COVD-19
Uinta County School District # 1 (UCSD #1)
FAQ - School Closure
Current as of March 18, 2020
Will we need to make up the days between March 16 and April 3, 2020?
WDE Memo 2020-040: “In an effort to grant school districts maximum flexibility in responding to these challenges, I am exercising my authority under W.S. 21-13-307(a) (ii)(B) to hold districts harmless from daily proportional reduction of block grant funding due to school closures. I am approving all school closures occurring on school calendar days from March 16 to April 3, 2020 for this purpose. This action is necessary for public health, safety, and welfare.
This waiver will reduce the 185 days of required operational days and the 175 required instructional days by the number of days that are currently calendared through April 3. I will continue to evaluate and monitor the current situation to determine if additional approvals are necessary.”
UCSD #1 administration, in talking with Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow on the morning of March 17, 2020 (Tuesday), she stated that school districts will be held harmless regarding days from now until April 3, 2020. School districts WILL NOT have to make up the days between March 16 through April 3, 2020.
Will UCSD #1 be providing meals for students during the closure?
To support our children’s health and nutrition within our community, UCSD #1 has set up five (5) sites where families can come pick up breakfast & lunch sack meals. The locations for pickup are as follows: North Evanston Elementary, Clark Elementary, Evanston Middle School, Davis Middle School, and Horizon Jr/Sr High.
Pickup times will be from 8:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Monday through Friday. For your convenience, stop by one of the schools, and pick up both a breakfast and lunch grab and go bag. This meal will be available to all children ages 18 and under in our community. The child must be present to receive the grab and go bag. This is not an income-based program, all children are welcome. There will be no charge for these meals.
We hope that this program will support our children within the community. Please limit your participation if you or your children are showing any signs of fever, coughing, or other flu-like symptoms. This will help prevent the spread of illness throughout our community, as our goal is to get our children back to school as soon as safely possible.
Will UCSD #1 have spring break?
The decision to have spring break from April 6 - 10, 2020 is on hold. To modify the school calendar requires action by the UCSD #1 Board of Trustees. As an organization, we will wait and see what transpires with the COVID 19 outbreak. We will follow the recommendations from the state of Wyoming and the Uinta County Public Health officials.
Why did UCSD #1 choose a “hard closure” over a “soft closure?”
UCSD #1 fully supports federal and state recommendations to stop the spread of COVID-19. A hard close protects our students, staff, and community at the highest level. The goal of a hard close is to keep our students, staff, and community healthy and to get them back to school or work as soon as safely possible. UCSD #1 is taking the efforts to “flatten the curve” very seriously.
If my student has an IEP (Individual Education Plan), will he/she receive services during the school closure?
UCSD #1 will continue to consult with public health, state, and local officials to determine when school will resume. When school has resumed, UCSD #1 will continue to follow directives from the WDE (Wyoming Department of Education) and OSERS (Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services) in how to deliver regularly determined IEP services and special education evaluation(s). To be clear, all IEP services, as well as IEP related evaluation(s), have been suspended until school is cleared to resume.
Please see link below sent to parents 3-17-20 (via email) and 3-18-20 (via US Postal Service)
Will there be a graduation ceremony for Evanston and Horizon High School?
The EHS and HHS graduations have NOT been canceled as of this date. To make a modification to graduation requires an action of the board of trustees. As an organization, we will wait and see what transpires with the COVID-19 outbreak and make decisions as they become necessary to be made.
How will the school closure affect senior projects?
Senior projects are “as scheduled” at this time. Mr. Lester has contacted all of the seniors regarding senior projects. Seniors that have extenuating circumstances and will not be able to complete their projects by the scheduled date, need to contact Mr. Lester via “Remind”. Please take this time to work on your projects as you are able.
Will Evanston and Horizon High School still have Prom and Promenade?
Prom and Promenade have been rescheduled for early May. There will be more information provided by EHS when school resumes.
Will there be parent-teacher conferences held at the elementary schools for the 3rd quarter?
Due to the school closure from March 16 through April 3, 2020, the Parent/Teacher Conferences that were scheduled for the week of March 23rd will be rescheduled on a date to be determined when school resumes.
What if my child is enrolled in a college course at Evanston High School?
All concurrent enrollment courses through WWCC were suspended by BOCES #1 until March 30th. We will update this page when we get more information regarding concurrent enrollment courses.
How do I keep my child or children academically active during the school closure?
UCSD #1 has a wide variety of digital tools students can access from the district web page (www.uinta1.com). Students can access these digital tools by going to the district website clicking on the resources tab, then clicking on the Digital Tools for Students section. Students have a specific username and password to access these tools. If your child needs their username and/or password, please email your child’s classroom teacher.
Please follow your email as your child's teacher may be providing suggestions on how to stay academically engaged. The following link will provide parents a list of software the district currently provides for our students. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vJdKKwDA9OECYggOC2FV3pf7piLmnwgZV0fUOrXczQU/edit
Will students take the ACT and WY-TOPP state assessments this year?
The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) has assured districts that there will be flexibility granted regarding the assessment windows. The U.S. Department of Education (USED) is considering one-year waivers for schools unable to test 95% of their students. Also, the WDE has provided multiple alternate ACT testing dates. If none of the dates work, ACT will provide vouchers for students to take the assessment during any of the national testing dates.
There will be more information forthcoming in regard to the WY-TOPP assessment.