USD 470 will be allowing elementary students to return to a hybrid model of learning Tuesday, according to a news release Thursday.
There is no school Monday due to Martin Luther King Day, however, the USD 470 School Board announced Friday it will hold a special meeting Monday at 5:30 p.m.
The lone item on the agenda is an action item titled, “Return to School Planning and Dates.”
The meeting will be streamed via https://www.usd470.com/boemeeting.
The Winfield USD 465 School Board voted Monday to return its students to in-person learning Jan. 19.
Cases of the virus continue to rise in Cowley County.
According to Friday’s report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 3,092 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the county since March and deaths attributed to virus are estimated to number 50 or more. Earlier this week Cowley County Public Health Officer Thomas Langer reported 53 people in the county have died because of the virus and that he expects that number to increase.
Friday, KDHE tallied 256,134 cases of COVID-19 across the state since the pandemic began and statewide deaths now number 3,502 so far. Nationwide, deaths are approaching 400,000 since March.
Local statistics no longer appear on the City-Cowley County Health Department’s website.
Like at the start of the school year, Track A Ark City PK-5 students will attend in-person Mondays and Tuesdays and Track B will attend in-person Thursdays and Fridays.
To check your child’s track, login to PowerSchool and click “Grades and Attendance”. The track should be listed by their name.
Meals will still be available to pick up on Monday from 3-4:30 p.m. at Ark City Middle School. Track A students have the opportunity to take meals home on Tuesdays and Track B students will be able to take their meals home on Fridays. If you would like to add your child to the meal list (or remove them), please contact the school.
If your child qualifies for transportation services and you need to make a change to their plan, please contact the USD 470 Transportation Department at 620-441-2084 as soon as possible.
As we transition back to learning in-person, please know that all safety protocols will remain in place.
Students (and staff members) are expected to wear masks, have their temperatures taken before entering the building, and wash/sanitize hands hourly. Even on remote learning days, parents should notify the school if their child is ill, quarantined, or if any other member of the household is being tested or is positive for COVID-19.
Parents Allowed For Sports
The City-Cowley County Health Department has eased restrictions on spectator events for Cowley County schools.
Effective Jan. 14, two spectators per participant are allowed to watch USD 470 activity events in person.
These spectators must be the participant’s parent/legal guardian and follow all KSHSAA and USD 470 rules and safety protocols such as wearing a mask and maintaining a safe social distance to the greatest extent possible.
The updated spectator restrictions will be in place through at least Jan. 28.
