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.
Starting on Monday, all students were allowed to return to onsite education in district schools. Elementary students can attend five days a week while middle and high school students are attending two days a week on an A/B schedule.
The school district has also moved to handling each school individually when it has a positive case of COVID-19, as opposed to moving the entire region into remote status when a case shows up in one of that region’s schools. This would result in a single school or classroom being moved from one risk level to another, and moving back and forth from in-person education to remote learning.
As of Wednesday, the southern peninsula (from Ninilchik south) remained in the high risk category with 27 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 134 new cases over the last 14 days.
The eastern peninsula (Seward and Moose Pass) was also at high risk Wednesday with 11 new cases of COVID-19 within the last 14 days.
Four of the rural communities within the school district remain at low risk. The schools in those communities are Nanwalek School, Port Graham School and Susan B. English School in Seldovia across Kachemak Bay, and Tebughna School in Tyonek.
Hope School and Cooper Landing School are both in the medium-risk category.
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.
Fireweed Academy
Both Big and Little Fireweed
Jan. 18 — No School, Martin Luther King Jr. National holiday.
Feb. 17 — Early Release Day. Little Fireweed released at 1:20 p.m. and Big Fireweed at 1:45 p.m.
Feb. 18-19 — Parent/Teacher Conferences and in-service
McNeil Canyon Elementary
Jan. 18 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, no school
Jan. 20 — Early release has been canceled. This is a normal school day.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Homer Adult Education presents “Science for Healthcare Workers.” Are you interested in being a CNA or pre-nursing student? Do you work in healthcare and want to become familiar with medical terms? This free 15-week class could be for you. The class meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Fridays via Zoom, and begins on Jan. 15. Advanced registration is required so call today. (907) 235-1606.
Homer Adult Education is also offering free computer skills classes throughout the semester. Call (907) 235-1606 for more information.
It’s not too late to register for classes at Kachemak Bay Campus. Looking for something you can accomplish in one year? 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 $1000. Interested parties can call KBC at 907-235-7743 to be connected to an advisor.
