District will do the best they can for opening safely

Cornell School Board

With a couple weeks until school starts, the Cornell School Board looked at what will happen, during a regular meeting July 27. Obviously, the start of the 2020-21 school year, will be quite different from in past years, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Middle and high school principal Dave Elliott, said the district is trying to figure out protocol, and how to monitor and enforce rules set in place by the school, as well as the department of health.

“We’re going to spend a lot of time teaching common sense,” he said.

Temperatures will be taken before entry on buses and at the door when kids arrive at the school. Parents will drop off kids north of the alley at the elementary school, as parents cannot enter the building. They will also pick up their kids on Fifth Street, to stay away from the bus area.

“High school, it’s not really so much of an issue,” said superintendent Paul Schley.

There will also be breakfast in the classrooms, with as many breakfast-on-a-stick and combo bars as food service can find, to simplify the process. Elementary kids will also use the city park, as well as the school playground, to break up groups.

“I already talked to the city about that, got the approval to use the park,” said Schley.

There will also be visual markings, such as an “X” on tables and desks for where students are to sit. Elliott says he may also have to assign seats and take away phones at lunch, as it’s recommended not to share your phone, because of germs.

Something Elliott is concerned over, is that most of the district’s substitute teachers are over 50 years of age, and therefore, may not want to be potentially exposed to the virus. Schley agreed, and said while they may not have to close the school because of too many students out sick, they could close from lack of enough teachers.

If the school would have to close down to quarantine or by state mandate, Schley is worried that many parents would need to send their kids to be watched by their grandparents, which is a concern for exposing the elderly to the virus.

“I was just floored by the number of districts that are two days a week, three days a week,” said Schley. “What do you do with those kids on the other days, if you’re working parents?”

Schley also questioned what single parents will do, if daycare is not available – would they have to quit their job?

“We work for the public, we gotta provide them options,” said Schley. “Us shutting down is the worst case scenario in my mind.”

For now, Cornell will start classes five days a week, for in-person learning, with an option for learning over Zoom from their teachers, or learning completely virtually through the eSucceed Virtual Charter School.

Elliott says they need figure how, for the teachers who use a whiteboard, to show the students online, so they can follow along with their classmates in the school room.

“Our teachers have experience with the eSucceed curriculum and there have been some classes added to that selection that we can use,” said Elliott.

“We want to try to make this as flexible as we can for everybody,” said Schley. Teachers will also keep kids working together in groups of four, so it’s easier to contact trace if there is a positive case.

“If it’s less than 15 minutes, within six feet, there may not be an issue at all,” said Schley.

Board treasurer Stephanie Seidlitz asked what cleaning measures will take place. Schley says he has ordered sanitizing kits, so custodial staff can spray a misting cleaning solution over the school on Wednesday nights, one reason after-school cannot be held in the building.

“We’re also hearing that it’s not as big of a concern… now they’re saying it’s really the face-to-face within six feet that’s the biggest issue, and not so much on touching,” said Schley. “Still, it’s always better to clean up more.”

“I haven’t looked recently, but I tried to find Clorox wipes a couple weeks ago, couldn’t find any,” said Seidlitz. “I just want to make sure our staff has that accessible to them.”

Schley says the custodians will do most of the cleaning at night and will wipe down bathrooms an extra time during the day, instead of waiting till the end of the school day.

“We’ll get more of that stuff as we need it,” said Schley of the cleaning supplies. “We’ll do as much as we can. It’s not going to be perfect.”

Sports are also somewhat up in the air, but the district is planning how games and practices will look. If there are middle school indoor games, they will be played at the high school, so there is more room to spread out.

“We’re going to try to be as close to normal as we can,” said Schley.

Schley says if you ask anyone, they are all over the board on what’s best for education, and physical and mental health.

“I feel as ready as we can be,” he said, “I just hope that nothing changes, so we have to change plans.”

Elliott says they are looking at Google Classroom on how to do dual teaching, as well as going over what will work with Zoom, based on the final semester of last year.

“It’s got to be a collaborative deal,” said Elliott.

Schley says the district has heard from a few families, but thinks many are waiting to see how things go before they commit to what they are doing for their child’s learning.

“We’re hearing more coming, than not coming,” said Elliott.

As part of their business at the meeting, the board approved a bread contract with Bimbo Bakeries; a milk contract with Kemps; and the hire of psychologist Lynda Lacina and guidance counselor Allison Schnobrich. Members also granted permission for Schley to hire for any vacancies before school starts, without bringing the requests before the board.

Schley said he has not heard of any established teacher leaving, so he isn’t worried he will need to utilize the permission.

“I think we’re good to go,” said Schley.

He also thanked school volunteer Dan Goller, who edged along sidewalks at the elementary. Goller thought the grass had grown too close to hanging over the sidewalk, so he fixed the problem on his own.

“So, that was nice of him to do so,” said Schley.