Club for their assistance with this event! For questions, call the library at 907-235-3180.

Dave Berry, director

Homer Public Library

Outdoor excursion gives kids hands-on education

On behalf of the fourth‑grade students, teachers and parents of West Homer Elementary, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the generous sponsors who made this year’s Outdoor Education trip to the Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge with the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies possible.

For many students, the experience included unforgettable firsts such as crossing Kachemak Bay by boat, spending the night at the historic lodge and exploring tide pools together.

Their excitement was clear as they discovered invertebrates, spotted sea otters, and identified local plants along the forest trails. These hands-on moments helped students connect deeply with the remarkable environment that surrounds our community.

Thanks to our sponsors, students studied marine ecology, botany, geology and the dynamic tidal systems of Kachemak Bay through direct experience. Your support also ensured that every student could participate, regardless of financial circumstances which is one of the reasons this program has remained a valued trad ition for more than four decades.

The partnership between West Homer Elementary and the Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge began in 1981, when the McBride family first invited their son’s fourth‑grade class to explore the bay’s ecosystems. What started as a generous gesture has grown into a tradition that continues to enrich our students’ lives. This year’s cohort once again benefited from the location, history of the lodge and the McBride family’s enduring commitment to outdoor learning.

We are grateful for the meaningful impact our sponsors and the McBride family continue to make on our students and our school community.

Karen Corbell, Kathryn Crowley, Zachary Heilman and fourth-grade students

West Homer Elementary

West Homer Elementary students show results

We often hear that public schools are failing. At West Homer Elementary, the evidence says otherwise.

West Homer Elementary uses MAP Growth testing to measure both achievement and academic growth. Achievement shows how students are performing. Growth shows how much progress they are making. MAP Growth norms are based on scores from 13.8 million students in over 30,000 schools across the United States, so West Homer’s results can be compared with students and schools around the country every year.

West Homer’s most recent Fall-Winter 2025-26 MAP data places reading, math and language usage in the “high growth, high achievement” category for all grades (3-6). That means West Homer students are performing above national comparisons and growing faster than typical peers.

Test scores do not tell the full story of a child, a teacher, or a school. But the data confirms what many families already know: West Homer Elementary is a safe, supportive, high-performing school. But strong schools cannot be maintained if resources keep disappearing. West Homer’s success depends on qualified teachers, safe facilities, quality instructional materials, a library aide, and enough staff to meet student needs.

Alaskans expect accountability from public schools. West Homer Elementary is showing it. Cutting funding from schools that are producing strong results is not accountability. It is not fiscal responsibility. It is taking away the very resources that make success possible.

Ahnie Litecky

Homer