{"id":6755,"date":"2020-08-18T17:39:25","date_gmt":"2020-08-19T01:39:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communications.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us\/?p=6755"},"modified":"2020-10-27T07:51:23","modified_gmt":"2020-10-27T15:51:23","slug":"central-peninsula-schools-rise-to-high-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/comm-test\/2020\/08\/18\/central-peninsula-schools-rise-to-high-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Central Peninsula schools rise to High Risk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

News Release: <\/em>17 KPBSD schools in Central Peninsula will open with 100% remote learning on August 24, 2020 <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kenai Peninsula Borough School District<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soldotna, August 18, 2020\u2014<\/strong>COVID19 community transmission risk\nlevel jumped to High Risk (Red) on August 18, 2020, for the geographical region\nKPBSD defines as \u201cCentral Peninsula\u201d when the State of Alaska positive COVID19 case\ncount reported numbers today. This triggers a safety and operational decision\nfor the school district about opening schools to onsite learning. The need to\nmake rational and informed operational decisions is primary for the health\nand safety of our students, staff, and communities. In contrast, at this time, risk\nlevels dictate schools in the Southern Peninsula (Homer area), Eastern\nPeninsula (Seward area); and schools in individual or remote communities* will\nall begin with the onsite school option available.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOffering predictability for our families, staff, and communities is tricky during a global pandemic,\u201d said Superintendent O\u2019Brien. \u201cI\u2019ve made the difficult decision to suspend opening schools in central peninsula to onsite at school learning on August 24, 2020. I know how hard this is for our students who are excited to return to school, for families, and for our staff. I\u2019ve looked at the science-based guidance to assist in our decision-making process, consulted with our KPBSD COVID19 Risk Level Medical Advisory Group, and am following our SmartStart plan<\/a>. I am disappointed the positive case count appears to be trending with increases in high risk levels. Every day we will evaluate risk level trends and actual counts. To aid planning for families and eliminate a ping-pong effect back and forth between risk levels, I hope that if case levels in the central peninsula drop to a medium risk level, we can open schools to onsite learning after Labor Day, on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. We will continue providing district level updates every week, plus each school will communicate directly with their families.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When\na school moves into a High Risk (red) level, KPBSD will provide services and\nlearning opportunities onsite in school for vulnerable students.<\/strong>\nIn the SmartStart plan, Special Education PreK; Title I PreK; Kindergarten; and\ncertain groups of students in special education will be able to attend school\nin person. Bus transportation will continue for students in special education\nwho already receive special education bussing services. In all other instances,\ntransportation will need to be provided by parents or guardians during high-risk\nlevels. Please contact your school or case manager directly with questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which\nschools are opening with High Risk, 100% Remote Learning?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Central Kenai Peninsula includes Kasilof to Sterling, extending through Kenai, Nikiski, Soldotna, and DHSS \u201cother north\u201d communities<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n