August 7th, 2025 by the Seward Folly Staff

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is implementing significant leadership changes in Seward and Moose Pass as it navigates shifting State funding and recent governor line-item budget cuts twice reinstated through legislative vetoes. Funding of education has had many shifts in the past five months. Below is the current status as announced by KPBSD Superintendent Clayton Holland in a recent letter to Seward teaching staff.

District Superintendent Clayton Holland announced Thursday that Scott Lefebvre, principal of Seward Middle School, will move to Redoubt Elementary School in Soldotna to serve as principal there. Dr. Henry Burns will step in as administrator for both Seward Middle and Seward High, a structure the district has used in the past.

In response to the funding challenges, the district has made strategic staffing adjustments and layoffs. At this time Seward teaching staff and library aides have been rehired. Seward Elementary will maintain its current staff, including the library aide position, allowing the school to continue offering strong classroom instruction. Dr. Erin Pearce, an untenured teacher at Seward Elementary, who was laid off early this summer, will move to Seward High School. Similarly, Jean Beck will also move to the high school. Seward Middle School has been approved for an additional full-time teaching position, ensuring that student needs are met even as the principal’s role is consolidated under Dr. Burns.

Seward High School has rehired the half-time art teacher, Jason Leslie, full-time science teacher, Dr. Erin Pearce, and the library aide position, Jen Ransom. This reflects the district’s commitment to maintaining a broad curriculum despite financial pressures. Athletic director support will also increase to account for the combined oversight of athletic programs at both Seward Middle and Seward High School.

Dr. Burns is currently working to determine the best way to allocate these positions between the middle and high schools to strengthen instruction and encourage collaboration across secondary grade levels.

In Moose Pass, Matt Cook, principal of Seward Elementary, will add administrative duties at Moose Pass School. 

Superintendent Holland acknowledged that summer staffing changes have been stressful for educators, especially amid ongoing financial uncertainty at both the district and state levels. He hopes these changes will help put an end to last-minute education budget adjustments and bring more stability and support to the process.

Staff with questions about the changes are encouraged to contact district leadership.

Contact:
Clayton Holland, Superintendent
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
907-714-8888
cholland@kpbsd.k12.ak.us

District Motto: Every Child Has a Right to be Safe, Seen, and Celebrated.