School District Risk Levels
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has mitigation plans in place for what will happen with in-person education when different regions of the peninsula are in low, medium and high-risk levels.
Regions of the peninsula are put into low, medium or high-risk categories based on the number of new cases of COVID-19 identified over a 14-day period. This model is based on rates of cases per 100,000 of population.
As of Wednesday, the southern peninsula (from Ninilchik south) remained in the high risk category with 145 new cases in the last 14 days. The southern peninsula is in low risk if it has had zero to nine new cases in the last 14 days, is in medium risk if there have been 10 to 19 new cases in the last 14 days, and is in high risk if there were 20 or more new cases in the last 14 days.
The central peninsula, including Kenai, Nikiski, Soldotna, Sterling and Kasilof, was also at high risk as of Wednesday, with 661 new cases over the last 14 days.
The eastern peninsula (Seward and Moose Pass) was also at high risk Wednesday with 19 new cases of COVID-19 within the last 14 days.
Three of the rural communities within the school district remain at low risk. Those schools are Nanwalek School, Port Graham School and Susan B. English School in Seldovia across Kachemak Bay. At these schools, both in-person and remote education continues to be offered.
However, the school district preemptively moved Hope School and Cooper Landing School into the yellow, medium-risk category on Dec. 4, due to the continued spread of COVID-19 on the peninsula. Tebughna School in Tyonek also shifted to high risk and 100% remote learning on Tuesday, which will last until winter break, due to confirmation of a positive COVID-19 case in the community, the Peninsula Clarion reported.
The district is still offering free Get-It and Go meals for remote learning students, which can be picked up daily between noon and 1 p.m. Families need to place meal orders by noon on Fridays.
Homer High School
Dec. 14-17 – Finals week
Dec. 18 — Teacher in-service/no school for students
Dec. 21 – Jan. 1 — Winter Break
Fireweed Academy
Both Big and Little Fireweed
Friday, Dec. 18 — No School. End of second quarter and in-service/work day
Dec. 19-Jan. 3 — Winter Break
Jan. 4 — First Day of the third quarter
McNeil Canyon Elementary
Dec. 17 — Pajama Day
Dec. 18 — No school. End of second quarter and in-service day.
Dec. 21 – Jan. 1 — Winter break
Kindergarteners at school — It’s the time of year when the playground gets frosty. Please make sure your kindergartener comes prepared for winter weather with a warm jacket, gloves, hat, snow pants and boots.
Cross-Country Skiing — Anne Love will be the coach for after school cross-country skiing this year and needs a helper. The school hopes to start the after-school skiing program on Mondays and ice skating program on Wednesdays after Winter Break and these will continue until Spring Break. Please contact Anne at alove@kpbsd.k12.us or call the school office.
Kachemak Bay Campus
COVID relief grants of $500 are available for Kenai Peninsula College students. This funding has been made available through grants via the CARES Act from the City of Homer and the City of Soldotna, as well as through the Damon Foundation Endowment. Applicants must be enrolled in six or more credits at KPC (either or both campuses) and meet the criteria listed on the COVID-19 relief funding web page found at kpc.alaska.edu. Applications are due Dec. 18. Prompt submission of applications for assistance is strongly encouraged. Funds are limited.
KPC is now offering UAA’s fast-track certificate in Business Leadership that students can achieve in one or two semesters. If you are looking for a quick way to boost your resume or to make a career shift, this Occupational Endorsement Certificate (OEC) is for you. Perfect for individuals in entry-level leadership roles and people wanting to build skills and stand out in a crowd, and for the Spring 2021 term, applicants may be eligible for financial awards up to $1,000. The OEC includes six classes that cover key business concepts in business foundations, supervision, selling, computer skills, leadership and communication. Students will also learn principles of finance, establishing goals and problem solving, marketing, and spreadsheet applications. Some of these classes are part of the general education requirement so if you have already taken one or more you are well on your way. General registration began Monday, Nov. 23. Interested parties can call KBC at 907-235-7743 to be connected to an advisor.
