(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - In a special board meeting held Wednesday evening, the Ketchikan School Board rejected the district's proposed Smart Start plan choosing to fully open the schools to on-site learning 5 days a week under the minimal risk scenario - a normal school year. The board opted the Smart Start Plan proposed by the district as a contingency for the 2020-2021 school year if necessary which will reduce on-site instruction.

The minimal risk, or normal school year, scenario is for 5 days back in school, all grade levels, with early release on Wednesdays. This is the same schedule the Ketchikan school year ended in March 2020 before the schools were closed due to the pandemic.

According to an email distributed by Ketchikan School Superintendent Beth Lougee Sunday afternoon, school building principals will officially be back to work on Wednesday, August 5, 2020. Lougee wrote that the administrators will start to plan the restart with attention to protecting the health and safety of staff, students and community.

Listen to public testimony and discussion by the Ketchikan School Board Special Board Meeting - Wednesday, July 29, 2020 Stance of KEA members presented by KEA President Gara Cesefske... listen to Cesefske's comments, starts at approximately minute 30. July 29, 2020 - 6 hours

After hearing citizens' testimony, Board Member Paul Robbins Jr. which failed after an almost hour discussion by the board. Robbins then moved to fully open the schools 100% which passed with a vote of 5-2. Citizens attending the special meeting responded with applause, According to Lougee's email, more district updates will be available after August 5, 2020. The kgbsd.org website will be updated as answers to questions and more information is made available.

The first day of school for students is currently planned for September 8, 2020.

Prior to the school board meeting there had been concerns voiced by parents that decisions were being made on the start up of school without their involvement. During the 6 hour special meeting, the board heard testimony for numerous citizens on the Smart Start Plan.

Not all parents and community members were pleased with how the planning had been conducted and for several weeks and the lack of parents' inclusion in the planning. A letter to the Ketchikan School Board accompanying a petition drive circulated last weekend alleged, “Workshops have been held and the parents who have expressed concerns were not invited, only those who follow her agenda or those who do not speak out seem to be invited.”

Regarding the town hall meetings held Monday, the letter alleged, “Mrs. Lougee is very selective of who she wants to include.  As of now, it appears decisions were made already and the Town Hall Meeting set for 7/27/2020 is just a formality to appease the community rather than include them.”

The signers of the online petition gave a “No Confidence” vote to Lougee. The petition collected over 600 signatures last week.

Districts around the state have adopted various plans, with districts harder hit by the pandemic planning to start the school year with online instruction, such as the Anchorage School District.

The Ketchikan School Board did say there would be options for students and staff uncomfortable with the full start.

The district had proposed this Smart Start plan which was rejected by the Ketchikan School Board at Wednesday's special meeting:

Preschool Students: 2 half-day sessions (morning and afternoon) Monday-Thursday at school sites and annexes, Fridays at home;

Elementary Students (Kindergarten - 5th grade): Monday-Thursday at school sites and annexes, Fridays at home with asynchronous learning activities;

6th and 7th Grade Students at Schoenbar site: 3 days/week at school sites, 1 day/week working on asynchronous activities (at home or at an opt-in annex site), Fridays at home with asynchronous learning activities;

8th-12th Grade Students at Kayhi site: 2 days/week at school sites, 2 days/week working on asynchronous activities (at home or at an opt-in annex site), Fridays at home with asynchronous learning activities;

Revilla Middle School Students: 4 days at school site, Fridays at home with asynchronous learning activities;

Revilla High School Students: Half-day sessions (morning and afternoon) 4 days/week at school site, with the other half of each of those days at home working on asynchronous activities, Fridays at home with asynchronous learning activities.

On the Web:

COVID-19 Current Information - Ketchikan Community
https://www.kgbak.us/913/COVID-19-Response

Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District
www.kgbsd.org

Related:

4 Ketchikan Smart Start Town Hall Meetings Scheduled July 27th; No Confidence in Superintendent Petition Circulating By MARY KAUFFMAN
SitNews - July 27, 2020

 

Source of News:

Ketchikan School Board Special Meeting Video

Email distributed by KGB School Superintendent

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