By Ben Rodgers
Editor
SUAMICO – Howard-Suamico superintendent Damian LaCroix said the feelings of uncertainty, paranoia and fear around COVID-19 are not new.
He said Y2K, H1N1 and 9/11 were all situations in recent history that tested the mettle of leaders.
“Here we find ourselves again,” LaCroix said. “It’s a different situation, but some similar types of feelings that probably all of us are harboring.”
He said due to the rapid ability of COVID-19 to spread, this is an “unprecedented” circumstance.
“The speed in which this has hit us has been rapid,” he said. “It’s been a dynamic, fluid situation. It’s been dramatic if you look at these events that occurred in the past week.”
Friday, March 13, Gov. Tony Evers mandated the closure of all public and private K-12 schools in Wisconsin by March 18.
Moments before the Monday, March 16, school board meeting, the date was moved to Tuesday, March 17.
The governor also banned all public and private gatherings of 50 or more people March 16.
“Collectively, as a community, we need to come together to contain this virus,” LaCroix said.
District leaders spoke with raspy voices as the past week has brought a flurry of preparation and communication to ensure the health of students, teachers and the community.
“Our team has responded really remarkably,” LaCroix said. “I’m proud of the way we’ve come together with a sense of competence and character.”
The district will continue with digital learning for two weeks after spring break, which runs from March 23-27.
Becky Walker, assistant superintendent of academics and innovation, said students from grade levels K-2 will have 60 minutes a day of instruction, students from 3-4 will have 90 minutes, grades 5-8 will have 20 minutes per course and high school students will be expected to complete 30 minutes per course during digital learning.
“The idea is to maintain the learning momentum and keep students learning through that time so we don’t have a drop off,” Walker said.
Jennie Garceau, director of student services, said the school district should have a pandemic response guide online for the public in the near future, after staff collaboration with the state health department and local health care providers.
Al Behnke, director of facilities, said surfaces in schools that are touched frequently by students are being disinfected daily.
He also said the district will hand out meals for students during the closure.
Mark Smith, assistant superintendent of organizational development, said staff will continue to get paid, and those workers who are hourly and not involved in direct instruction could be placed in a labor pool to assist with things like handing out meals.
The district launched a new website which happened to coincide with the pandemic.
However, the site has a dedicated space with updates and all letters sent to district parents regarding COVID-19.
It will soon have password-protected areas for staff to share concerns updates and on new developments.
LaCroix reminded board members about the curve and the goal to slow the spread of COVID-19, or flatten the infection rate.
“Certainly the health care system could be swamped if we don’t all come together in taking preventative measures,” he said. “As dramatic as this feels and seems, the goal is to engage early in this process and hopefully in the end have a curve that looks more like this, and time will tell.”