By Linda Kor The Joseph City Unified School District Governing Board met on Sept. 1 and announced that school would resume its normal schedule beginning this week on Sept. 8. Superintendent Bryan Fields informed the board of the measures taken to ensure the safety of both students and staff. “We’ve upgraded the air filters and opened the dampers for exterior air. We have masks in place and hand sanitizer.” It was noted that due to the smaller classes there is also the potential for social distancing depending on the circumstances. Fields also noted that some classes may take opportunities to meet outside. “The buses are close quarters where we will be asking everyone to wear a mask,” stated Fields. All students and staff arriving to school in methods other than the bus will also have their temperatures checked each day. “If parents still don’t want their children to come to school at this point, they can still do our distance learning program. We just want to know in advance,” explained Fields. Those who opt to take online instruction will be asked to continue that until at least the end of the quarter. If parents decide to move to distance learning after initially starting their child in-person instruction but concerns develop, that will be allowed also but the district would like some notification. Fields also noted that one of the benefits of being a smaller school is the information provided in the annual audits regarding square footage per student. “We have one of the highest ratios. We have a lot of space that we can utilize to spread our students out.” With school starting, protocols will be taken, such as temperatures being taken before getting on the bus. Board member Rhonda Roberson expressed concerns that if a child is turned away due to an elevated temperature, what would happen if there was no one at home available to take the child. “We will have to make sure parents are aware of that possibility and hopefully they help us out by keeping them home if they’re feeling sick,” stated Miller. It was noted by Fields that the district must report if there are two or more confirmed cases of COVID reported on campuses. While that would not necessarily shut down the schools, it would be considered an outbreak. Students who exhibit symptoms will be placed on a 14-day quarantine and may continue school online. Several parents, teachers and community members were present and expressed concerns regarding the unknowns involved in gathering during a pandemic. It was reiterated that the school will take every reasonable precaution and ask that the parents do their part in making sure their child is well before sending them off to school. In other business, Joseph City High School Principal Eric Miller informed the board that the high school gym floor is being refinished. This is the first time in 17 years and it will feature a new design. Sports have also begun at the district. Miller noted that last week was the first week for volleyball and the week before, cross country began. Football and junior high softball began this week. Regarding online instruction Miller stated, “It’s been a challenge but in the long run I think it will have been a valuable experience.” Prior to classrooms opening up, computer labs at both the high school and elementary school have been drawing in students who have special needs or lack internet access. According to Joseph City Elementary Principal Daniel Hutchens, “We have some teachers who have had almost 100 percent attendance in their Google Meets classrooms when they do it live session but most all of them are around 70 percent.” It was also noted that attendance awards will no longer be provided as an incentive for kids to attend school due to the need to ensure kids stay home if they are not well. More sick days will also be allocated without parents receiving notification regarding attendance requirements.
