April 28, 2020 at 12:00 PM - Board of Education Work Session

Discussion:  Board President called the meeting to order at 12:02 p.m. 

Discussion:  Before looking at fall scheduling scenarios, Superintendent Bob Hastings shared his thoughts on what the administrative team would like summer school to look like.  The proposed models depend on the age of the student.  For students attending GHS, programming would begin around the first of June in an online setting.  Largely the goal for this group of students will be credit recovery to ensure seniors attain required credits for graduation.  Then, remediation of students who are not seniors, but want to be adequately prepared for the next sequence in a set of classes.  The focus will primarily be on core classes to help students achieve those goals.  Principal Schneider indicated that they currently have 30-40 students wanting to participate.  At the Junior High level, administrators believe that students benefit from personal contact, so they hope to do a blended approach to maintain smaller class sizes while having time for the students to come together, and get one-on-one help from teachers.  The program is anticipated to start around July 6, running through the end of July.  The later summer dates were selected with the belief it would offer a better chance for in-person instruction to take place.  Principal Seiler stated the participant list was finalized yesterday, and they anticipate 30 students will take advantage of the opportunity.  Elementary students will attend summer school face-to-face in small groups starting at the end of July as a jumpstart approach.  B.J. Peters inquired about whether staffing would be a concern.  Hastings indicated the upper grade levels will be covered, and elementary staff members will be recruited next.  Student check-out for the 2019-20 school year will begin next week.  Upper grade levels will clean out their own lockers in small groups while elementary teachers are bagging items to ensure that contact is brief.  An early graduation will be hosted virtually in May to recognize students leaving for the military.  Superintendent Hastings stated that at the recommendation of PPHD, the in-person graduation will not be held in June.  A ceremony is now being planned for July. 

Discussion:  Superintendent Hastings presented scenarios to the Board to show them how alternative start dates could affect the upcoming school year.  Currently, school is scheduled to start on August 14.  If the start date would be pushed back, those days / weeks would be added to the end date to maintain the same number of instructional hours / days.  To avoid a late-summer end date, the school day could also be extended.  An adjustment of 5-minutes, for example, could make up days or even a week, especially if implemented at the beginning of the year.  Another scenario presented was the possibility of smaller groups.  Some models show a later spike in October as a possibility.  At this time there are many unknowns.  Hastings recommendation is that if an outbreak occurs, and it can be managed, the instructional time should be added to the end of the school year.  If it drags on longer than 3-4 weeks, administrators and the school board need to be prepared to make decisions about online learning alternatives.  Mary Winn asked if this would be a state-wide decision or district-by-district.  Hastings replied that the current directives were put in place by health districts, and PPHD acted as one closing all Panhandle schools, so what happened in Omaha didn't happen here.  However, in the end, a state-wide directive was made.  Hastings suspects that it will get more precise, but it is still unknown.  Brian Copsey asked if Gering faces extending the school year past May, or deep into June, would the commissioner likely offer a waiver?  He expressed an uneasiness about releasing school in July, and asking them to return the second week of August.  Hastings stated that indication has not been made outside of expecting that school may be impacted in the fall.  In closing, Interim Superintendent Gary Cooper shared his thoughts on circumstances.  He noted that while questions arise, we won't know much about the start of next year until July when state and / or regional officials offer guidance.  B.J. Peters adjourned the meeting at 12:48 p.m.