Apr 20
10
News Release: KPBSD and State Health Mandate 013
Soldotna, April 10, 2020—All 42 KPBSD schools will continue delivering Remote Learning education instruction for more than 8,500 students through the end of the school year on May 20, 2020. Free “Get-It and Go” meals for KPBSD students will continue Monday through Friday at 25 locations on the Kenai Peninsula.
“KPBSD began providing distance-delivered instruction to our students on March 30, 2020, and initially we knew it would be through May 1, 2020. On Thursday evening, the issuance of State Health Mandate 013 clarified Alaska K-12 school buildings will be closed to students through the end of the school year. Consequently, we will complete the school year via remote learning education for all of our students. With the certainty that schools will not reopen to students, we are now planning for the end of the year. The district and schools will provide information to parents and students as soon as plans are finalized. We have so much confidence in our staff and every one of you–we know that even if this spring is different than everyone ever anticipated, we will finish this school year with resilience, determination, and victory.”
–Dave Jones, Acting Superintendent, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Highlights after nine days of Remote Learning for 8,500+ students in the KPBSD
- The KPBSD instructional team created and delivered
more than 400 professional development (PD) webinars covering 90 topics for all
KPBSD staff when the school district transferred the delivery of education to
remote learning. PD
classes continue to be added, and are available on demand for KPBSD employees.
- To offer additional
supports for parents during this time of student remote learning, KPBSD
professional development coaches will begin offering free online webinars for
parents and guardians on April 14, 2020. These
webinars for parents are free, and registration is necessary.
- Staff continues to contact and support students and
their families. School nurses
and counselors are available as resources for students and families during this
time of physical distancing. Individual schools provide outreach and engaging
activities for academics, and social and emotional learning. For families who
do not have the ability to access instruction online, packets for learning are
made available by teachers for students.
- Special
education classified and certified staff were trained on distance delivery and
have plans for regular connection with every student receiving special
education services. Related service providers, including district occupational
therapists, physical therapists, and speech and language therapists will be
providing online support and resources for students, parents, and other staff
members. Training opportunities and supports for parents are in progress,
and students are receiving materials via special education bussing (for those
already served by this bussing)
- The
information services department has deployed about 700 Chromebooks to students,
created an online platform for new-to-KPBSD student
registrations, worked with telecom providers to offer internet
support for students and staff, and Monday through Friday staffs a help
desk to support staff and families.
- Approximately 1,700 students receive free “Get-it
and Go” meals every day. On average, that equates to 3,400 meals delivered
every day, to 25 locations across the Kenai Peninsula.
- District administration continues to work closely with the Borough Office of Emergency Management Unified Command, agencies, municipalities, health care providers, and law enforcement.
Links:
- KPBSD COVID-19 and KPBSD webpage
- KPBSD Remote Learning Resources for Parents webpage
- KPBSD Shifting to Remote Learning Employee website
- Borough Virtual Joint Information Center website
- State of Alaska COVID-19 Health Mandates webpage
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