Seward Elementary has made the transition to 100% remote learning on Monday and Tuesday, pending further updates, following the discovery of two positive COVID-19 cases within the school within three days.
John O’Brien, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent, offered details to KSRM on Monday morning: “Right now, because we have had two student cases within three days at Seward Elementary, the school is currently not closed, it’s just that students are learning remotely today and tomorrow. At some point, we will be making a decision in terms of whether or not we can re-open Seward Elementary for in-person learning options for students, or if we’ll have to remain in 100% remote.”
He also discussed the two factors the district is looking at before making a determination regarding re-opening the school to students: “We’re really looking at two things: to see what additional cases might be coming out of Seward, and then hopefully there will not be any additional student cases. So, the difference here is that we actually had two students that have tested positive at Seward Elementary. At this point, all indications are that these were not transmitted at-school, that those were both from events that occurred outside of school. So, that’s some good news, but we, obviously, are watching things.”
Seward Elementary will continue to offer free meals to students, as well as pick-up learning materials, for the length of the forced remote learning. More details have been communicated to parents, but questions can be forwarded to the school via telephone at (907) 224-3356.