WELCOME TO ASHLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
COVID-19 UPDATE: Information is coming quickly and changing hourly.
March 17th,
2020 Update
MESSAGE TO FAMILIES
Today, March 17, 2020
Governor Laura Kelly announced all school facilities will be closed for the
remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This will place tremendous hardship on
our families and staff, and impact the social and emotional well-being of our
students.
We have been working with
KSDE on a contingency plan, including how we can meet the ongoing learning
needs of our students and provide breakfast and lunch for our students.
Instruction:
· March 23-27 – USD 220 staff will
begin developing a “continuous learning plan” for our students.
· March 30 – Communication and
Implementation
Food Service:
· USD 220 will continue to provide food service for all
students as previously noted. Please use
the link to request breakfast and lunch during regular school days. Link: https://forms.gle/1sRX9zx2jgf8voYb7
Our staff and board of
education are also working on other critical issues, such as what this means
for our seniors, how this will affect next school year and what impact this
will have on our employees. We will provide updates on these issues as soon as
the information is available.
We are committed to working
together as a community to support one another throughout these unprecedented
times, and communication will remain a top priority. This will include
updates we receive from the Kansas State Department of Education, Kansas
Department of Health & Environment, and any other governmental agency. We will continue to post information on our
social media platforms (Facebook & Twitter), school website (www.usd220.net), as well as use go.edustar to
send emails to parents.
As a reminder, this
school closure is in response to the current public health crisis. The focus
should remain on preventing the spread the coronavirus, or COVID-19 as it is
also referred to.
Please be mindful of the
following:
- Wash
your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Cover your nose
and mouth when coughing and sneezing (cough/sneeze into your sleeve or a
tissue).
- Please keep sick
children at home.
- Avoid
close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
Follow additional
guidance from these sources:
March 16th Update
The USD 220 Board of Education met this evening to discuss action steps for the Covid-19 pandemic. Below are several items we are working on as we move forward.
The following events have been cancelled:
March 24th - Donkey Basketball
March 30th - FFA Banquet
March 30th - NHS Banquet
NO SCHOOL on MONDAY, MARCH 23rd: USD 220 students will NOT have school on Monday, March 23rd. Pending any extended school closure, students will return to classes on Tuesday, March 24th. This additional day off will allow USD 220 to review protocol and procedures for covid-19.
All employees will report to work on Monday, March 23rd. Below are scheduled meeting times (AHS library):
- Teachers: 8:30am
- Classroom Aides: 9:30am
- Food Service: 10:30am
- Transportation: 11:30am
- Custodial/Maintenance: 12:30pm
Food Service Will Continue: Pending any extended school closure, USD 220 will continue to provide food service. Parents will be required to call or email the main office at their respective buildings to arrange meals for their students. You can call once to arrange meals for the week. Parents living in Ashland can pick up meals, while there will be limited delivery options for Englewood and outlying areas. Food Service will provide a lunch, plus a cold breakfast option for the next morning. Meal prices will remain the same as they currently are while school is in session.
Employee Pay: All employees will continue to be provided an option to work at each building. Any employee who is at-risk will meet with the Administration and may be eligible for ongoing pay due to health and safety risk. If at any time we are directed to shut all operations down by order, all employees will receive their regular pay.
Instructional Delivery Model: USD 220 staff will work to develop ongoing educational opportunities for students to receive instruction at home. This may be a combination of online learning, hard copies of assignments, with an option for parents to pick up activities/assignments at each school, with limited delivery options to Englewood and outlying areas.
KSDE Daily Update:
1. All schools should begin to prepare for an extended school closure. More information and a final decision will be made later this week.
2. Food Service operations may continue to operate with multiple options for delivery to students as determined by each district.
Parents:
USD 220 is monitoring the Covid-19 pandemic on a daily basis. Communication and direction is being provided to all schools across the state by the Kansas State Department of Education, Kansas Department of Health & Environment, and many other governmental agencies. Below is the most up to date information we have. Please follow announcements on our social media (Facebook Page) and website (www.usd220.net) for updates.
March 15th Update
KSDE strongly recommended all schools shut down for the upcoming week, 3/16-3/22. Schools returning from break are encouraged to cancel classes; schools on break should continue; and schools who have not yet started their break are encouraged to cancel classes. The state is trying to get all school districts off at the same time in order to evaluate the situation and develop action steps going forward.
Long-Term Cancellation of Schools:
KSDE in consultation with other government agencies will hold discussion regarding the long-term cancellation of schools across the state this week. Information will continue to be shared as it becomes available.
Online Learning:
KSDE has appointed a task force of educators across the state to create guidelines for helping schools identify the best way to teach students online. This task force will be charged with providing structure and support in the event any school and/or all schools must cancel classes for an extended period of time.
KSHSAA:
All spring sports and activities are suspended through Sunday, March 22.
March 14th Update
No Change
March 13th Update
Below are some guidelines from KSDE:
1. All gatherings of 100+ should be avoided.
2. Groups of 30 or more that gather for longer than 10 minutes need to be spread out.
3. Rooms/desks should be wiped down regularly and in between classes.
4. Students need to be directed to practice good hygiene.
*What notice will be provided in case of a mandatory school closure?
Very minimal notice will be provided. It will happen quickly.
*How long will these guidelines be in effect?
Until it changes.
*What will this impact?
Music Programs, Banquets, Lunch Rooms, Sporting Events, Prom, Dances, etc.
*What will be required for any person that has a fever?
Staff and Students will be required to stay home for a minimum of 3-days (72-hours).
*What if students or staff travel out of state or country on Spring Break?
All persons should check with the CDC for information. If they traveled to an area with a high rate of covid-19, all persons should check in with the county health department or healthcare provider before returning to school.
*Will spring sports be closed?
KSHSAA will make that decision.
*What will students do for class if we close school?
Administration and teachers will develop a plan for online learning where possible and/or sending assignments to parents/students for completion at home.
*What about classified staff?
A plan will be put into effect to allow hourly employees to work and/or use sick leave.
Updates will be provided as information becomes available.