Kellogg School Board approves in-person class plan

KELLOGG — Students and teachers of the Kellogg School District are now set to see a lot more of each other in the next few weeks.

The KSD School Board approved an addendum to the 2020-2021 Back to School plan Wednesday night that will get students back into classrooms five days a week, instead of the current hybrid in-person/online format.

Over the course of Monday and Tuesday, KSD Superintendent Nancy Larsen met with teachers and staff to form the addendum that was presented.

The amended plan, which can be read in its entirety on the KSD website, sets a few new rules for students and staff when they return to in-person school full-time.

Elementary age students will be the first to return to school on Oct. 5. Larsen explained in a previous interview that there's a reason for why the younger students will go back to in-person first.

"Primary students are more vulnerable when it comes to digital learning, and they are less vulnerable when it comes to getting (being affected by) the virus," she said.

Based on how the first two weeks of elementary school go, secondary schools would then go fully in-person.

Secondary students would be set to return to a five day-a-week schedule on Oct. 19.

The biggest change, compared to how things have been under the hybrid system, is the district's stance on masks.

Once back, facial coverings for all ages will be mandatory due to the inability to accommodate social distancing by adding more people to each space.

Under the hybrid system, mask use has been recommended, but not required.

This facial covering requirement also extends to school buses and most after-school activities.

"Sports and activities are still highly regulated and each case will be considered on an individual basis by the principal, activities director, school nurse, coaches and superintendent," the document states.

Aside from mask usage, school rules and regulations will remain similar (if not the same) to what is currently being implemented under the hybrid system.

Shortened days will remain in effect to allow teachers time to manage the online component of their classes — which will still continue for students who don't return to school or are forced to quarantine.

Limited entry to KSD buildings will also remain in effect as an effort to limit COVID-19 exposure.

Parents are asked to screen students for COVID symptoms daily before sending them to school or riding on a bus. If symptoms are present, the student should remain home and the absence is reported to the school.

While Larsen is overjoyed to have students back in school full time, she and the district are aware that this increased the chance of someone getting sick.

"These revisions, while increasing face-to-face instruction for students, also increase the possibility of exposure to COVID-19 for staff and students," the amended plan states. "Greater exposure may lead to positive cases within the school district. With social distancing nearly impossible in classrooms, contact tracing will require more individuals to self-isolate. As a result, staff and students may encounter prolonged time out of classrooms. KSD will continue to act responsibly and monitor cases so we are not contributors to a community spread event."

Shoshone County and the rest of the panhandle continue to see decreasing COVID-19 numbers, especially compared to the spike seen in July/August.

As of Oct. 1, Shoshone County currently has four active COVID-19 cases and has not reported a new positive case since Sept. 23.

If local COVID cases spike later on though, it is possible that KSD goes back to the hybrid structure.

"We are constantly monitoring the conditions on a daily basis," Larsen said. "We're watching for what we can do to change. As we get more information, we revise our plan accordingly."