COVID19 is creating a bumpy and difficult time. We know it may be very hard for you, and adaptions may require a new focus, mindset, and decisions. We promise to communicate and be proactive, even when we do not have all the answers. Let us trust that together we can and will continue offering learning for all our students, and keep our excellent KPBSD staff employed. To do this we need grace, kindness for each other, and self-care for families and ourselves.
To safely open schools, we must each take actions now, to slow or stop the spread of the COVID19 virus. When you wash your hands, watch your 6’ distance with others, and wear a mask in public places, you directly influence the safe opening of schools and learning for our children. Our actions add up, and we can and will get through this global pandemic.
July 16, 2020 KPBSD Weekly Update
- The KPBSD Board of Education approved the KPBSD 2020 Smart Start for Schools, and we know it will continue to evolve.
- The first day of school for students in most KPBSD schools is Monday, August 24, 2020. View Variance calendars for some smaller schools
- Quick view Smart Start Plan highlights for parents and families:
Safety
New! Symptom Free School Protocol: If any symptoms of illness are present, students and staff will not go to school. New cleaning protocols are in place. Updates to COVID19 risk levels on the Kenai Peninsula will be made daily*.
Choice: Where will learning happen?
Families will have the choice* to elect for their children to:
- Attend their neighborhood school in person
- Attend their neighborhood school through Remote Learning
- Attend KPBSD Connections Homeschool
When you enroll in your neighborhood school and choose to attend in person or via remote learning, or in KPBSD Connections Homeschool, your choice keeps education funding coming to KPBSD for the Kenai Peninsula, employs our excellent staff, and offers options for students.
*We know you have questions and want to make the best choice for your family. Helpful guidance will arrive to you next week. In addition, updated online enrollment with a preference about the three KPBSD options will be coming out soon.
Continuity
Learning is designed for flexibility of location: in-person or remote. Each grade or subject course will have both the physical classroom option in school, and the virtual “remote” classroom where materials will be shared and lessons taught.
Consistency
Schools will continually work to support students during this singular time in education. Students and parents will be able to count on WHO supports them, and WHERE to find materials, feedback, and access to learning.
Communication
KPBSD and schools will provide timely resources and information to staff, families, and publics. School websites will serve as a hub for their learning community and include contact information and virtual classroom links, school COVID19 risk level, updates, and school social media sites.
*Determining COVID19 Risk Levels on the Kenai Peninsula
KPBSD implemented an operational plan to indicate low, medium, or high risk of COVID-19 community transmission in a geographical region or school. Decisions are based on state data, and local current information from the DHSS and public health. Updates will be made daily, posted on the KPBSD website, and communicated to our families, staff, and publics when changes in risk levels occur. KPBSD schools will be open to students in low and medium risk levels, with increased safety measures in place.
A visual map of the Kenai Peninsula risk level in our 42 schools is in development, and will be live online no later than August 1.
Links
- KPBSD and COVID19 webpage
- KPBSD Smart Start webpage
- KPBSD Summer Sports and Activities webpage
- July 13, 2020 Action Item: Approval of KPBSD Smart Start 2020 Plan
- www.KPBSD.org
Kindly note: if you ask questions in a comment, I’ll do my best to review them several times a week, and respond. I appreciate your patience and understanding that until we create a FAQ, that your questions assist to develop it, and I will get you answers soon. – Pegge Erkeneff, Director of Communications
What is the protocol for when a staff, volunteer or student tests positive for covid?
Hi, thank you for the updates. Could l start having the emails sent to me? l was having a parent forward them to me, thanks.
Diane Clark
The emails are associated with student contacts in PowerSchool – as soon as secretaries are back in schools, we can get you updated. Additionally, the week of July 27, we will have an online way to make certain your contact information for email, phone, mailing address and emergency contacts is current. So, long answer to say we will get you updated soon – watch for details. Thank you for your patience, and making sure you receive updates!
Hello, my kids and I can no longer acitvate our powerschool accounts. We have been “deactivated” how can we get new passwords and user names? Thanks!
Is the risk levels determined Individually by school or the borough overall?
The risk level is determined by positive COVID19 state counts in our Borough, and the type of cases (community spread, isolated traveler or industry worker, etc.) The risk levels will be by geographical area. The map that will be live by August 1 will really help, and we’ve identified nine regions in KPBSD.
I would like to know if I make a decision to have my children attend the remote learning and later in the year decide they want to attend school can they or would they have to continue the year out with what ever decision was made. Thank you.
will our children have to wear a mask to attend public school?
Not at this time – KPBSD is following state health mandates. However, is someone wants to wear a mask, they can
Which of the three scenarios (1 or 2 or 3), see https://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=41996 , is currently the one?
It seems that the person with Covid-19 who also wears the mask is the person who slows the spread. Thus, if my teenager wears a mask, he makes other students safe; but he himself is exposed to other kids who do not wear masks. And therefore I put my teen at risk, even if he wears a mask.
When I read above that parents have a choice as to if students attend school in person or via remote learning- does that mean I have to make a choice once before school starts? Or can I choose to send my kid to school then opt to keep them home on remote learning the next week if I want? Thanks
I second the questions from Angela Mcgahan as well Jessica Barrowcliff. And I want to add about the choice thing, does that mean if my kid is sick with any illness and has to be home can he do remote learning then so he doesn’t have to play catch up.
If we choose distance learning to start, can that be changed in time? Or are we locked into that choice? Thank you for answering questions!
Kindly note: if you ask questions in a comment, I’ll do my best to review them several times a week, and respond. I appreciate your patience and understanding that until we create a FAQ, that your questions assist to develop it, and I will get you answers soon. – Pegge Erkeneff, KPBSD Director of Communications (and this is my KPBSD Communications Field Notes blog)
I have a few thoughts that I’d like to share. I honestly can’t understand how this plan makes sense and I’m hoping that somehow all of my concerns have already been problem solved by the school board. Just in case they haven’t I’ll comment here.
This “new symptom free” policy is completely unreasonable. In the past the school has required that children not attend school if they have certain symptoms of illness or a fever. People send their kids to school sick all the time. I know this because I worked as a nurse in the district for a bit. I saw parents send kids to school with fevers, refuse to pick them up, etc. If parents can’t manage to follow the old policy that listed only a few symptoms, why would the school board believe that parents will be able to follow the new policy that basically lists the symptoms of all childhood illnesses.
It seems that the community has forgotten that all the other viruses we used to have before COVID-19 still exist. Kids will get influenza, rhinovirus, enterovirus, mono, etc. They will have symptoms and if the criteria is that the child must be cough free for 24hr then working parents will be in a terrible position because many illnesses cause a cough that lingers for several weeks. This may not seem like a huge problem because of the option to participate in school from home.
However, if staff are held to this standard the schools will have no staff! If every staff must stay home for every potential COVID-19 symptom there will be constant call outs. If a staff actually get sick with any illness, even a cold, it could be weeks before they are free of a cough. While using subs might be an option some of the time there will not be enough subs available to cover the call outs. More importantly there will be children that are unable to handle to inconsistency of having constantly changing staff in their classroom.
The school district is moving forward with a plan that gives parents the impression that they can return to work and get back to “normal”. It will also prompt employers to expect those parents to get back to work. It is unlikely that employers will have the same level of lenience when they know that schools are “open”.
We all have struggled with the changes of the shutdown and all the mandates over the last few months. If our kids are told they can go back to school and then the schools are forced to close again or they can’t go because they have a cough the stress and trauma will be repeated. There is no part of this plan that promotes the health and well being of the community.