Barry Cain-Superintendent------May 22, 2020
The 2019-2020 school year ending, as with many aspects of life right now, is very new and different. Online large group instruction ended on May 22nd and our teachers are now working with various individual students in need of additional support through June 3rd.
The final days for our teachers will be spent analyzing how our online programs have worked while planning for this summer and next fall. Although we do not know just what our entire program will look like, we are planning for three scenarios. The first being an entirely online program, the second being a blended program of online education and students present in our buildings, and the third having all students back in our schools.
We also recently surveyed parents about their interest in various Summer School opportunities and were pleased to see the desire to have multiple opportunities if available. Due to this, we have developed a three week online Summer School Program running June 8-26. Registration is presently open and we have nearly 200 students register in the first week. Additional opportunities later in the summer will also be available as we get more guidance on other models we may use.
The Panther Kids Club daycare program is also being studied for a possible opening sometime around July 1st. State guidelines, along with information from other school districts, are being studied for us to develop plans for multiple sites of small groups of students. There are many details to developing this in a safe manner. As we see businesses open back up, we know there is the increasing demand for quality child care. At the same time, we must have detailed plans in place that provide a safe environment for students and staff.
As we move forward, we know we have many challenges to provide for high quality educational environments that provide for safety for all staff and students. Due to this, our staff is currently receiving additional professional development in best practices for online learning as we move forward. Prior to this fall, we will have a new format in place that provides for a consistent model for all ages that is user friendly for all students, parents, and staff. Our staff did a great job in an emergency situation this spring, but the additional time we have now to improve will allow us to provide an even higher quality program.
We continually work with state level organizations, the Department of Health Services, and other districts to define what onsite education will look like in our schools in these unprecedented times. Guidance continues to develop and evolve. Our team will continue the work in this area as we get more information through the month of June. We will continue to communicate our work as we further develop plans for summer school later this summer and the school start this fall.
Lastly, congratulations to our seniors. I know that we all appreciate the work you have done through your years with us. We also appreciate the flexibility and resourcefulness you have shown during this time. The input you have provided our administration regarding the traditional senior activities and graduation discussions has helped tremendously. You have much to be proud of. Congratulations again and good luck in the future!
Barry Cain-Superintendent May 14, 2020
We learned yesterday that the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Gov. Tony Evers’ latest Safer-At-Home Order. With this, many may be wondering how this affects schools across the state.
Under the Safer At Home order, all Wisconsin schools were ordered closed through June 30th. Legal guidance from the Department of Public Instruction has advised that the State Supreme Court’s decision does not invalidate the portion of the Stay At Home Order closing schools and Wisconsin schools remain closed.
During the current closure we are continually meeting with various groups and agencies to learn more about the latest guidance for schools. There are many factors that are being continually evaluated as we plan the path to safely open our schools. As we learn more and get further guidance we will be sure to keep people informed.
Barry Cain-Superintendent April 7th, 2020
At the April 6, 2020 school board meeting, the board took action on two key topics dealing with the current COVID-19 crisis.
The first action was the approval of a resolution to request a waiver of state-mandated instructional minutes for the 2019-2020 school year. This will have no effect on the flexible learning process we have put in place. This resolution simply allows the district to follow the current model or other models to continue teaching and learning without having to meet the state-mandated requirement of instructional minutes we normally follow. Nearly every district in the state will be requesting this waiver. The Department of Public Instruction has informed districts that all waivers will be approved to allow us to use the alternative models we have developed.
The board also approved a motion to change our local graduation requirements to simply require the state-mandated number of core credits for this year’s seniors. This change is being made to allow our current seniors and our staff to focus on all students meeting these core requirements. The senior high school administration and staff have done great work studying each individual student credit standing and have developed a plan to be sure that all students are enrolled in the required classes they need. Our staff will also continue to work with students and families to be sure all other considerations are looked at such as college requirements, NCAA sport requirements and student goals. Most districts are moving in this direction to provide students and families clarity right now.
We are continuing to work on a number of other topics at this time. We are getting guidance and updates daily both electronically and through webinars. We still do not have answers to when we will be back in session. Our staff is working and planning for the long haul and we will adjust as we get more information.
I want to thank all families for their hard work and flexibility in these times. We are getting wonderful feedback about the processes in place. I want to continue to encourage all of our students and parents to reach out to staff with any questions and concerns. Communication is key to success and our staff is here to help out with any questions.