News Release: KPBSD Smart Start 2020
How will COVID19 risk levels Affect K-12 Education and the first day of school for students in KPBSD?
During their Monday, July 13, 2020 meeting at 6:00 PM, the KPBSD Board of Education will take action to approve the KPBSD COVID19 Smart Start 2020 plan, and change the first day of school for students to Monday, August 24, 2020.
Smart Start 2020
Preparations for the safe and prudent reopening of schools in August 2020 has been ongoing for two months. Twenty members of the KPBSD 2020 Smart Start Work Group designed the KPBSD plan to address how K-12 education and activities in our diverse schools will take place depending on low (green), medium (yellow), or high (red) risk COVID19 community transmission scenarios. The KPBSD plan will continue to be revised as medical information, science, and the pandemic situation evolves throughout the 2020-2021 school year. The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development requires all school districts to submit their plan by July 31, 2020.
The recommended action for the Board of Education is to approve the KPBSD plan. After approval, on July 14, 2020, the plan will be available at the KPBSD Smart Start webpage. You can view the document now in BoardDocs.
Delay first day of school for students by four days
School would begin Monday, August 24, 2020 for students
Changing the first day of school for students to August 24, 2020, will provide four additional critical in-service workdays for staff. COVID19 brings a significant number of extra health and safety measures, instructional options for parents and guardians, school routine shifts, schedules, and operational procedures. These four additional in-service and staff workdays will ensure a smooth and safe startup of schools during the COVID19 pandemic.
The recommended action for the Board of Education is to change to first day of school for students from the original date of Tuesday August 18, to Monday August 24, 2020.
6:00 PM, Monday, July 13, 2020, Board of Education meeting
The Board of Education will hold a virtual and telephonic meeting in the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers, George A. Navarre Administration Building, in Soldotna. However, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and CDC recommendations, this meeting will not be physically open to the public. However, the meeting will remain public.
The public is invited to listen and participate by calling the following toll-free number on July 13 at 6:00 p.m.:
The meeting will be broadcast live on the district website. https://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/
Anyone can submit comments that will be read during the meeting. Email them to Lisa Gabriel lgabriel@kpbsd.k12.ak.us by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2020
To pre-register to testify telephonically (optional) or for technical difficulties or questions, contact Lisa Gabriel at 907-714-8836, Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Links
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Hello! This summer, many of us will travel within our great state, and out of state. While health guidelines and mandates do change, these may be helpful travel related resources for you:
State of Alaska Travel information and declaration forms: https://covid19.alaska.gov/travelers/
Current State of Alaska Health Mandates including two notes of interest:
Tip: Follow the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) on Facebook, Instagram, and twitter for their informational posts and updates.
As our KPBSD SmartStart 2020 plans for reopening schools in August comes together, you will definitely receive more information later in July. Meanwhile, may your Fourth of July be safe and restful, while doing your part to keep community spread of COVID at bay, so we can open schools—and children and staff can be in buildings!
www.KPBSD.org | Twitter @KPBSD | Facebook KPBSD
KPBSD will inspire all learners to pursue their dreams in a rigorous, relevant and responsive environment.
Soldotna, June 11, 2020—Rising like a Phoenix, Chris Brown consistently greets his own inquisitive single-digit age children with delight. At Homer Flex High School, his smile and twinkling eyes offer a welcoming presence to each teen who walks through the door and pauses to remove shoes in the foyer to enter a new day of learning. Principal Brown says, “They are genuinely excited to be here and a part of our community. They show up having overcome obstacles and barriers beyond anything I have experienced.”
Students at “Flex” awaken to personal responsibility, and land into a sense of family and belonging supported by Principal Brown and the Homer Flex team. Restorative practices, social and emotional learning, teacher support, and group time accompany their academics to graduation. School becomes a classroom for life.
Named the 2020 Region III Principal of the Year, the Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) recognize Brown for his pivotal role in student success. He stepped into leadership at Flex five years ago, following five years of teaching in the school. He focuses on professional development opportunities to keep staff engaged—and his attention to staff needs and policy changes equates to an impressive 100 percent staff retention spanning more than four years.
“Homer Flex High School respects student choice to live an adult life; therefore, we require that they accept the responsibilities required to be a successful adult,” says Brown. “It is our mission to facilitate students’ academic, vocational, and social and emotional skills toward success in their postsecondary lives. We encourage self-motivation and self-direction, respect for self, respect for others, and respect for the world in which we live.”
Principal Brown worked with the National Council and the Southern Kenai Peninsula Resiliency Coalition to implement Trauma Informed Practices in school, and is a strong advocate for small schools and underserved populations. He focuses on incorporating and prioritizing mental health in schools and is a Youth Mental Health First Aid trainer.
He is instrumental in introducing Restorative Practices to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, and Superintendent John O’Brien says, “I applaud the leadership Principal Brown has shown in the area of restorative justice—his leadership has positively transformed the culture of Homer Flex. He is the epitome of a student centered educational leader and a tireless advocate for his students. Regional Principals of The Year are eligible to be in the running for the statewide Alaska Principal of The Year, and I wholeheartedly hope this additional recognition is awarded to Principal Brown—he would be an excellent choice.”
Ms. Margaret Griffin, Soldotna High School
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Golden Apple Award | June 1, 2020
Ms. Margaret Griffin has been working in the education field for twenty-four years. She began teaching English, then earned her Master of Arts degree in School Counseling, moved to Soldotna, Alaska, and has been a school counselor for seventeen years, twelve of which were in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District.
“Margaret is one of the hardest working, most capable people that I have ever met. Her ability to pay attention to details, plan college and career trips, and parent nights is unbelievable. She has worked diligently to utilize different social media and advertising to get the word out about the events the Soldotna High School Counseling Department hosts. She managed to advertise our Postsecondary Planning night so well, that we had over 130 people in attendance. Her work ethic shines through on every task she takes on. She works through schedule changes until 11:00 p.m. at night, ensuring all of her students have schedules that work for them. On weekends, she can be found writing letters of recommendation, and making sure all the tasks are ready for the upcoming week. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) established RAMP to promote exemplary school counseling programs—and Margaret was instrumental for Soldotna High School to receive the national RAMP award! She put in 80 plus hours outside of data collection at school in order to create the RAMP application, awarded to Soldotna High School in 2018. She planned the schedule to work towards RAMP, and without her hard work and push to make Soldotna High School a nationally Recognized ASCA Model Program, it would not have happened.”
–Megan Murphy, Golden Apple nominator
Besides her incredible work ethic, Margaret is described as an incredible advocate for staff, students and parents. Nominator Megan Murphy writes, “I have witnessed Margaret take at risk students shopping to Fred Meyers to let them get needed items. Her advocacy extends to parents, staff, and students. She is someone the staff feels comfortable coming to with information they are not comfortable handling, or something they want to vent or share with her. Margaret knows how to listen and hear all sides. She is never someone to jump to a conclusion or make a judgement based on what she hears. When we debrief, her continual ability to talk through situations and see the whole picture is amazing. She provides a whole world sense when she talks with students, parents, and staff. She is able to talk to people where they are at in their lives, without making judgement, and provide support. Not every school counselor has this ability, and it is inspiring how much support and advocacy Margaret can provide, in such a well rounded manner.”
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Ms. Margaret Griffin for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.