Sheldon Superintendent Irwin discusses district re-opening plans

During their regular monthly meeting Wednesday evening, the Sheldon R-8 Board of Education was apprised of school re-opening plans by Superintendent Jason Irwin.

Irwin informed the board he is closely monitoring the latest COVID-19 developments, and plans on meeting with the local health department next week to further discuss the situation.

The first official day of in-person class is set for Thursday, Aug. 27.

"At this point, we will not be requiring masks when school resumes," Irwin said. "Employees will be allowed 10 paid days if sent home, (and) students will be put on ‘homebound’ if they test positive.”

Irwin also confirmed there will be no town route for students to catch the bus, as only students a mile or more away from the school will be on the routes.

“The bus will load from the back to the front, with families sitting together,” he said, adding masks will be mandatory on the bus-ride. Additionally, there will be assigned seats in classrooms, in order to make contact-tracing easier — if necessary.

“At this point, we will not be checking temperatures of people entering the school,” Irwin said.

He also noted that visitors will not be allowed into the school during regular school hours.

How the district plans on handling recess and lunch is still up in the air, according to Irwin, with no final decisions having been made at this point in time.

“Changes may be made as the need evolves,” he said.

In related news, Gov. Laura Kelley announced Wednesday that she intends to issue an executive order delaying the start-date of Kansas schools until after Labor Day.

“The additional three weeks will provide schools time to get masks, thermometers, hand sanitizer and other necessary COVID-19 mitigation supplies,” Kelly said during a Wednesday press briefing at the state Capitol in Topeka, per KMBC.

Kelley continued: “I can’t in good conscience open schools when Kansas has numerous hot spots, where cases are at an all-time high and continuing to rapidly rise. We can’t risk the lives of our teachers, administrators, custodians, our students and their parents.”

Bids

Irwin discussed the progress of summer maintenance projects. Irwin informed the board that one of the district’s major projects — replacement of the bathroom floors, is nearly complete.

Irwin also informed the board of a bid received from Casey Kalleck and Cody Seibert to replace the grate at the high school entrance with a drainpipe, and concrete, as well as putting up handrails. A bid for $900 was approved by a 6-0 vote.

A bid from Lamar-area Jeffries Plumbing to install automatic flushers and sinks came in at $15,535. This bid was also approved by a 6-0 vote, as it was noted that Federal CARES Act funds will cover the expense.

A bid was received from Henry Kraft for a pair of misting touch-free soap/sanitizer dispensers, and cleaning carts. A bid was also received from Joe Harding for a new dishwasher.

In other agenda items

• The board set a tax levy hearing for Aug. 12, slated to take place prior to the start of the their regular monthly meeting. If pertinent information is not received from the county clerk, a back-up date for the levy hearing was set for Aug. 19.