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Elementary Parents:

Because of how quickly the situation developed last week and we had to send students home sooner than we would have liked, there are many personal belongings that were left behind in our elementary classrooms and lockers.

In order to return the items we have set up a time on Wednesday April 1, from 9 AM - 11 AM to have you come in an get the items. Please also return any packet materials for the teachers to review. They will also be providing new packets for you as we continue with our learning.

Teachers in those classrooms will bag up your child's things and meet you in the parking lot to hand you the bags and exchange packet materials, you will not need to come into the buildings. We will be watching to see you approach. Please contact your teacher to let them know what time you will be there. Again you will not need to come into the building we will meet you at your car.

Dear Parents and Students

However long the night, the dawn will break.     African Proverb - Hausa Tribe

 As you are aware we were directed to begin offering alternative education to our students by the Commissioner of Education and the Governor.  We started offering Enrichment opportunities for students through online and other means depending on the grade level of the student.  

As of Monday morning we received additional guidance from the commissioner with the backing of the governor and the health officials of the state, to keep buildings closed to students through the end of the school year.  We have also received guidance from our health department to keep buildings closed to students through at least May 1, this could change as this develops. The NSAA has extended it moratorium on practices and events through May 1, as well.

Since Monday of last week our staff has been preparing to give our students educational opportunities through a different means. We are developing a continuous learning plan to complete the year for our students; this plan, like it does now, will require help from parents to make sure our students are completing their work. The plan will help provide some answers to the questions you may have and will help provide a schedule of learning moving forward, teachers are available for any assistance and will be communicating with parents and students throughout this process. We will also be sharing a plan to pick up and drop off the packets that are being sent home to our younger students.  Parents of students receiving special education services will be contacted to help make adjustments in their student’s plans to accommodate them during this time. 

We are working on making sure we can accomplish our mission to provide educational opportunities to help our students reach their potential.  The delivery of education during this time is much different than we are all familiar.  This will require cooperation and collaboration between school and home. This situation is not ideal, our staff would much rather be teaching students in their classrooms. They would rather be working face to face with them and building healthy educational relationships each day.  The buildings are much emptier without our students.

There are some who may be “jokingly” saying to staff and others, things about the staff not working or having a day off, and getting paid for not working, or that the parents are doing the teaching. I am going to advocate for the staff, they are making the best of a situation they have no control over.  This is a situation that has not been dealt with in our history, this is far from a vacation; it is stressful for our staff like it is for families. There have been many sleepless nights by all of our staff, worrying about their kids. Let me assure you that the staff is working, they are still planning lessons, putting materials together and reaching out to students to offer assistance or check in to see how they are doing. The best thing about this situation is that it does help to solidify the partnership between school and home. We will need parents to help where they can and to make sure the kids are asking for and receiving any assistance they need. Although the teaching may not be occurring in the traditional sense; the staff is still fulfilling its responsibility.  

One of the best things about the people of Nebraska and where we live, is that we are a resilient bunch.  We all may not all think this is a big deal, but it is, and we are asked to deal with it in unprecedented ways.  We are facing this issue head on and making the best of the situation that we can.  I appreciate that the families are being asked to help more, and they are stepping up.  I appreciate that our teachers were thrown into a less than ideal situation regarding how to deliver this type of education and they are stepping up to the plate, they are learning new things as well, and we are all getting the job done. People who live where we do and see the hard work put in each and every day; know that we will get through this and together we will be better for it.  The dawn will come, it may get darker beforehand but the dawn will come.

Sincerely,

Barry Schaeffer

Superintendent/K-6 Principal

NOTICE OF MEETING: The Arthur County Schools Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Monday March 30, 2020 in the high school library. Starting time will be 7:00 p.m.  The purpose of the meeting will be to address the school district's response to the state and national emergency relating to the coronavirus outbreak. 

This is a public meeting and members of the public are welcome and encouraged to attend, however to help us meet the restrictions on the number of people in a gathering, we  have an online zoom meeting link set up to allow public access to the meeting. Please follow this link on Monday night to view the meeting.  https://zoom.us/j/589017844

The agenda follws and a copy will be on file in the superintendent's office. 

SPECIAL MEETING

1. Take Roll
2. Call to order-Pledge of Allegiance
3. Items for Board Discussion and/or Possible Action

1. Board Resolution to delegate the following Powers to the Superintendent: in the event the board of education is unable to meet, or unable to meet quickly enough given the ever-changing landscape, due to the impact of COVID-19, the superintendent, in consultation with the Board President, is authorized :

1. to make emergency expenditures and pay all claims and take any other action authorized by law during the emergency and any resulting school closure, including with board approval taking actions that may otherwise conflict with board policy or that would otherwise exceed the authority given to the superintendent in board policy if necessary based on this emergency and the COVID-19 pandemic;

2. accept credits associated with e-learning or other educational opportunities provided in light of the COVID-19 closure, and those will count toward graduation credits to the max extent permitted by state law and will count for purposes of the district’s policy on graduation requirements;

3. to take any action appropriate or necessary to avail the district of aid, funding, or other relief available, including making any necessary filings and providing notices to appropriate agencies, and to coordinate, authorize, or undertake works ,contracts, projects, or other activities related to such aid, funding, or other relief available to the maximum extent permitted by law; and

4. authorized to assign and utilize staff as necessary prior to, during, and after a closure, and to provide any leave, pay any compensation, and enter into agreements with staff for the purposes of protecting the health and safety of the school community, continuing the efficient operations of the school district, and ensuring staff return to work in the school district in the event of a closure.

2. Accept the E-Learning plan for Arthur County Schools
3. Approve or reject addendum to Negotiated Agreement regarding the use of staff sick leave presented by Arthur Education association and NSEA with understanding it sunsets at the end of the 2019-2020 contract year.