Superintendent: COVID-19 plans a work in progress

McCOOK, Neb. — There is no “black and white” when it comes to how McCook Schools will operate this year due to the COVID-19 virus, said Superintendent Grant Norgaard.

In fact, how the school system will implement social distancing requirements is still a work in progress but Norgaard is hopeful the guidelines can be made public and posted on the school’s website by Friday, he told the McCook Board of Education at the regular meeting on Monday. He updated the board on the latest revisions of the 34-page document. Faculty and staff will receive the guidelines on Wednesday.

Adjustments to schools and classrooms were made in conjunction with state and local health departments, local administrative teams at the schools and will vary according to the rise and fall of COVID-19 cases in the community and school, he said.

The bottom line is to have and keep schools open while mitigating risks and ensuring safety, the superintendent said.

“The best place for our kids is with teachers…that’s why we’re trying to have the best plan possible,” he said. “‘We’re doing a lot of things to reduce our risk, but it won’t be eliminated, the potential will still exist.”

Maintaining six feet of separation between students is not possible at all times, but the school system will maximize space and use other measures to minimize the amount of contact groups of students have with other, he said.

To determine what factors will warrant face masks and other adjustments, Norgaard said the school system will rely on a “COVID-19 Risk Dial” used by the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department. Risks are assessed in four categories: low (low or no risk of spread), moderate (minimal or moderate risk), elevated (elevated risk of spread, potential for building or classroom closures), and pandemic (high risk of spread, all buildings closed.) Currently the school is at the moderate level, Norgaard said, so wearing masks are encouraged but not required at this time, although there may be times when masks are required.

Additionally, masks will be required if students are in close proximity with each other for longer than 15 minutes; when students ride in a school vehicle where social distancing is not possible and the COVID-19 Risk Dial indicates moderate, elevated or pandemic; when the COVID-19 Risk Dial indications conditions are “elevated”; or when a student or staff members exhibits COVID-19 symptoms.

Plexiglass barriers on desks are being discussed at this point to reduce the need for masks, he added. Temperature checks will be conducted at the start of the school day; those testing 99.9 or above will be re-tested 10 minutes later, to prevent a false reading and after the child has remained stationary and relaxed. If the temperature continues to remain elevated, parents will be called at that point to pick up their child.

Starting this year, students will be placed in small cohort groups with little or no mingling with other students. The students will stay together for the day, including at lunch and recess. By staying with the same group of students, this will minimize contact with others and also be helpful in contact tracing, in case a student or staff member has tested positive for the virus, Norgaard said. He added that small classrooms have been used for years in less populated schools with no detrimental effects and small contained groups can reduce the potential spread of the virus by 50%.

SWNPHD will notify the school if a student or staff member has tested positive, without releasing the name of the individual. Instead, a classroom or grade number will be identified and if that occurs, other measures to mitigate risks will be implemented at that time, he said. Lunchtimes will be staggered to minimize the number of students in one area and students will be assigned specific entry and and exit points from school buildings. Water fountains will not be used and students will be asked to bring water bottles.

If COVID-19 risks are increased to “elevated” and/or a positive case has been identified within the school, student population at schools will reduce by 50%, with some students attending Monday-Tuesday, other student attending Thursday-Friday, and Wednesday used for sanitizing school surfaces or possibly online learning.

Classes could be dismissed if a teacher is sick and a substitute cannot be found, as classes will not be combined, Norgaard said. For extra-curricular activities, game schedules could be altered or cancelled if a competing school is in an area with a high number of positive cases. Seating at games will be changed, with some areas open and some not, he said,

Norgaard also said that if schools have to close and students go to online learning, a better process will be in place, with higher expectations and stricter guidelines.

Board members commenting after Norgaard’s presentation included board president, Tom Bredvick, who emphasized the need for current parent contact information and board member Mike Langan, who recognized the efforts of the superintendent and principals, adding that there’s a fine line between managing the risks and not having the cure worse than the problem.

Teresa Thomas asked about at-risk staff or students with compromised immune systems and Norgaard said that area needs to be reviewed but for students, it could mean an individualized learning plan or online learning at home, depending on the student’s needs.

McCook Public Schools guidelines to re-opening schools and maintaining operations will be published in the Gazette on Friday. School is scheduled to open Aug. 18.