Beatrice Public Schools Hoping to Finalize Fall School Plan, by End of July

BEATRICE – The Beatrice Board of Education will hold a special meeting July 28th, to finalize a plan for the new school year during this time of pandemic. Details of what that may look like, were not released Monday night before the board, but in quoting a recent legal seminar, Superintendent Jason Alexander said any plan will likely draw a mixed reaction.

"We're going to get yelled at a lot this year, because no matter how hard we try, someone is not going to be happy with how we manage the opening of schools. There's no way to meet the needs of every situation in your district".

District 15 has submitted a plan to Public Health Solutions Health District for approval. Alexander said school districts are still awaiting formal guidance from the Nebraska Department of Education.
Alexander said he feels confident in the work being done to address the start of the school year.

"I feel very fortunate to be working with such a dedicated and caring group of staff members that have organized a plan to try to leave no stone unturned, for a safe and successful return to school. I commend our team and I want them to know how much I respect and appreciate their dedication to the challenge that none of us asked for. None of us wanted this challenge. If we could wake up and go back to mid-March or February and erase Covid off the map, I think all of us would do so".

School officials are considering a tiered approach, including a possible full reopening of school buildings, a combination of open buildings and online learning, or staying with remote learning as was done in the fourth quarter of this past year.
Several task force and administrative meetings have been held on the subject of the new school year, along with meetings with the local hospital, the county attorney’s office on attendance policy, and with educational service units and other districts.
Alexander says the plan being considered has undergone revisions.

"Dr. Nielsen was making revisions to the flow chart that we would use to explain how to maneuver when a student does test positive for Covid, or when a student does simply show symptoms of Covid. It's not a matter of if, folks, it's a matter of when and you all know that. I hope our general public who may be listening, understands that. It's not a matter of if we get to deal with it...it's a matter of when, and how. We will do so to the best possible scenarios, that we can".

More changes are possible to the district’s plan, once formal state guidance procedures are received.
"The bottom line is, I don't think this is a plan that will ever be solidly stamped, done and approved. It will be very fluid and flexible, throughout".

The July 28th meeting will be held at six p.m. Alexander says the district will stay in touch with parents on the district’s Facebook page, with a letter detailing the direction the district is headed.

It’s possible the district could have endorsement of its plan by the local public health district, by the special meeting date….along with State Department of Education guidance.