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Wahoo Public Schools CLOSED for the remainder of 2019-2020

Letter from Superintendent updates District's coronavirus (COVID-19) plan

Source: cdc.gov

March 25, 2020

Wahoo Families,

I hope this finds your family healthy and maintaining a positive outlook with so many unknowns surrounding us as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a district, we want to thank all of our families for your patience and understanding as we navigate through historic times in public education.

This week, we have received new guidance from the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and Three Rivers Health Department. Both entities have recommended we not resume regular school schedules the rest of the 2019-2020 school year, including all activities. While this recommendation does not align with our original hopes of eventually returning to school, we will be following the recommendations outlined by NDE and Three Rivers Health Department.

Although students will not be returning to our buildings this year, we do have plans in place to continue the educational journeys for each of our students. During this first phase of closure, the teachers have been providing opportunities to students with educational activities to establish some sense of normalcy in a unique new reality. As a district, we will continue to evaluate and evolve in the development of our Continuity of Learning Plan (CLP) for the remainder of this school year. The Department of Education is expected to provide us guidance in the near future that we can then communicate to each of you in regards to our CLP.

For now, we encourage parents to continue interacting with their students and monitoring their work on these enrichment opportunities. These activities will continue to be voluntary and not for a grade, though teachers may provide feedback and guidance to individuals seeking assistance. The importance of these opportunities cannot be understated as we work to prepare students for their grade placement in the fall; however, our approach and practices may change after further guidance is provided from NDE and any and all changes will be clearly communicated to students and families, if necessary.

We understand there are many questions raised with the realization that school will not resume its “normal” function this year. How will final grades be calculated? Will my student progress to the next grade level? What about graduation? When can we pick up our personal items from school? All of these questions will be answered once we have received the necessary guidance from NDE and had time to work through such details. We can promise that we will make decisions in the best interest of students’ health, safety, and academic progress. Please continue to have patience as we develop those plans and share that information at the appropriate time. If you have any questions, please reach out to your student’s teacher(s) and/or building principal. We recognize it is difficult to change the educational process in the middle of a semester and this can create feelings of anxiousness in homes. The ultimate goal is to support the student as much as possible in his/her academic journey, and the district wants you to maintain open communication with the individuals that can help achieve that goal.

Sincerely,

Brandon Lavaley, Superintendent
Wahoo Public Schools

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Wahoo Public Schools CLOSED indefinitely
Letter from Superintendent updates District's coronavirus (COVID-19) plan
March 20, 2020

Wahoo Families,

As I am sure you have been following through the various available media, the continuing increase in numbers of positive COVID-19 cases in Nebraska are cause for concern. It seems like information changes daily and the multitude of press conferences and Zoom meetings make it impossible to avoid. With that, we are extending our school closure for an indefinite period of time. The indefinite closure means that we will not be in session until a further communication comes from the Wahoo Public School District.

As a district, we plan to evaluate the situation on a weekly basis and hope to give you a reasonable amount of time to plan in the event that we are able to return to normal school function. Those decisions will only be made through extensive consultation with local and state health officials, along with guidance from other local and state representatives. The safety and security of our students, staff, and community are the primary concern, which make this extended closure necessary.

On the continuing education side, please make sure your student is accessing the resources and opportunities available to them during this closure. All of the material can be found online at the district’s webpage. However, if you are not able to access those web-based resources, hard copies can be collected at your student’s respective school by communicating with that building’s office. We encourage you to make utilizing these opportunities a priority in your student’s regular day. The more normalcy that can be established during this abnormal time for education can help move students forward and prepare them for continuing instruction when we return to session.

Thank you to all students and parents for your patience and understanding during this time. While this is a trying situation, keeping you and your family safe is the priority. Having the ability and opportunity to assist in your student’s educational journey can be a positive on which we can focus. If you should have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s building principal or myself.

Sincerely,

Brandon Lavaley, Superintendent
Wahoo Public Schools

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Wahoo Public Schools CLOSED March 17-27
Letter from Superintendent updates District's coronavirus (COVID-19) plan
March 15, 2020

Wahoo Public Families,

As I have shared previously, the Wahoo Public School District has been collaborating with area school districts, area and state health officials, the Nebraska Department of Education, and the Governor’s office during this COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. This collaboration has included recommendations for continuing educational functions, monitoring spread of the virus, and making sound, rational decisions. However, the rapidly changing information available makes decision-making and communication difficult.

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this truly historic event. While the health officials and Department of Education are not forcing us to close, with the most recent information and conferences, Wahoo Public Schools will be in session with students on Monday, March 16, then closed through March 27. The district will be monitoring the situation to determine if further closure is necessary. Please be aware, according to the Governor’s address on Friday, school closures could span up to eight weeks.

The rationale for having students in on Monday is so they can collect any and all of their supplies they might need to participate in the enrichment opportunities the teachers will be providing. For our 6-12 students, that would include taking their devices home, along with any other personal belongings.

Our administrative team has been meeting often to consider what educational opportunities we might be able to provide students in the case of a long-term closure such as this. Our teaching staff will be working while students are out of school to have these enrichment activities prepared for students at all grade levels. The families will be receiving communication from your student’s principal that more thoroughly outlines what to expect with these activities.

I realize there are many unknowns at this point, which make this a difficult letter. There aren’t answers to many of those questions right now. Please know that we are working hard to do what is best for our students, staff, and the community of Wahoo when it comes to health, safety, and education. There are many factors to consider when making this decision. To reiterate and make clear, Wahoo Public Schools will be closed to students starting Tuesday, March 17 through Friday, March 27. An announcement concerning attendance after that date will be shared at a later time. All school-related functions will be cancelled/postponed during this time including practices, games, parent-teacher conferences, the mattress fundraiser, and prom. The use of school facilities (gym, weight room, PLC, etc.) will also be postponed during this time.

A sincere thank you to the families of our district for their trust, patience, and understanding during this time. We recognize the hardships it might create, but also appreciate their commitment to the safety and well-being of all our students and employees.

Sincerely,

Brandon Lavaley, Superintendent
Wahoo Public Schools

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Letter from Superintendent addresses District's coronavirus (COVID-19) plan
WPS working closely with Three Rivers, State Health Dept., and CDC for guidance
March 9, 2020

Dear Wahoo Public Families,

In our continuing effort to prioritize the health and safety of all students and staff at Wahoo Public, we would like to update you on our district plan regarding coronavirus (COVID-19).

With any contagious illness, including COVID-19, Wahoo Public Schools works closely with Three Rivers Health Department, the state health department, and the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, any guidance from the Governor’s office will be considered, as provided. If there were to be a COVID-19 outbreak in the local communities in our district, we will take directions from public health officials as to how we proceed from that point.

Currently, there are no immediate plans for short- or long-term school closures and any closures would only be considered through consultation with public health officials. While there are no plans at this time, we wanted to provide this possibility to provide families an opportunity to plan if the situation warrants such action. We will continue to monitor the situation closely additional communications will come only with a changing of circumstances and alternative actions.

As a reminder, individuals can help protect themselves and others from COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases by:

Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer.
Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoiding close contact with sick people and stay home if you are sick.
Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Immediately dispose of that tissue after use.
Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Keep your student home from school if he/she is not feeling well.

We are appreciative of the communication and guidance from public health agencies to allow us to stay as updated as possible concerning this fluid situation. While there is still uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, please know that we are fully engaged in staying informed and preparing immediate responses to changes through guidance from public health agencies.

For additional information about COVID-19: