News
JCSD1 Schools Closed Through April 3rd
Johnson County School District #1 has made the decision to close all schools through April 3rd due to coronavirus concerns.
The district announced Sunday they would close schools through Thursday to give officials time to re-evaluate the situation, but announced the extended closure on Monday.
In a release from Superintendent Jim Wagner posted on the Clear Creek Middle School Facebook page, Wagner said the district would follow the recommendations from Governor Mark Gordon and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow to close schools until April 3rd.
Wagner said the district will, on that date, evaluate the situation further.
The release also outlined the district’s plans for student meals and for online learning during the school closure.
We have posted the letter to staff and parents here:
Dear Parents/Guardians/Staff
Today, the Governor of Wyoming and the Wyoming Superintendent have recommended that all schools in the state including Johnson County School District follow the recommendation of closing school buildings through April 3rd. We always look at the safety of our students as our number 1 priority.
We have decided to follow the recommendation and close schools through April 3rd. Upon that date, we will evaluate the information that we receive on the issues of the virus as it happens over the next three weeks. In the meantime, the schools will be putting plans together for staff and students. If anything during the next three weeks changes, parents will be notified as soon as possible as we understand this difficult situation for all families and our two communities.
All staff are expected to report to their assigned buildings for a staff meeting at 8:00 am to go over details Monday March 16th. Students will be allowed into buildings to get their supplies from their lockers between the hours of 10:00-2:00 in all buildings on Monday, March 16th only.
In an effort to make sure students will be receiving their meals, JCSD1 will provide a lunch for any school aged student K-12 during the time of the closure March 16-April 3rd. Meals will be a grab-and-go bagged lunch that can be picked up Monday through Friday between 11am-1:00pm in the drop-off lane of Meadowlark Elementary for Buffalo students and at the back door by the playground for Kaycee students. In order to have enough meals prepared, please contact Ricci Sanders at 307-620-9206 for Buffalo and Kaycee students.
If you need a meal for your children and are unable to get to the designated meal locations, please contact Ricci Sanders so arrangements can be made to get meals to your family and location. We are working with Johnson County Friends Feeding Friends and the Bread of Life food pantry to work out details for students who also need a breakfast. Details for this will follow.
Staff will be putting plans together for online learning starting Wednesday, March 18th to continue the education for Reading and Math. If other subject areas can be utilized online, those plans will be shared with parents and students from their teachers. As we try to get devices in the hands of the students to use at home, we are asking parents to let the building administrators know if they need a device or do not need a device. We are trying to coordinate one device per household for those who need it.
Spectrum internet is offering free internet for families who do not have access at home for free during this period. The number to call for this service is 844-488-8395. The district will make every effort we can to continue learning during this difficult period.
All extra-curricular activities will be suspended and not allowed to meet during this closure. Please remind your children to limit their exposure to other students until the county and the state gets a grasp of the magnitude of the problem. As of this moment, Johnson County has not had any confirmed cases of COVID-19. Sheridan county is currently dealing with 3 confirmed cases.
Again, this has been a difficult situation to coordinate and to find solutions during this time. I apologize ahead of this for the inconvenience this has and will cause.
Sincerely,
Jim
Wagner, Superintendent
JCSD1
