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PdC schools to be all virtual until Christmas break

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By Ted Pennekamp

 

During a special meeting Thursday night, the Prairie du Chien School Board unanimously voted to have all district schools remain 100 percent virtual learning until Christmas break, which begins Dec. 23.

The board will have its regular meeting on Dec. 14, when it will decide if school will stay virtual following Christmas break and for how long. Two dates that were mentioned were having the schools remain all virtual until Jan. 4 or Jan. 11, depending on COVID conditions in the district.

“We would all love to get back to face-to-face,” said District Administrator Andy Banasik, who noted that as of Dec. 3, there were 19 staff, including 10 teachers, who were under quarantine.

Banasik said some staff are uncomfortable with getting back to face-to-face at this time. Also, there is a feeling of, “Is this the tip of the iceberg?” He noted that health officials, including Crawford County Nurse Cindy Riniker, are concerned that the situation could worsen during and after Christmas break because of families getting together. Riniker is recommending that the district remain all virtual for 14 days following Christmas break.

United States health officials have urged people who must travel over the holidays to consider getting coronavirus tests before and after. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the best way to stay safe and protect others is to stay home. The CDC continues to say that a full 14-day quarantine is the safest course, but their new recommendations allow people who have not developed symptoms to leave isolation after 10 days, or seven days if they also receive a negative test.

Banasik said having enough staff is one of the main issues regarding whether the district can have face-to-face. He told the board he is leaning toward remaining all virtual until Jan. 8.

On a more positive note, Banasik said it seems that more education is being done in the all virtual environment compared to the mixture of virtual and face-to-face that the district had been using. Also, the district has continued to do very well with maintaining its meal programs during these challenging times.

Banasik also told the board that high school and middle school sports practices will begin on Dec. 7.

The school board also discussed snow days. It was noted that if there is a snow day, it will be made up on April 5. If there are more snow days, they will be made up in June.

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