Administration aims for a return-to-school plan by July 27

Creating return-to-school options and plans with teacher and parent input no later than Monday, July 27, is the goal of the Holyoke school administration.

“Now that graduation has been completed, administration will focus on returning to school in the fall and what that may look like,” said Superintendent Kyle Stumpf on Monday, June 29.

He noted that the district has contacted Phillips County commissioners, Haxtun School District administration and the Northeast Colorado Health Department to start to meet and plan for a Phillips County return-to-school plan for this fall.

Keeping in mind that rules and regulations were supposed to change by July 1 and that there could be less restriction or even more restriction by Aug. 1, Stumpf emphasized that he would like to have a solid plan that can be shared so that everyone can plan and prep as needed before the first day of school.

“As long as staff, parents, students and the community understand that all of this can change before Aug. 15, we will work to gather input and share progress as we move forward between now and July 27,” Stumpf added.

As part of a draft, with nothing finalized or approved, the following options are in consideration mode for the next school year:

— Everything as normal as possible with additional health checks/screenings.

— Online modified home learning via a software platform that teachers monitor.

— Some students in-person learning and some learning from home via online with Holyoke teachers responsible for everything.

— Everything normal for four to six weeks and if there is a spike in confirmed cases of the coronavirus with staff or students, then leave the school for two to four weeks at a time.

— A combination of the first four.

Additional draft ideas that are on the table for consideration follow:

— Encouraging social distancing.

— Encouraging staff to wear masks.

— Increasing temperature checks.

— Placing hand sanitizer throughout hallways, classrooms and common spaces.

— Extra cleaning during the day when students are in school, and deep cleaning on the Fridays when students are not in the buildings.

— Daily cleaning of buses, playground equipment and common spaces.

— 25-30 students in a classroom setting or teachers teaching from their classroom and broadcasting it to students at home.

— Adjusting passing periods, lunch periods and recess for elementary students with one-way flow of students and fewer students in the cafeteria or on the playground at the same time.

— Considering using multipurpose areas for additional lunch spaces.

— Considering using all available space within both school buildings to hold classes.

— Using the auditorium to hold band and choir to increase social distancing.

— Determining transportation of students (how many seats can be used, how many students can be transported on a school vehicle, protection of bus drivers with masks or shields while still driving safely).

— Sports will be guided by Colorado High School Activities Association, but the Holyoke district will make a final determination.