Lower Kuskokwim School District

Dear LKSD colleagues, students, families, & community: My heart is full of gratitude for the 28 years that I have had the privilege to serve the people of the YK Delta — from teaching in Quinhagak to serving as principal in Eek to becoming assistant superintendent and finally superintendent of this great district.

Using the state parameters for different risk levels, LKSD has developed a SMART START plan for returning to school this Fall. The start date for students has been moved to August 24th; click for more details.

UPDATE: Please see LKSD's SMART START plan on the menu bar, or link above. LKSD Administrators are collaborating with state departments to plan for education this Fall. Click for more information.

The State of Alaska has extended the closure of schools through the end of the school year. Click for more information and a letter from LKSD Administrators.

The most recent LKSD Guidelines has been updated with more information about employees wearing masks in LKSD facilities.

Please click for more information regarding changes to LKSD Mandates for Employees regarding Travel.

Please see updates made by the LKSD Board of Education regarding Senior and High School Credits.

Alaska Department of Health and Social Services has unveiled a new Alaska COVID-19 Dashboard website to keep the public updated with the latest COVID-19 numbers, locally and nationally.

The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development has launched a statewide virtual school to ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please click for updated LKSD Guidelines based on the new Alaska Mandates.

LKSD Parents and Families, We’d like to thank you for your continued efforts to support your child’s academic growth as we practice social distancing. While many of the programs we are seeking your input on may be greatly altered right now, your feedback is valuable and will shape academic programming in the future.

Please take a moment to fill out the following survey. The information collected is being used to determine connectivity needs across Alaska school districts.

Health Mandate 010: International and Interstate Travel - Order for Self Quarantine Effective at 12:01 am March 25, 2020:

Updated COVID-19 guidelines for LKSD schools: Only essential staff are allowed on school sites. This includes basketball courts, playgrounds and playdecks. Please click for full text.

The Alaska School Activities Association is announcing cancellation of all 2020 spring events, championships, regular season contest and practices.

The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) to Receive Waiver for Assessment and Accountability Requirements from U.S. Department of Education. Please click for more information.

Updated Guidelines for Travel required LKSD employees returning from out of state travel starting Friday, March 20 to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Per the Governor's mandate, schools are closed through May 1, 2020.

**Updated Information** GCI is working with LKSD to help students stay connected so they can continue their education during this challenging time.

Please click below for the most recent LKSD update.

In accord with the Governor's mandate, LKSD schools are closed to students until March 30. Please click for more information on updated guidelines.

LKSD is announcing a cancelation of classes for all students for one week, March 16th– 20th 2020. During this closure, school staff are expected to report to work.

Fifty five students from across the district participated in our district science fair, participating in activities, learning, and sharing knowledge.

LKSD has issued guidance regarding COVID-19. Please see the attached document for information on preparedness, prevention measures, and resources.

Congratulations to Jaslene Williams, a Gladys Jung Elementary student, on winning the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education poster contest.

The Lower Kuskokwim Board of Education has announced their choice for new Superintendent of Schools, Kimberly Hankins.

LKSD has announced that two candidates have accepted invitations to interview as finalists in the search for a new superintendent: Kimberly Hankins and Brett Stirling. See press release for more info.

Congratulations to the Bethel Warriors Wrestling Team on winning the 2019 State Championship! We also had 4 Warriors win their individual State Championship matches in their respective weight classes.

LKSD has issued an updated press release. Please click below for more details

LKSD issued a press release 12-11-19. Please click for more information.

The LKSD School Board will meet Dec. 12-13. Click for agenda.

Click below for information on scholarship opportunities for those pursing a degree in education, and for graduating seniors.

The 2019 Advisory School Board Conference was held Oct 24-25 in Bethel. The theme this year: Quyurramta/Rigor and Relationships

Congratulations to all our contestants for a job well done!

The newly established Pioneer School in Mertarvik has completed its first week of school and will continue welcoming new students as the village of Newtok relocates.

The LKSD School Board Meets October 4-5 at the district office in Bethel for their regular board meeting.

Teachers from around the district convened in Bethel for the LKSD Annual Fall Conference - Quyurramta 2019: Leading with the Heart, the first week of September.

Jon LaValle, junior high math teacher at BRHS, is LKSD's Teacher of the Year for 2019.

The application period for Summer Academies 2019 has begun! This year’s summer offerings include Art, Film, Trades (Welding), Trades (Fabrication), Middle School Math, and Gear Up Middle School STEM.

The 32nd Annual District Basketball Tournament was dedicated to Mr. Carlton Kuhns this year. Mr. Kuhns got this spectacular tournament up and running back in 1988!

Congratulations to Jakob Sipary from Napaskiak, Alaska on taking FIRST PLACE in the Informative Speaking category at the 2019 Drama, Debate & Forensics State Championships.

The LKSD Board of Education wants your input!

The Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD) is pleased to announce that 16 Seniors will be awarded the Seal of Biliteracy during their graduation ceremonies in May.

LKSD now offers any junior or senior who can speak and write Yugtun an opportunity to earn a Seal of Biliteracy! The seal encourages our students to pursue biliteracy by high school graduation, honors the skills our students attain and can be evidence of skills that are attractive to future employers and college admissions offices.

Lower Kuskokwim School is pleased to announce that Lynn Mellor has been selected as this year’s recipient for LKSD Teacher of the Year. Lynn has taught for over 13 years for the District, all at Bethel Regional High School. Lynn is a very well respected teacher by her peers. She has served as a mentor for new teachers, and student teachers looking to enter the educational field...

The BRHS FLL Robotics team, known as the Moosekateers, is taking off to compete in the FLL North American Open Championship in San Diego California this weekend. Check out this article by Coach Nicole Smith, outlining the team's success at the Alaska State Championships in January, which earned them their spot at this national competition:

Jayne Hanna of Nuniwarmiut School in Mekoryuk, Alaska, has been named the recipient of the BP Alaska Principal’s Scholarship and the BP Alaska Commissioner’s Scholarship Awards.

Jayne Hanna, a high school senior at Nuniwarmiut School in Mekoryuk, Alaska, was named the National ACT Student Readiness Exemplar for the 2016-2017 ACT College and Career Readiness Campaign.

This past weekend, the Alaska Press Club hosted its annual conference and awards. KYUK received 1st place for Best Sports Reporting in Radio for their collaborative news piece, "Cross Country Girls and Boys Head to State Finals." This piece was created by our very own Media Ready students through their KYUK internships last semester, under the guidance of a KYUK reporter.

The LKSD School Board is seeking your feedback on how to increase student performance. Over the next three years, we are focusing efforts to increase our graduation rates, academic growth, Yugtun and Cugtun fluency, and attendance rates.

Greg Larson has been on the Board since his election to Seat C in October 2015. He co-represents, with Seat D, the villages of Atmautluak, Kasigluk, Kwethluk, Napakiak, Napaskiak, Nunapitchuk, Oscarville, and Tuntutuliak.

Board President Susan Murphy holds Seat E on the Board, which represents Bethel. She has held close ties with LKSD since 1979, when she was employed as the Public Information Officer for the District. That job evolved to becoming the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, which she retired from in June of 1999.

Jonathan Lewis is from Chefornak, and holds Seat B, representing the villages of Chefornak, Kipnuk, Kwigillingok and Mekoryuk.

Florence P. Therchik is our Board Member holding Seat A, which represents the villages of Newtok, Nightmute, Toksook Bay and Tununak. Ms. Therchik was appointed to fill Seat A in December 2013. She was re-elected in 2015 for the 3-year term she is currently serving. Prior to serving on the Regional Board, Ms. Therchik served on the local ASB in her home village of Toksook Bay.

Deanna Latham is one of our newest Board Members. She is also another one of our LKSD born and raised on the current Board. She holds Seat F, representing Bethel.

Wassilie Pleasant holds Seat D on the LKSD Board. He shares representation with Seat C for the villages of Atmautluak, Kasigluk (Akuik Memorial School and Akula Elitnaurvik), Kwethluk, Napakiak, Napaskiak, Nunapitchuk, Oscarville and Tuntutuliak.

Will Updegrove holds the record for longevity on the current Board. He has served on Seat G, representing Bethel, for 23 years. He was first elected in October 1994. When he began serving on the Board, he was employed as pastor at the Moravian Church, and then he began working at the ABE Center at KuC. He has since retired from the college, although he contracts to teach classes at the YK Correctional Center.

Clarence Daniel has been on the LKSD Board since being appointed in March 2013. He was elected to a 3-year term in 2014. Mr. Daniel serves on Seat H representing Bethel. He has been Vice-President and Secretary on the Board.

One of our newest members, John O. Mark, is really not so new to LKSD and the Board. He previously served on the Board from 2004-2007. He also has been a teacher and Site Administrator at LKSD, before becoming a Board Member.

LKSD presents our January 2017 Students of the Month. Who can’t break out into a big smile when looking at our Student of the Month ad? Each and every one of these awesome students bring happiness to their classrooms and we are happy to feature them in our monthly ad in the Delta Discovery. Congratulations to the January 2017 Students of the Month!

The Lower Kuskokwim School District is happy to present out December 2016 Students of the Month! Students are selected for many reasons, and their individual poster describes the great things they have done to deserve this honor. Go to your local schools and find the posters. They will probably be hanging up on a wall for all to see! Congrats to all the December 2016 Students.

Announcing the November 2016 Students of the Month! LKSD is thankful for all these awesome students!

It has been one year since the Kilbuck fire broke out in the early morning hours of November 3, 2015, displacing Ayaprun Elitnaurvik and Kuskokwim Learning Academy students. Forty KLA students who resided in the dorms at KLA had to flee the building, leaving their belongings behind, and approximately 200 students were suddenly without a place to learn.

Announcing our October 2016 Students of the Month! Each participating site presents their Students of the Month with their very own poster to hang on their wall at home. Some families treasure their Student of the Month posters, and they have been up on the walls at home for many years. The program began in the late ’90s. Congratulations to our October 2016 Students of the Month!

Mekoryuk student, Jayne Hanna placed 1st in the high school girls 1A race at the State Cross Country Competition in Anchorage on October 1, 2016. She also placed 24th overall in the 1A, 2A, and 3A race. Her time was 21:35. Congratulations, Jayne!

The Lower Kuskokwim School District proudly announces our September 2016 Students of the Month. Students are selected from schools throughout the District’s 23 villages and each one receives their own personal poster featuring their photo and a description of why they were chosen for the honor.

he Lower Kuskokwim School District is pleased to announce that Fannie Andrew has been selected as this year’s recipient for LKSD Teacher of the Year. Fannie has taught and worked for the District for the last twenty-five years.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the death of our longtime employee, Betty Gilman, on August 30, 2016, after a brief illness. Needless to say, we will all miss her more than words can express. She was not just our co-worker but our good friend as well.

The Lower Kuskokwim School District Community is deeply saddened by the recent death of Fannie Brink, a primary teacher at Akiuk Memorial school in Kasigluk. Fannie passed away on July 21, 2016. A funeral service was held on Monday, July 25, at Akiuk Memorial School in Kasigluk.

On Tuesday, June 21, 2016 Superintendent Daniel Walker sent the following email message to the parents of Ayaprun Elitnaurvik and Kuskokwim Learning Academy students. Dear KLA and Ayaprun Parents, On Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11, the LKSD Board met in regular session. The…

Do you think you could read over two million words in one year? Alexie Evan, a seventh grade student at Rocky Mountain School in Goodnews Bay, AK did just that and was selected to receive a national reading award from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Alexie was…

The State of Alaska Department of Education and Early Development issued a press release on April 1, 2016 stating the Alaska Measures of Progress (AMP) and other computer-based tests are canceled for this school year. The AMP online tests, which are assessments in English language…

The District has sponsored a Multimedia Contest for many years and once again, the judges were not disappointed this year. High school and junior high students submitted entries in three categories – photos, movies and tunes. The results are in for the winners! Please visit…

Award winning scientists from the LKSD Science Fair show the certificates they earned during the competition. The District Science Fair was held on March 17-19, 2016 in Bethel. Students from Kipnuk, Oscarville and Toksook Bay participated in the elementary, middle school and high school divisions of competition.

Karen Paul from Kwigillingok has been selected to be the University of Alaska Fairbanks Outstanding Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education student for the 2015-16 academic year.

This year, eight LKSD teams participated in the Southwest Regional FTC Robotics competition on January 27, 2016. Three teams will be advancing to compete in the Alaska State Robotics Championships that take place in Anchorage, Alaska on February 19-20, 2016. These teams include the Sunchasers of the STEM Ready Academy, the Bethel Regional High School team and Team Stewie of Kwigillingok.