A demonstration aiming to show support for re-opening Central Kenai Peninsula Borough School District schools took place on Friday morning in front of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration building. The building houses KPBSD offices as well as Borough administration.
Approximately 20 demonstrators gathered in front of the building with signs featuring slogans such as “Under One Percent,” “Let Us Back In School,” and “School is Cool.” They waved their signs in front of the building, as a majority of the response from passers-by offered supportive honks.
Among the crowd, there were several conversations that primarily centered around a sense of dissatisfaction with the transparency in testing. Some were concerned that because of the reliance on Department of Health and Social Services statistics, that one outbreak among a family that had no interaction with area schools could dictate the decision for whether schools were opened or not.
They also expressed concern about parents who planned to return to work-as-normal, but are now met with major obstacles because they do not have childcare options.
Attendees of the demonstration told KSRM News that they attempted to meet with KPBSD officials but they claim to have been met with doors covered by paper featuring a sign showing that they needed an appointment before being allowed entrance.
There was talk of future demonstrations to lead KPBSD to reevaluate their course of action, and KSRM News will offer updates when they become available.