PCS Superintendent Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
June 5, 2020
Parents/Guardians/Patrons/Staff,
Good evening. The heat is on! Summer is right around the corner.
We continue to experience a lot of uncertainty with COVID-19 and other matters in our society. I believe it is important for us to continue exhibiting the essence of our mission statement that is working in partnership to ensure academic achievement, responsible behavior, and civic engagement with (and for) everyone, regardless of gender, disability, race, color, religion, veteran status, national or ethnic origin, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, or any other status.
Based on the most recent directed health measure (DHM) from Governor Ricketts, we will be in Phase II of reopening as of June 1. In addition to weight rooms, baseball, and softball, there are many other activities that are being allowed and numerous businesses that are opening with various restrictions. Some of the activities and businesses that are being allowed with restrictions include gatherings, bars, restaurants, gyms, salons, barbershops, massage therapy services, tattoo parlors, weddings, funerals, churches, and childcare.
Although Governor Ricketts and the Nebraska School Activities Association released guidance that it is allowable to have up to 25 student-athletes in the weight room at one time, starting June 1, 2020, at PCS (unless circumstances warrant a later date), we intend to implement a plan that includes no more than 10 student-athletes at a time with strength training in the fitness center and another ten student-athletes conditioning on the football/soccer field (weather permitting). Coach Bob Dzuris, Coach Steve Owens, and Coach Curtis Larsen are leading the implementation of our strength and conditioning program with this format for student-athletes that will be in 9th through 12th grades in the 2020-2021 school year while maintaining a focus on the health and safety of our student-athletes and staff members.
We do not plan to open the fitness center for public use, until after at least June 30, 2020. We will reassess the viability of opening the fitness center for public use after we have adjusted to students using the building and have time to consider further opening of the facility.
Additionally, Governor Ricketts noted that team organized practices for baseball and softball may begin June 1st. We developed a plan for how we can do this with primarily student-athletes that will be in 9th through 12th grades in the 2020-2021 school year., while maintaining a focus on the health and safety for participants and fans, with an emphasis on teams that wish to rent our facilities and their team(s) are comprised of primarily high school-age players. Given the current COVID-19 environment, these organizations have enhanced guidelines relative to the lease agreement, insurance, and facilities responsibilities.
In an effort to maintain health and safety for children and adults, we do not plan to open other indoor or outdoor facilities for public use during the month of June. June will be a trial period for indoor facilities with our students in the fitness center. I believe it is worthy of pointing out that we also do not plan to have childcare (including POPS Place) at any of our buildings during the month of June.
I anticipate that we will continue to receive a variety of COVID-19 feedback from Governor Pete Ricketts, Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Commissioner Matt Blomstedt, Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) Executive Director Jay Bellar, and Sarpy/Cass Health Department Director Sarah Schram. Links are available below to access information from various organizations. Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate uncharted waters together. I believe we will successfully get through this unfortunate situation with much time and perseverance.
State of Nebraska (Governor Pete Ricketts)
https://governor.nebraska.gov/
Nebraska Department of Education (Commissioner Dr. Matt Blomstedt)
Nebraska School Activities Association (Executive Director Jay Bellar)
Sarpy/Cass Health Department (Director Sarah Schram)
https://www.sarpycasshealthdepartment.org/
Plattsmouth Community Schools (Dr. Richard E. Hasty)
What can we do right now? All of us can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and “flatten the curve.” Please go to the page on our website at https://bit.ly/2xzwOu3 to stay informed about COVID-19, including how to protect yourself and your family. It should help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Wed., May 6 - Honors Night is posted on the Blue Devil Television (BDTV) page of our website. Go to www.pcsd.org > For Community > BDTV. Thank you to Mrs. Ayala for spending many hours preparing the virtual experience to honor our students, particularly our seniors. Thus far, we have approximately $950,000 in scholarships for our seniors.
Sat., May 9 - An audio Graduation Broadcast was live at 10:00 AM. Thank you to Mr. Halvorsen and Mrs. Ayala for coordinating the broadcast with our students.
Tue., May 19-A virtual broadcast of 8th-grade graduation is available at https://youtu.be/dI9y7ngkOS4. Thank you to Michelle Knight for preparing the virtual broadcast to recognize our 8th graders and their accomplishments.
Fri., July 17 - Prom is scheduled for this evening. Contact prom sponsor Mrs. Negrete with questions at jnegrete@pcsd.org.
Sat., July 25 - A traditional, in-person ceremony in which students walk and receive their diplomas has been scheduled for this day. We will also need approval from local health officials for the in-person ceremony. We are hopeful that the weather will cooperate with us and the in-person ceremony can be held outside in our turf stadium. The latest information from Governor Ricketts indicates that there is even greater hope for our in-person graduation, with the understanding that there will likely be restrictions.
Bond Construction Progress - We have a link on our website where you can access video showing the progress with bond construction on our campuses. Check out the latest bond construction video at https://www.pcsd.org/Page/3965.
Save Our Restaurants - Help our restaurants during the COVID-19 environment. Information about obtaining food from our restaurants can be found at https://bit.ly/2SNJ7uB.
Thank you to our students, parents, and staff members for their high levels of engagement in the remote learning environment. Our continuity of learning plan (CLP) is available at https://bit.ly/2x07ptL. Our dedicated professionals have demonstrated exceptional resilience and perseverance in supporting our children and families. If you have questions or comments about anything related to the remote learning plans for your children, including summer learning, please contact the building principals where your children attend school.
Thank you to everyone that participated in the survey from PCS and Educational Service Unit #3. We plan to provide an update in the near future.
The Plattsmouth Community Schools and OPAA! continue to provide food for families at no charge for any child in a household from birth to age 18 regardless of income. Meals are being distributed by the sidewalk near the front entrance of Plattsmouth Middle School at 1724 8th Ave. Meals are distributed each weekday in one shift between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Each child will receive one lunch for that day and one breakfast for the following day. We plan to continue this format on weekdays through the summer until Fri., July 31, 2020. Everyone that has been receiving deliveries will continue to receive them in the same format that has been used up to this point with one delivery per week.
To help us get an accurate meal count, if you need food assistance, please call 402-296-3361 and provide the necessary information.
Our school social workers prepared their last message of the 2020-2021 school year that includes tips for coping with COVID-19. Go to https://bit.ly/3bUCg9p and read their message.
If you or someone you know needs assistance with water, food, or other supplies, please contact the school social worker at the building where your child attends school. Early childhood-Bri Renninger at brenninger@pcsd.org, elementary school-Sarah Coniglio at sconiglio@pcsd.org, middle school-Sara Barada at sbarada@pcsd.org, and high school-Keryl Mines at kmines@pcsd.org.
Our Board Board of Education agendas for Monday, June 8, 2020, are available at https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/56. Please check them out.
2020-2021 State Aid Certification is available from the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) at https://www.education.ne.gov/fos/state-aid/. PCS will have a decrease of $565,916 in State Aid for 2020-2021. When we figure in the prior year (2018-2019) correction of +$128,469 that we received in 2019-2020, the difference between 2019-2020 State Aid and 2020-2021 State Aid is even greater. At the May meeting, our Board of Education approved the 2020-2021 Budget Efficiency Plan that can be viewed at https://bit.ly/2WU23u1. Scroll down to item 7.15.
The good news is that in 2020-2021 we estimate the second year of approximately 100 students entering kindergarten, as opposed to lower numbers from the immediately preceding years that are evident in our 1st grade (78 students), 2nd grade (88 students), 3rd, grade (93 students) and 4th grade (93 students). If you have suggestions for how our district might be more efficient with resources and address the decrease in State Aid, please submit your ideas in the Business Services/Budget section under District Topics on our Let’s Talk site at https://bit.ly/2Y9ua9N.
Stay safe. We are Blue Devil Nation! We are #PLATTSMOUTHSTRONG!
Best regards,
Superintendent Dr. Richard E. Hasty
Congratulations to our 2020 Board of Education members and newly elected officers representing Blue Devil Nation!
The Plattsmouth Education Foundation awarded education grants to Kristen Allen, Emma Shaner, Marla Smith, and Becky Stoskopf. Congratulations!
Campus Parent Portal will have a new look beginning July 9th. When you log into your parent portal it will look different. See below for instructions on how to navigate through your new portal. Remember to download the new app. The old app will be removed from the app store soon.
If you still need to register your student, click on the tab For Parents then Infinite Campus. Once you have logged into your portal, select “MORE” from the dropdown menu on the left-hand side of your portal page to access the Online Registration link. Click on “Online Registration” to begin.
Thank you to everyone that provided input into our PCS strategic planning process. Click the title above for more information.
