Friday Early Release Days start January 21, 2022

Addition of Three Friday Early Release Student Days

Dear KPBSD Parents and Guardians,

I’m writing to give you advance planning notice about three additional early release days for students that will begin on Friday, January 21, 2022. In addition, previously scheduled Wednesday early release days will shift to Fridays.

While schools across the nation struggled to stay open this fall, I am extremely proud of our staff whose dedication kept schools open, buses running on schedule, and meals served, every day. More than 1,000 KPBSD employees continue to step up and help when we have staffing and substitute shortages. I am proud of everything we have accomplished together, and especially thankful to you as parents and guardians who made sacrifices to adapt, and keep our students learning.

This has been a heavy lift for everyone. I’ve found there’s a significant need moving forward to plan, collaborate, review data, and design targeted instruction to meet the individual needs of our students and address the learning gaps many are experiencing. We need to catch up with student contact updates and deep cleaning of our schools. Therefore, after talking with our principals, school board, and hearing from staff, KPBSD is adding three additional 90-minute early release for student days in the third quarter, and moving early release days to Friday from the previously scheduled Wednesday dates.

The first Friday early release day for students is Friday, January 21, 2022. From then until spring break, there will be a 90-minute early release student day every week, except for already scheduled parent-teacher conferences or inservice days. I know that childcare is a concern for some of you. Boys & Girls Club will open early during the afternoon on these Fridays. I’ve instructed principals to work with families who have no other options for childcare during the three additional early release days. Your school will have more information after we return from winter break.

Near Spring Break in March, we will evaluate the value of the student early release days through staff and parent surveys, and reviewing student data.

The primary purpose of the early release for students and maximum day for staff is to provide:

• Time to plan instruction: the learning gap between students is larger and additional time is needed to plan to meet those needs
• Time for collaboration: grade level and subject matter teams, special education, intervention
• Time to communicate with parents and other important stakeholders
• Time to review student data in a manner that guides instruction
• Time for secretaries to catch up on data entry
• Time for nurses to input data without disruption
• Time to clean buildings
• Time for trainings that staff haven’t been able to engage in
• Time available for students to address individual instructional needs (make-up tests, receive targeted intervention, etc…)

*The KPBSD districtwide calendar and the school variance calendars are available on the KPBSD.org website. The changes to the main KPBSD calendar are as follows:

KPBSD 2021-2022 Calendar Additions and Revisions

• Wednesday, 1/19/22, Early Release moved to Friday, 1/21/22
• Friday, 1/28/22, Early Release
• Friday, 2/4/22, Early Release
• Friday, 2/11/22, Early Release
• Wednesday, 2/16/22, Early Release cancelled; Friday, 2/18/22, is previously scheduled Parent–Teacher Conferences
• Friday 2/25/22, Early Release
• Friday 3/4/22, Previously Scheduled Inservice–no school for students
• Variance calendar for Kachemak-Selo, Razdolna, and Voznesenka schools

We recognize families will need to make arrangements on the additional three early release dates, and thank everyone for the willingness to help our KPBSD schools improve through these early-release dates. Kindly contact your school principal with questions.

Sincerely,

Clayton Holland

Superintendent of Schools

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Every Child Has a Right to be Safe, Seen, and Celebrated!

Covid-19 Close Contact Students

The school district has new rules so kids who become close contacts can remain in school following these 3 requirements:

1. Be symptom free and monitor Covid symptoms for 14 days.

2. Wear a mask for 14 days.

3. Test with antigen tests or molecular tests.

The first test is done when a student is notified that he/she has been a close contact, and then again 5-7 days later. The tests can be done at school with parent/guardian permission. If the student has been positive with Covid-19 in the last 90 days and is symptom free, testing is not recommended.

The at-home Covid test kits are the antigen tests which require tests on day 1 and then 36-48 hours later. These tests are being widely sold in pharmacies and major stores and the district is now accepting antigen tests.

Nurse Yoly

Early Release Dates - January 21 and 28. School will end 90 minutes early.

PAC Meeting - The next PAC meeting is scheduled for January 27. Please let Donna know if there are any items you would like added to the agenda.

Volunteers / Background Checks - If you wish to participate in any field trips such as skiing, you must complete the online application which includes consenting to a background check. This is an annual requirement. Navigate to this page to complete the application.

Skiing - Dates for skiing are confirmed! February 1, 8, 15, 22 and March 1, 15. Paperwork will be sent home soon.

Wednesday 1-5 - SBC Meeting via Zoom @ 3:45

Friday 1-21 - Early Release: students released @ 1:45

Friday 1-28 - Early Release: students released @ 1:45

Skiing - Dates for skiing are confirmed! February 1, 8, 15, 22 and March 1, 15. Paperwork will be sent home soon.

Hope School PTO: The Hope School PTO will have a zoom meeting first Tuesday of each month.

Employment Opportunity: We currently have a position for employment at the Hope School! This position is for a half time (.5) Reading Tutor (Title One) position. Please look for this position on our website at http://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/.

Volunteers and Substitute Teachers: Hope School is always happy to have substitute teachers and volunteers. Opportunity is available for both positions currently. Please consider one or both positions and visit our website for more information https://www.applitrak.com/kpbsd/onlineapp/default.aspx.

Important Dates:

January 4th, 2022: STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL

January 21st, 2022: EARLY RELEASE

January 28th, 2022: EARLY RELEASE

COVID POLICY: Covid information available on district web site https://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/content.aspx?id=42180

VACCINATION INFORMATION LINK: Free COVID-19 vaccinations are available for everyone age 5 and older. Find a location near you: https://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/epi/id/pages/covid-19/VaccineAppointments.aspx

Hope School Staff