Today marks the first day of school for students in the Kenai Peninsula, though it feels a lot different than usual. For some, when they woke up for school, they merely turned on a laptop instead of hopping on a bus.
In the Central Peninsula, which the KPBSD has designated as High Risk for transmission of COVID-19, schools have only opened to 100% remote learning. This includes Kenai, Soldotna, Nikiski, Kasilof, Sterling, and other communities in the central portion of the Kenai Peninsula. The decision to not open school buildings in the Central Peninsula was made last week after an uptick in new COVID-19 positive cases in the Kenai – Soldotna area.
The district has pledged to monitor risk level trends, actual counts, and make the decision of whether to drop the Central area to the Medium Risk level to allow school buildings to open for on-site learning by September 8, the day after Labor Day.
According to KPBSD, at this time, risk levels dictate schools in the Southern Peninsula – the Homer area, and Eastern Peninsula – the Seward area, and schools in individual or remote communities are all still seeing the on-site in-school option this week.
Get It & Go Meals will be offered across the district, including the High Risk Central Peninsula, to ensure students still have access to meals while learning at home. The district asks that families sign-up online. Children must be currently enrolled in KPBSD to be eligible for Get-It & Go meals. Connections Homeschool students are not eligible for meals.
Contact your local school for any questions about remote learning, meal pick-up procedures, or any other concerns.