The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District told KSRM on Thursday that they are not straying from their Smart Start plan to offer three options to parents and students, including a full re-opening of school buildings to students and staff.
Pegge Erkeneff of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, when asked if the district plans to move forward with the plan to re-open schools: “As of today, I absolutely will be able to say that is the plan. I will share also, we’re taking the best new information from the Department of Education and CDC, but it makes no sense if we have low COVID cases in an entire region to not have our students that want to be at school, at school, or our staff at schools that can be working.”
She added that the district is anticipating push-back from those who are apprehensive, but that the goal is to do what’s best for the Kenai Peninsula and its residents: “Not everybody is going to be happy with what we do, but we’re doing the best we can do with really good guidance, but it’s for the Kenai Peninsula School District, our families, and our students. Not only that, all of the employers – because when students are home, some parents don’t have the option to be going to work. Or, it’s a stressor on the family. It impacts everybody when school is not open and in-session. We’re Alaskans, we’re independent, and we’re using the best science and knowledge for our communities with the school district.”
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s commitment to re-opening schools was voiced despite the Anchorage School District announcing on Friday that the coming school year will not begin with in-person classes. Rather, they will start with online-only learning. Fairbanks North Star Borough schools also announced earlier this week that they plan to begin their school year with online-only learning. Both districts plan to reassess their strategy every two weeks.
Per the Kenai district’s plan, decisions regarding schools will be made based on low, medium, or high risk COVID-19 community transmission scenarios. The plan will continue to be revised as medical information, science, and the pandemic situation evolves throughout the 2020-21 school year.
