Mariner senior appointed to school board

A Homer High School student joined the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education on Monday.

Reid Rauch, a Homer High senior, was appointed as the board’s student representative by unanimous approval during Monday’s meeting. He cast his first advisory votes during the meeting, in favor of approving new collective bargaining agreements with the unions representing KPBSD teachers and support staff and approving the renaming of Seward High School to Seward Middle/High School, among others.

Rauch said part of his motivation for joining the board was a desire to foster greater school and community spirit among his fellow students — in Homer and beyond across the school district.

Changes at Homer High this year, like welcoming students from each of Homer’s schools to the homecoming parade and revamping “anchor time” for students to bring more juniors and seniors into the school building, are moves that Rauch said foster that spirit.

“When I’m talking about district spirit, it’s really a desire to connect with people in smaller communities than Homer like Voznesenka or in larger communities in Soldotna and Kenai,” Rauch said. “ I can serve as an example for other students who have just as much to learn about each other and about their district as a community.”

Rauch will serve on the board through this school year, casting advisory votes before the board decides on any action items at its regular meetings.