Monday’s discussion at the regular meeting of the Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo School Board seemed to illustrate the challenges the district faces in reopening for the 2020-21 school year.

For more than an hour, school board members, administrators and staff debated details of a draft copy of a reopening process document designed by district representatives over the summer.

Finally, board president David Hand called for a vote on the plan.

“I’m not trying to limit discussion; there are just so many variables,” he said.

Board members approved the reopening document with the understanding district administrators could be forced to make changes with notification going to board members of such actions.

“This is a fluid, a dynamic situation,” superintendent Dale Brungardt said.

Or, in the words of USD 327’s Teaching to Tomorrow plan, “This document will be an evolving document that will change with the dynamics presented by COVID-19 and latest guidance.”

In fact, board members made a change to the document before they approved it.

Families still have until Wednesday, Aug. 19, to select their student’s method of learning.

The district will offer both in-person and remote options when the school year begins Sept. 3.

The change: “The district wishes to limit the number of times a student may switch between learning platforms throughout the semester. We also understand that the ‘health’ of our district may dictate that change or number of changes to us as well. Students will need to make the commitment to F2F (face to face) learning and activities by Aug. 27.

“If a student chooses to learn remotely, the student is ineligible for all activities for the semester.”

Board member Darin Holecek said he had been approached by several patrons about a point in the draft that refers only to student athletes and questioned whether the policy should apply to all activities, not just sports.

Holecek said he had also talked with school board members in other districts for direction.

As a result of the discussion, the sentence to cover all activities was added to the reopening document.

District nurse Bonnie Peterman updated board members on the efforts of USD 327, the Central Plains School District and the Ellsworth County Health Department to cooperate on policy development, given the challenges presented by COVID-19.

Peterman said it is easier to back away from restrictions than it is to go back and implement more rules”.

Brungardt said preliminary figures put USD 327 enrollment at 625, including 44 kindergarten students. That is 10 fewer than a year ago.

The district is aware of 14 students whose parents have decided to homeschool or enroll them in on-line schools.

“Like everything else, that number is fluid, changing,” Brungardt said.

In other business, Brungardt reviewed a past and present list of COVID-19-related expenses the district will cover with the $347,000 in federal funds it expects to receive from the SPARKS program. The board approved the general list with the understanding larger expense items still must go through the board process.

The board meeting followed a 10-minute hearing for the 2021 budget. No patrons were in attendance to comment on the document.

The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8 — later than usual because of Labor Day on Monday. Board members plan to tour Kanopolis Middle School at 6 p.m.

Note to Readers — School news is available on the district website, usd327.org