Soldotna High School

Operating school programs during COVID is an uncertain endeavor in the best of circumstances. The latest wrinkle for cross country teams on the peninsula is a scramble to get to the Region III Tournament in Kodiak this weekend, with most Kenai and Soldotna runners missing out on what would have been their last meet of the year.

Several teams had planned to take the ferry Tustumena from Homer to Kodiak for the region meet, Oct. 1 and 2. But the Alaska Department of Transportation canceled all Tustumena sailings until Oct. 5, citing crew shortages. Kenai Central coach Todd Boonstra heard the news in the middle of the Borough meet last weekend in Seward.

“So we didn’t even know going into the meet that, ‘Hey, this is going to be our last race.’ So, yeah, it’s unfortunate,” Boonstra said. “They’ve been working really hard and running really well and looking to end the season there but unfortunately got cut short for them.”

Nordic skiing is the first winter sport in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District to get the all-clear.

The district has approved a mitigation plan and skiers will rejoin their practice pods Monday. The first race is planned for Jan. 16, three days before most students will resume in-person classes.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has seen its first case of COVID-19. Director of Communications Pegge Erkeneff said the case is at Soldotna High School and the school became aware of it midday Tuesday. She didn’t specify whether the case was a student or staff member. The school will remain open, in accordance with its mitigation plans.

The district is not releasing more information about the case’s identity, in compliance with privacy regulations, but close contacts of the case have been notified. This could include players on an athletic team, a colleague or a bus driver, for example. All close contacts must quarantine at home for 14 days.

School Principal Tony Graham sent a letter to staff and families notifying them of the case.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District announced last week it will begin a series of public meetings to talk about various consolidation options around the district. One of those options is to bring 9th graders back into Soldotna High School.