The Kenai Chamber held a virtual business luncheon Wednesday afternoon where the guest speaker was John O’Brien, Superintendent of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. The topic of conversation was an update on KPBSD schools. Assistant Superintendent Dave Jones also took part in the presentation.
The question on everyone’s mind: when are kiddos of the Kenai headed back to school? O’Brien said it has everything to do with the COVID-19 numbers, but he’s hoping to see students back in the building a week earlier than originally projected: “Our hope is that in January, January 19 was our original target date for getting students back to in-person learning. I did share, last week, that if the numbers continue to trend the way they are, that I hope to be able to bring students back even earlier than the 19th. Hopefully by January 11 for in-person learning.”
O’Brien offered details: “That would look like: our pre-K through 6th grade students will be coming on-school every day and our 7th – 12th grade students will be coming two to three days a week, depending on their A-B schedule options at their schools. Hopefully, shortly after that, if the numbers continue to trend the way they are, we hope to bring back those secondary students in grades 7 through 12 every day back to school for in-person learning.”
He expects an official announcement from the district on the afternoon of January 5. KSRM News will provide details when they are made available.
He also reminded the chamber about the safety mitigation rules that will be in-place: “We have enhanced our mitigations for face coverings. Mask-wearing, while in the red, students will have to wear masks throughout the day, not just when they can maintain six-feet of spacing. For our staff, in an effort to further protect our staff, in addition to a mask or face covering, we’re encouraging anyone who wants to, to request a face shield.”
With regards to decisions about school transmission levels, O’Brien said that a focus will be placed on individual schools, rather than as many broad-decisions based on region.
The budget was also discussed, with Assistant Superintendent Dave Jones noting that the pandemic clearly had an impact on enrollment in brick-and-mortar KPBSD schools, which resulted in a net loss of around $1.4 million in revenue.
In projecting the 2022 school year, Superintendent O’Brien said the district is erring on the conservative side, with a higher number of Connections Homeschool students, but a decline in neighborhood schools. This will be reevaluated in March and April of 2021.
