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.
All students are currently able to attend 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 district has said that all students at some schools could soon return to onsite learning full time should COVID-19 cases continue to drop.
As of Wednesday, the southern peninsula (from Ninilchik south) remained in the high risk category with 20 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 69 new cases over the last 14 days.
The eastern peninsula (Seward and Moose Pass) was the first region of the school district to drop back into medium risk last week. Students at Seward and Moose Pass schools resumed full time in-person learning on Monday. The eastern peninsula moved back up into the high-risk category on Wednesday with eight new cases of COVID-19 within the last 14 days. The district website still has the region classified as medium risk.
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.
Homer High School
All spectators for school sports must be on the player guest list with two spectators per participant per game. The gym will be cleared after each contest. All spectators will wear a face covering and have a signed KPBSD COVID Waiver.
All Homer events will be streamed on the Homer Mariners You Tube Channel, www.youtube.com/channel/UCzswQoG0p9DfZHgPKjoc5mg>.
Homer Middle School
Volleyball Intramurals have begun and end on Feb. 27.
Nordic Skiing started Jan. 11 and will end Feb. 27.
Friday — Nordic Skiing, Skyview Invitational at 3 p.m. in Soldotna
Fireweed Academy
Both Big and Little Fireweed
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
March 5 — No School: End of quarter and in-service day.
March 8-12 — Spring Break
March 15 —Fourth quarter begins
McNeil Canyon Elementary
Friday — Student Council elections. Community Council meeting via Zoom at 1 p.m.
Feb. 15 — At the beginning of February, kindergarten through sixth grade students dive into a two-week immersion in the art of acrylics with Homer-based artist Sharlene Cline. Students will be painting scenes, creatures, and objects from our own Kachemak Bay. Please join in celebrating the learning and creativity of our students by attending a virtual gallery walk available through the school’s website (https://kpbsd.org/schools/mcneil-canyon/) starting Feb. 15.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Homer Adult Education is 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 $1,000. Interested parties can call KBC at 907-235-7743 to be connected to an advisor.
