School district COVID-19 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. Those plans can be found here: kpbsd.k12.ak.us/content.aspx?id=41923
Regions of the peninsula are put into low, medium or high-risk categories based on the number of new cases of COVID-19 identified in the regions over a 14 day period. This model is based on rates of cases per 100,000 population.
As of Wednesday, the southern Kenai Peninsula (from Ninilchik south) was at a low risk level, with only three new cases within the last 14 days. The southern peninsula is in low risk if it has had zero to 9 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 would go into high risk if there were 20 or more new cases in the last 14 days.
As of Wednesday, the rural communities category within the school district were also at low risk. That category includes Nanwalek School, Port Graham School and Susan B. English School in Seldovia across Kachemak Bay and in lower Cook Inlet.
The central peninsula, including Kenai, Nikiski, Soldotna, Sterling and Kasilof, was at medium risk as of Wednesday, with 32 new cases over the last 14 days.
The eastern peninsula (Seward) was at low risk as of Wednesday with zero new cases of COVID-19 within the last 14 days.
Homer High School
Monday, Sept. 7 — Holiday/No school
Monday, Sept. 14 — School Picture day
Wednesday, Sept. 16 — Early Release Day at 2:15 p.m.
Homer Flex School
Monday, Sept. 7 — Labor Day, no school
Wednesday, Sept. 16 — Early release
McNeil Canyon Elementary School
Today — Community Council meeting at 1 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 10 — Open House and Fall Harvest Fair. The Open House will be held via Zoom this year. Students are invited to bring fruits, vegetables and flowers to this year’s Harvest Festival. Entries will be viewed and voted on by students during the day and results will be posted to Facebook.
Thursday, Sept. 17 — Coast Walk Clean-Up
Friday, Sept. 18 — Talk and Look like a Pirate Day.
Kachemak Bay Campus
It’s not too late to register for classes. Keep moving forward with your degree or start on a path to a bright future by building a new skill or updating one you already have. Advisors work with you to find the right fit. Call 907-235-7743 to be connected.
Sept. 8 — Alaska Adult Education is available to help train for employment, college and career readiness, improve English skills or achieve your GED (General Education Diploma). Classes start Sept. 8, are free, and live online so you can work closely with your teacher in real time. Call 235-1602 for information.
Sept. 12-13 — Rockhounding with Taz Tally. Join the Kachemak Bay Campus and the Pratt Museum for a weekend of Rockhounding with Taz Tally, a.k.a “The Rock Doc.” The first class is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. The class will meet in the Pratt Museum’s education wing. Learn about the Rock Cycle using the college’s rock sample boxes, then go “behind the scenes” to tour some of the Pratt’s extensive rock collection. From 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13, Tally will lead the group on a hike to explore the geology of Kachemak Bay. The class costs $69 per person and enrollment is limited. To register call 235-7743 or visit https://kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com/. KBC and the Pratt Museum are committed to your safety. Workspaces will be physically distanced and participants will be required to wear masks and observe social distancing of 6 feet or more at all times.
Sept. 13 — Second Sunday Shakespeare — This month join for a community read of “All’s Well that Ends Well” at 1 p.m. on Sept. 13. Everyone is invited. Just log into Zoom and you will be assigned a part. You can join by computer, cell phone or landline. Call 235-1674 for information on how to connect.
High school students can JumpStart college by taking college classes while attending traditional high school or learning from home, and receive a big break in tuition. KBC has decades of experience in online teaching that students can rely on. More information is available at 235-7743.
KBC is planning on Marine Tech classes in the late fall. Visit https://kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com/ to see what is available.
