Members of the Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo School District met in special session Friday, April 3, to dot the Ts and cross the Is of a learning plan required in the wake of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

In March, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly ordered all state school buildings closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, giving USD 327 and other districts only a week or two to detail a new learning delivery system.

The special meeting was conducted at the Ellsworth Junior/Senior High School commons with Superintendent Dale Brungardt and board members sitting at least six feet apart, as ordered by health officials. Board present David Hand attended by telephone.

Other administrators and patrons were able to monitor the meeting via Zoom, a video conference platform that has become a lifeline for businesses, organizations and others in search of a way to meet without violating the state order to limit in-person gatherings to fewer than 10 individuals.

Brungardt talked briefly about the district’s continuous learning program, which is available on the USD 327 website.

Board member Gina McGowan said the plan, now in its first week, took a lot of work and thanked teachers and others for their efforts.

Board member Liz Donley said she has heard positive comments about the plan, a combination of printed packet materials and internet activities and instruction.

“This is our current document, but it may not look like this when we’re done,” Brungardt said.

Board members approved two resolutions — one that continues paying staff and another that reduces the required credits needed by 2019- 20 seniors for graduation from 26 to 21.

Brungardt, with board approval, also said the district plans to request a waiver from the Kansas Department of Education to reduce the 1,116 hours required for graduation to 980 because of the circumstances created by the coronavirus pandemic.

As for staff, the superintendent said district employees continue to work, but their responsibilities may have changed.

Bus drivers, for instance, are helping with cleaning duties and there has been discussion about them assisting with landscaping.

In other business:

• Board members approved the purchase of 25 laptop computers for Ellsworth Junior/Senior High School and 25 Chromebooks each for Ellsworth Elementary and Kanopolis Middle School.

Total cost is $47,000, which will come from the district’s wind farm money. Brungardt said there is currently $89,000 in the so-called PILOT fund.

He said technology has always been important to the district and “we want to be ready for what we need in the future.”

• The special meeting ended with board members making a motion to go into another special meeting. The second session consisted of a 10-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel.

Upon their return, board members accepted the resignations of fourth grade teacher Kendra Ploutz and bus driver Laurie Donley.