Following about an hour of discussion Monday night, board members of the Central Plains USD 112 School District voted to approve a reopening plan for the 2020-21 school year.

Under the plan, students wil return to their classrooms Aug 27, which is a week later than the district’s original Aug. 20 start date. The purpose is to give teachers more time for training and planning.

The plan, approved by a unanimous vote at a special meeting at Holyrood, came with the stipulation that it was a work in progress.

Superintendent Greg Clark said the plan was a good starting point, but it almost certainly will change as the year goes on.

School districts across the state are making plans for a year that promises the unexpected. This past March, Gov. Laura Kelly ordered the state’s schools closed to protect students and teachers and slow the spread of COVID-19. Districts went from in-class to remote learning almost overnight.

Clark said learning will be more structured this year — even if teachers are forced to teach remotely. Students will be expected to attend classes and finish assignments — as if they were in a physical classroom.

“Last year when we did this there was a lot of grace because we got thrown into it. There still will be grace, but not as much,” he said.

At the same time, district nurses are working with county health supervisor Kerianne Ehrlich and representatives from the local health clinic to address potential emotional and social issues arising from the uncertainty that surrounds this year’s school year.

“For some kids this is going to be a tough deal to come back,” Clark said.

The plan, which allows for seven days beyond the number required by the state, calls for a three-part response to learning.

• Students and teachers will start the year in their classrooms with safety precautions in place to guard against the coronavirus. Included are the wearing of masks, hand washing, social distancing and oneway traffic.

• Hybrid learning is where students rotate between inclass and remote instruction. Remote days are not days off — students not in a school building will be required to report for classes at home over the internet. They will be expected to attend the same classes and do the same work as in-class students.

• Distance learning is just that — students are in a learning environment other than their homes. Parents will have that option through the district’s Lakeside Learning Center; however, they must make a semester commitment.

School board members asked Clark what will happen if a student tests COVID positive after school starts?

It was a question Clark couldn’t answer. His hope, he said, was that only one classroom would be affected, but that is not a given.

Again, the district is working with local health officials.

If a teacher falls ill, Clark said another teacher from a different grade might have to step in.

“They understand this is going to be a year like no other, he said.

He also raised the possibility of giving parents the option of holding their child back to repeat a grade if the parents don’t think the child is prepared to move on.

“I’m not saying that’s going to happen. We have to see how the school year goes,” Clark said.

The plan is on the district website and Clark posted video explaining the district’s plans for the upcoming school year.

In other action:

• The board approved the purchase of I-Pads for teachers using money from the SPARKS program.

• Purchase of two Ford transit vans was tabled until the board’s regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 10.

• Also at the Aug. 10 meeting, the district’s engineer will be asked to attend to review the mini split units being considered for Central Plains Elementary School. Another option is to move equipment from the closed Bushton building.

Correction

A story in the July 30 editio of the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter about the Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo School District had a incorrect vote tally.

The vote was 6-1 in favor o the district moving the start time of the 2020-21 school year from Aug. 17 to Sept. 3. Board member Ashley Bohl, citing concern for students and their emotional and socia well being, voted against the measure.