“With the dawning of a new year, growing daylight, and a vaccine to help control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we are planning for a return to more normalcy for our schools in 2021,” said Superintendent John O’Brien. “We are excited for the return of our students to in-person onsite at school learning no later than mid-January, possibly as soon as January 11, 2021. 2020 has been an extremely difficult year for all of us but I am confident that 2021 will bring with it brighter days and more certainty in our everyday lives. Our dedicated building administrators and staff are busy planning all the details to safely welcome students back into schools. Schools have enhanced mitigation plans and safety measures to ensure that students, staff, and visitors are safe, and that learning for our students will be optimal. Thank you all for your steadfast resilience and dedication to the education, safety, and well-being of KPBSD students, educators, and support staff.”
Looking ahead –
- Winter break for most KPBSD schools is December 21, 2020-January 1, 2021*
- School starts Monday, January 4, 2021*
- Pre-identified groups of students who attend onsite during 100% Remote High Risk may continue to attend school onsite. This includes Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Special Education Intensive Needs students
- Onsite at school options in high risk begin no later than Tuesday, January 19, 2021:
- Pre-K-6th grade attend everyday
- Grades 7-12 attend school on a hybrid or A/B schedule. Schools will let students know their schedules
KPBSD Superintendent John O’Brien spoke to KSRM, “Our plan at this point hopefully is going to be able to bring students back a week earlier than we had originally anticipated. I’m looking January 11th at this point for implementation of the new Smart Start Plan. That’s going to be all PreK through 6th students coming to school five days a week. Secondary students grades 7-12 will be able to come at least two days a week depending on their individual schools have developed for their A/B schedules. Then, if numbers continue to look as good as they are, it probably won’t be long after that to hopefully get secondary students back in five days a week.”
- By midday on January 5, 2021, an announcement will be made if the onsite, at school option will begin as soon as Monday, January 11, 2021
- No school on Monday, January 18, 2021—it is a school holiday for most KPBSD schools*
- No early release day on Wednesday, January 20, 2021
- Order free meals for students for pickup the week of January 4, 2021, no later than noon on January 1, 2021
- Check the KPBSD COVID-19 Hub for information, and review the KPBSD COVID-19 Risk Dashboard with daily updates over winter break
*Some KPSBD schools have variance calendars: For example, winter break at Nanwalek and Port Graham schools is January 4-15, 2021; Tuesday, January 19, 2021, is a school holiday for K-Selo, Razdolna, and Voznesenka schools, and an inservice day for Nikolaevsk School