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DCS Outlines Plans to Start New School Year

If the new school year started this week, the Dundy County Stratton School District would start the 2020-2021 school year with students in the classroom.

School district admin- istrators, teachers, and board of education has been working- with public health officials on an school operations plan for the new school year.

DCS sent a letter and guide to all parents in the distrcit outlin- ing those plans yesterday (Tuesday).

A key compenent of the school’s plan involves the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department’s newly re- leased COVID-19 Risk Dial. A news release on the COVID-19 Risk Dial is locarted on page 10 in this week’s Post.

The Risk Dial shows a four color dispaly that indicates the COVID-19 risk in the SWNPHD‘s service area and will be used to govern school oper- ations.

The level of risk will be posted daily on our district web page. Students will also be notified and communications will be sent home via an automated caller system, through Infinite

Campus Notifications, and on social media if the risk level changes.

Currently the Risk Dial level is at yellow, or moderate, which indicates a normal start to the year with No closures.

DCS Schools will have a nor- mal start to the year if risk level is green or yellow. This means that teachers will start the school year on August 17 with students starting on August 19th. We believe that having school operating under normal procedures or as close to nor – mal procedures as possible will provide the very best learning environment for Dundy County Stratton students.

If the Risk Dial changes to “orange” – elaveted or “red” – pandemic, before August 19, the start of the school year will change.

If such a scenario occurs and the local RISK conditions change to a level orange or red, the school will have to adjust the instructional practice to protect student & staff well- being.

If the level is orange then op- tions for the school include di- viding the indivudal classes in

half and having one group in class on specific days while the other group has e-learning on- line at home.

If the level is red then the school would be faced with short or medium term dis- misals. During school dismiss- als, also cancel extracurricular group activities, school-based afterschool programs, and large events. E-learning would com- mense.

In the information for the school, parents are being asked to fill out a survey to help DCS adminisrators make decisons on what options work best for families.

“To ensure that we receive input from parents when mak- ing this important decision we request you share your thoughts on what would work best for you if the District is re- quired to cut student daily at- tendance by 50%.”

It is very imprtant that pa- retns complete the survey. The link to the survey is in the doc- ument from the school and can be found on the school’s web- site. Parent’s check your emails for the inform

The Dundy County SChool Board of Education and new administators, Superintend- ent Rick Haney and Junior HIgh/High School Principal Ethan Sullivan, honored retired DCS Spanish Teacher Val Woods at the start of the July Board of Education meeting. Woods retired at the end of the last school year after 32-years of service to the district. Woods is pictured with Principal Sullivan (and her right) and Superintendent Haney.

ation.

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