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COVID Forces Schools To Cancel Classes

COVID Forces Schools To Cancel Classes

COVID Forces Schools To Cancel Classes

School districts in the area are closing their doors for the rest of the week after rising COVID-19 cases.

Springfield and Ozark are canceling classes through Friday, both virtual and in-person. 

Schools in Republic and Willard are expected to finish the week through virtual learning.

Mountain Grove posted on its Facebook page that classes have been canceled for the rest of the week.

Press Release from Springfield Public Schools:

“At this time, the best option to address staffing shortages and help limit the further spread of COVID-19 is to temporarily close our schools and district offices beginning Wednesday, January 19. The district says it hopes by Monday, Jan. 24 to return to normal operations.

  • While district facilities are closed this week, all SPS sites will undergo a thorough cleaning.
  • The district’s centralized testing location will remain open, but COVID-19 testing will be limited to symptomatic SPS staff until further notice. This will allow SPS to accommodate the demand for appointments with the available inventory of test kits. For other testing opportunities, visit this website.
  • Grab-and-go meals will be available for students throughout the temporary closure and sign-up is required. Five days of meals will be available for pick-up on Wednesday, Jan. 19, from 4 to 5 p.m. at select sites. To sign up for meals and learn more about pick-up, use this form. Note: If you are currently enrolled in virtual learning and already receive grab-and-go meals, additional sign-up is not required.
  • If the current staffing shortages are not improved by Monday, the district will provide an update, which may include an extension of the temporary closure or a transition to virtual learning.

We understand that this change creates a disruption for families and have taken every measure available to avoid this step; however, we are currently unable to continue providing appropriate staffing in our schools. In consultation with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, we determined that this was the best approach for protecting the health and well-being of all those we serve.

SPS encourages you to practice social distancing by limiting public interactions, wearing a mask while in public settings, monitoring symptoms daily, scheduling a test if you’re symptomatic, and if you have not already done so, getting a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot.“

Press Release from Republic School District:

“Republic School District Families and Employees,

Earlier today we sent out THIS MESSAGE regarding the increase of illness in our district. While we are seeing some student illnesses, our employees are largely being impacted by COVID-19, influenza, and other illnesses. As the day has progressed, more employees have become ill which means we continue to have more and more unfilled vacancies to cover our classrooms, bus routes, kitchens, etc. We started the day with 84 employee absences and ended with nearly 100. Because of this increase in illness-related absences and the shortage of substitutes, Republic School District will implement the following plan for the remainder of the week:

  • Wednesday, January 19: A “no school” day for students and a “workday” for teachers to prepare for AMI learning on Thursday and Friday.
  • Thursday, January 20 and Friday, January 21: AMI learning days for students.

The goal in implementing this plan is to provide employees who are currently ill time to recover in hopes of reducing overall illness and reducing the need for substitutes.

Important Information about AMI learning:

  • Teachers will provide information and instructions to students and parents about remote learning through normal classroom communication tools by 3 p.m. on Wednesday (Seesaw, etc.).
  • RMS and RHS student assignments will be posted to Canvas by 7:30 a.m. on each day of AMI learning. EC and elementary teachers will post by 8:30 a.m.
  • Take note, our students work with these electronic learning tools (Canvas, Google Classroom, etc) regularly. They will be comfortable using these tools remotely as well.
  • AMI learning will consist of students independently completing teacher-provided assignments and activities through online tools (Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.) and/or paper packets. No “class meetings” will be held. Students will work at their own pace remotely.
  • AMI learning days are considered “mandatory,” as in regular school attendance will be taken. Students who do not participate in the provided instruction will be counted absent.
  • Teachers will be available throughout the AMI day via email or Google Meet for assistance if needed.
  • EC and elementary: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • RMS and RHS: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Wifi hotspots are available in limited supply to pick up at each school building for families who indicated the need for internet support at the beginning of the school year.

Other Important Details:

  • Due to staff shortages, STRIPES 360 care will not be available on Wednesday. However, we are working to make a limited number of spaces available for current K-5 Tiger STRIPES families to be open on Thursday and Friday. Current STRIPES 360 families will be notified tomorrow at noon with registration details. Enrollment will open at this time and will be first come first serve.
  • If you or someone you know is interested in subbing, WE NEED YOU!!!! Visit https://penmac.lpages.co/penmac-education/ for details.
  • Free sack meals for students (including breakfast and lunch items) will be available for pick-up between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at Republic Middle School. To pick up meals follow the traffic map below (same route as in the past) to the backside of RMS. Stay in your vehicle and a food service employee will bring you the meals needed.”

Press Release from the Ozark School District:

“Ozark families,

We will close Wednesday, Jan. 19 – Friday, Jan. 21, and there will be NO virtual learning. Friday will actually be our fifth weather/COVID closure, however, with our current illness rate, we will not implement virtual learning on Friday. At this point, students would not have to make up that day. However, that could change if we have too many more weather/COVID closure days.

We are hoping this break will help give people time to get healthy and drastically decrease our students and staff absence numbers. We believe in-person learning is what’s best for our students, and at this point, we plan to be back in person on Monday, Jan. 24. We will notify families on Sunday, Jan. 23 of our status.

Many types of illness, including COVID-19, are running through our buildings. If you are not feeling well, please stay home, rest, and get better.

Activities will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Coaches and sponsors will let you know if an event is canceled or rescheduled.

OTC, GOCAPS & MOCAP

  • OTC classes currently remain in session. OHS students enrolled in OTC courses will need to attend as scheduled.
  • Students enrolled in GOCAPS will continue their normal GOCAPS schedule.
  • Students enrolled in online MOCAP classes should continue their online courses unless their online instructor tells them otherwise.”

Press Release from Willard Public Schools:

“Due to staff shortages and student absences because of illness, the District has made the decision to move to Alternative Method of Instruction (AMI) for the remainder of the week (January 19, 20, 21). The District will continue to monitor the situation.

Breakfast and Lunches – Provided

• Breakfast/Lunch will be provided as a drive through option in front of Willard High School and Willard Intermediate School South from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. over the next three days (January 19, 20 & 21).

Technology – Devices + Hot Spots

• K-12 students will be sent home with their devices today.
• If your student is not in class today, please reach out to your student’s building to schedule a time to pick up your student’s device.
Hot spots are available and each building will work to provide them to students as needed.

Tiger TALES

• Tiger TALES will not be in session during the scheduled AMI days (January 19, 20, 21).

Athletics and Activities

• Athletics and activities will continue as scheduled.

We will continue to make decisions that are in the best interest of students and staff. These decisions will help to facilitate a safe and healthy learning environment for all. We thank you for your patience, cooperation, and flexibility during these unpredictable times.

Stay well!

Willard Public Schools

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