Schools set to open August 13

Summerland schools will have a normal opening, Aug. 13.

Superintendent Dale Martin made the announcement Monday during the board of education's regular meeting.

He distributed information about a health dial, which rates risk for COVID-19. The dial consists of green, yellow, orange and red levels.

North Central District Health Department will be creating a district-specific dial, according to Martin. It will change on a week-by-week basis.

Holt and Antelope counties are currently in the green.

"We're in the best color you can be in," he said.

Precautions will be in place when the bell rings for the first time this school year.

"We're planning on doing temperature checks and having kids wash and sanitize their hands when they enter the building," Martin said.

Bus drivers will perform temperature checks as students load on a school bus or van.

Social distancing will be practiced. Martin said it will be easier to achieve with smaller school sizes.

Water fountains be closed, but students will be able to fill water bottles.

Although ESU 8 personnel have informed districts they have secured a grant to provide masks, Martin said Summerland's current plan is not to require masks. Students and staff have the option to wear personal protection equipment if they choose.

The situation may change if the district moves into a different risk level.

Board member Steven Thiele asked how situations will be handled in green or yellow options on the health risk dial, if student or staff do not want to be in the building.

Martin said, "If they don't have exposure, if they're not being quarantined, basically we're requiring them to be here."

"If they're staff, they're using paid time off? There's no option to teach remote?" Thiele asked.

"It's a requirement to be here," Martin said.

Students will be counted as absent.

"We're not providing distance education for kids who choose to be home," the superintendent said.

The full plan will be available on the school website soon.