The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and KPBSD Medical Advisory Team sent a press release Monday evening.
If positive COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the central peninsula over the next few days, there is a likelihood schools will shift to 100% Remote Learning. KPBSD will give as much advance notice as possible, and if this happens, the 100% Remote Learning will be for a minimum of one week to aid in your planning, and to assess community spread and risk.
At this time, schools in the central peninsula continue to operate in Medium Risk (yellow) status.
District leadership and the medical advisory team are watching this closely, and will determine if schools will operate at High Risk and in 100% Remote Learning next week. If this decision is made, it will be communicated to staff and families immediately. If a situation emerges that merits an immediate shift to High Risk, 100% Remote Learning, the district will respond accordingly.
Decision Basis:
To determine if it is appropriate to shift schools to 100% Remote Learning, district leadership and the KPBSD Medical Advisory Team:
- Analyzes the 14-Day positive COVID-19 case counts
- Analyzes the 7-Day positivity trend
- Consults with public health contact tracing knowledge, and local medical providers
- Reviews our COVID-19 Positive Case in a School Decision Matrix
Based on this analysis, information, the medical advisory team is watching the sharp increase in positive cases closely, and if they continue, an updated decision to move to High Risk and 100% Remote Learning could happen rapidly, or soon.
What to know during 100% Remote Learning in COVID-19 High Risk:
- Get-It and Go Meals are free for all students, and picked daily
- Schools will contact their families to give further instructions and respond to questions about their school if there is a shift to 100% remote learning
- Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Special Education Intensive Needs students may still attend school onsite-at-school during 100% Remote Learning, based on the 2020 SmartStart Plan. Schools will contact these families directly.
- Activities continue with ASAA Protocols in effect
- Schools will communicate update status mid-week to aid parent planning
- Central Peninsula Schools
- Central Kenai Peninsula includes Kasilof to Sterling, extending through Kenai, Nikiski, Soldotna, and DHSS “other north” communities. Cooper Landing is not included in the 17 Central Peninsula schools:
- Aurora Borealis Charter School
- Kaleidoscope Charter School
- K-Beach Elementary School
- Kenai Alternative School
- Kenai Central High School
- Kenai Middle School
- Mountain View Elementary School
- Nikiski Middle-High School
- Nikiski North Star Elementary School
- Redoubt Elementary School
- River City Academy
- Skyview Middle School
- Soldotna Elementary School
- Soldotna High School
- Soldotna Montessori Charter School
- Sterling Elementary School
- Other North: Tustumena Elementary School
What you can do:
We urge Alaskans to exercise caution and take the following steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Do the 3 W’s: Wear a mask, watch your distance and wash your hands
- Avoid the 3 C’s: Crowded places, close contact settings and confined or enclosed spaces. Keep contacts limited and social circles small. Avoid indoor gatherings
- Don’t ride in cars with people who are not in your household bubble
- Limit your errands and outings
- Watch out for COVID-19 symptoms. Get tested even if you have just one symptom or mild symptoms
- Don’t be around others if you are not feeling well. Stay home and isolate immediately
- If you test positive, let close contacts know so they can protect others
- Quarantine quickly if you are exposed to COVID-19, for a full 14 days
Superintendent John O’Brien said, “Offering predictability for our families, staff, and communities is tricky during a global pandemic. I am disappointed the positive case count appears to be trending upward. Every day we evaluate 7-Day risk level trends, 14-Day actual positive case counts, and confer with our medical advisory team. To aid planning for families and eliminate a ping-pong effect back and forth between risk levels, when we shift to 100% Remote Learning, it will be in one-week time blocks unless it’s a positive case at a school, which might have a different response or time frame. We will continue providing district level updates every week, plus each school will directly communicate with their staff and families.”