Board of Education swears in members, assigns leadership roles

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education welcomed a new member and held to a status quo organization during a special meeting Monday.

During the Oct. 1 municipal election, Sarah Douthit won election to the seat representing Kenai. Kelley Cizek won reelection to the seat representing Sterling and Funny River, and Tim Daugharty won reelection to the seat representing Homer.

District Administrative Secretary Nikkol Sipes administered oaths of office to Douthit and Cizek on Monday before the board held a brief election to determine board officers. Tim Daugharty, who won reelection to the seat representing Homer, was unable to attend the meeting in person and so was sworn in earlier, on Oct. 11, with District Superintendent Clayton Holland as his witness.

Patti Truesdell nominated Zen Kelly to remain board president. Cizek nominated Virginia Morgan to continue as clerk. Jason Tauriainen nominated Penny Vadla to maintain the role of treasurer.

Tauriainen was nominated to remain in the role of vice president by Vadla, but Dianne MacRae put Cizek’s name forward for the same seat, triggering a brief election that fell 7-2 in Tauriainen’s favor.

“It’s been an honor to serve as the vice president,” Tauriainen said. “I look forward to an opportunity to continue in that role.”

Cizek, speaking before ballots were cast, said she hadn’t anticipated the nomination — but she accepted it to see different perspectives in different positions.

A full recording of the meeting will be available at the board of education’s BoardDocs site.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Administrative Secretary Nikkol Sipes passes out ballots during a reorganization of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)