Area schools approaching start dates cautiously
As COVID cases begin to climb once again, and schools prepare to return to session, the Silver Valley’s local school districts are doing everything in their power to make sure they are prepared for the beginning of the school year.
For Kellogg School District Superintendent Lance Pearson joining the district mid-pandemic forced him to familiarize himself with the district’s policies and procedures concerning how they opened schools, but during their most recent board meeting they made a basic blanket statement regarding how they would handle the situation when the 21/22 school year begins in just a few weeks.
“(The) Kellogg School District will begin the 2021-2022 school year with the understanding that the delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is spreading rapidly even within our community,” Pearson said. “Social distancing and personal hygiene will be stressed as a means of avoiding the virus while the wearing of masks will be highly recommended but not required at this time. KSD encourages all individuals over the age of 12 to get vaccinated. KSD respectfully asks all of our community members to monitor their symptoms, stay home when you are sick and seek testing for COVID when symptoms arise. As we begin the year with an operating plan as close to ‘normal’ as we can get, please understand this will be subject to change based on the needs of all our loved ones here in the Kellogg School District.”
The Kellogg School District Operating Plan can be found at its website www.kelloggschools.org.
In the Wallace School District, Superintendent Todd Howard outlined some of the guidelines that his students and staff will be operating under when school begins on Sept. 2.
“I think it is important to note that the WSD’s response to COVID-19 and any other illness is one of continual fluidity,” Howard said. “Community and school data will be constantly monitored/reviewed. Changes to school schedules and operational plans will be communicated with parents through district websites, school social media sites, School Messenger and other district/school approved methods.”
As of right now, this would be the list of key things to know for the start of school in the Wallace School District:
• School will begin on Thursday, Sept. 2, and will operate with 100% attendance, full days, Monday through Friday.
• The use of face coverings/masks is highly recommended.
• School staff and administration will continue to stress that students/staff presenting a fever or any other flu-like symptoms stay home until they have gone 24 hours without needed medication to control the fever and other symptoms have subsided.
• When possible, cohort groups will be minimized to help decrease exposure to any/all illnesses.
• When possible, social distancing strategies will be used to help decrease exposure to any/all illnesses.
As far as face coverings and masks are concerned, the decision will be left to the individual student, staff, parent and guardian.
The district will also continue to provide masks and any individual’s mask wearing preference will be supported by all WSD staff and that decision will not be the basis of harassment or ridicule.
The school should be contacted if any students’ immediate family members begin to be symptomatic, this includes all staff as well.
Parents and guardians can view WSD’s 21/22 Operational Plans, regarding illness precautions/procedures, at the district website www.wsd393.org.
The Mullan School District is Shoshone County’s smallest school district and probably felt the least amount of change last year when compared to its larger counterparts, but that didn’t mean that health and safety were any less of a priority.
According to Superintendent Les Wells, Mullan will open schools as usual on Aug. 26, with an emphasis on monitoring any spread in their community as it arises.
At the elementary level, the use of pods for the students was found to have multiple benefits so Wells said that they will be keeping those in place.
“We are asking parents to continue the process of keeping the students home if they have an elevated temperature or are sick,” Wells said. “We will also be providing face coverings to those who request them.”
For further information, contact the Mullan School District at 208-744-1126.
