KIBSD extends spring break one week

Kodiak Island Borough School District announced Friday it would be extending students’ spring break by one week. Vacation starts Monday, and will now continue through Superintendent Larry LeDoux says it’s to allow time for teachers to plan for the possibility of distance learning, in the event schools need to be shut down to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

“During the week after spring break, teachers will be contacting parents to decide the best way to communicate with them regarding their child’s work — how we can support them in the kind of needs that they have, because they’re different with every family. One size doesn’t fit all.”

The district is staying in regular contact with parents during the process, who LeDoux says will be integral in a scenario where kids have to learn from home.

The two-week spring break is in effect district-wide, including in village schools.

LeDoux says the district has been exploring the best ways to deliver education remotely for almost a month and a half. This week, the district began training staff members for a potential distance learning program.

It’s important to note that the district has not closed schools or begun the distance learning program. LeDoux says they want to be ready, but they’re hoping they won’t have to teach students remotely.

“As the trajectory of this disease seems to be going upward, instead of down, I think that we need to be prepared, that it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

As of right now, LeDoux does not expect that they’ll have to add an additional week of school at the end of the year. This extra week will be considered teachers’ in-service time.