John O’Brien, Superintendent of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, believes that schools could open sooner than the target the school board put forth earlier this month.
The district’s current plan is to aim for a January 19 return to in-school learning, but if trends of COVID cases start to wane on the Kenai and current science says that it is safe to return to schools, O’Brien told KSRM on Wednesday that in-school learning may be looking at returning one week earlier.
James Baisden, Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce’s Chief of Staff, called the station to say that one week is not good enough: “I hope that John, as Superintendent, you’ve heard the parents. You know the frustration out here. We think that our children are suffering from what’s going on here with not having them back in-school. I’ve tried to be a spokesperson for the group and probably not the best because I’m getting emotional with my three kids and what’s going on.”
He added that his home situation is stronger than many, but his family still feels the struggle of the lack of in-school learning: “I have a great situation at home. We’re struggling. These families who don’t have the situation that I have are hurting, and I hope that you hear us and you will do everything you can to get these kids in-school the first of the year, even if you have to do the A-B part of it and get them in sooner than later. We’ve got to get them back. Another month of waiting here is just devastating with what’s going on here. The worst education that my children have ever received “
O’Brien, however, was steadfast that science, safety, and prudency is what he intends to listen to when making decisions, rather than fleeting protests or political threats: “I hope that if these trends continue [lower COVID cases], we can bring kids back a week earlier than that January 19 date that we shared earlier as a target date. So, I’m meeting with administrators tomorrow. We have a district-wide administrator meeting. We’re going to be letting them know to prepare their staff for the possibility of coming back even a week earlier than we had targeted.”
He continued: “Really, it’s going to be based on the numbers, the medical data, and what we’re hearing from the hospitals – not people picketing on the side of the road or putting political pressure on me as Superintendent. I’ve never made decisions by licking my thumbs and sticking it in the air to see what direction the wind blows.”
