The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, faced with increasing daily positive COVID-19 counts and with the Central Peninsula, Southern Peninsula and Eastern Peninsula all in the High “Red” Risk Level, and all instituting remote learning at least through October 28th; is scheduled to re-evaluate the re-start of high school volleyball and swimming & diving for peninsula high schools.
Message from Superintendent John O’Brien:
“Due to all three main KPBSD regions being in High Risk/RED status and with recent high daily positive COVID-19 counts, all KPBSD Elementary, Middle, and High School activities are suspended immediately through Monday October 26th. We will re-evaluate on Monday morning (26th). This includes inter/intra district competition, intramurals, practices, and skill building practices.”
KPBSD, at the high school level, currently has programs waiting to continue their seasons in Region III 3A volleyball (Kenai, Nikiski, Homer and Seward) and 4A volleyball (SoHi) and Region III swimming. ASAA has authorized the continuation of regular season regional play and regional championships through November 21st.
The district will re-evaluate on Monday, October 26th.
ASAA Revises Recommendation On Masks
In a press release on October 23rd, ASAA Executive Director Billy Strickland clarified the ASAA recommendations for mask wearing during competition; revising ASAA’s statement which required masks during competition (even under strenuous activity) for indoor events.
Strickland stated that ASAA would like to notify Alaska school districts that the Department of Health and Social Services has clarified their recommendation regarding mask to match the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) language.
As a result, ASAA will no longer require masks to be worn while actively participating, but
rather recommends a mask be worn “if feasible”. ASAA’s other mask recommendations stay
in place. For example: People sitting on the bench during games should wear a
mask. Additionally, ASAA would like to remind the schools, students and families much research shows masks are an important measure in stopping the spread of COVID- 19. Therefore, the wearing of masks even while vigorously engaged in an activity is allowed. ASAA will be working with the various sports official’s groups on how to manage this during competitions.
Among the CDC’s guidelines are the following statements:
• “to wear a mask if feasible, especially when it is difficult to stay less than 6 feet apart
from other people or indoors, for example in close contact sports such as basketball.”
• “People who are engaged in high intensity activities, like running, may not be able to
wear a mask if it causes difficulty breathing. If unable to wear a mask, consider
conducting the activity in a location with greater ventilation and air exchange (for
instance, outdoors versus indoors) and where it is possible to maintain physical distance
from others.”
ASAA’s mitigation recommendations for practices and competitions are aimed to reduce risks,
however mitigation of all risk associated with activities is not possible. Schools are allowed the
flexibility to tailor recommendations to their individual needs and circumstances. DHSS is
available on request to consult with schools on their mitigation plans and to help schools and
districts better clarify the risks associated to their athletes, staff and communities.
