“What is our next step?” That was the main question for USD 417 Morris County Board of Education members during a special meeting Sunday afternoon.
The answer at this time is moving into a partial remote learning environment through early 2021. During a special meeting of the board, Sunday Super Intendent Aaron Dody unveiled a seven-tiered plan for COVID-19 mitigation.
Those tiers include:
1. Restricting the use of district facilities by outside entities.
2. Temporarily reducing “high risk” physical activities during the school day.
3. Temporarily suspending spectators at school events
4. Participating in KDHE pilot testing program with a controlled screener group consisting of those involved in activities.
5. Temporarily suspend all school activities. Students would remain in school.
6. Transition to remote learning in two phases beginning with secondary education level
7. Transition to district-wide remote learning.
Following numerous discussions and recommendations by local health professionals, The board unanimously voted to move directly into tier six of the plan which will see seventh through 12th-grade students attend remote only education following the Thanksgiving break which begins on Nov. 25 until Jan. 11.
According to Dody, this will mean no extracurricular activities or practices will be permitted during that time frame. Additionally, access to district facilities will be restricted for outside entities until further notice.
Dody says it is an unfortunate decision for the district, however, at this time neither he or the board can see any better option.
Dody says while the district is not suffering as significantly as others in terms of active COVID cases, their staff is still being stretched thin due to quarantines and absences.
Dody added the tiered system has been developed not only with the safety of students and staff in mind but also for the preservation of the local healthcare system.
Morris County’s meeting follows the USD 253 Board’s regular meeting from last Wednesday where the board voted to transition into remote learning for all levels but K-2 beginning Nov. 23. The meeting also preceeds USD 251’s special session scheduled for 6 pm Monday where board members will also be discussing next steps in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
