Skip to main content

Update from the Superintendent

Gibbon Nation,

The school district has closed a history-making end to the school year, and it is important that we celebrate all that was accomplished in response to a monumental challenge called COVID-19.  Teachers were thrown into an alternate learning environment with little time to prepare, students were thrown into an environment and asked to manage their own time while attending to academic requirements, and parents were asked to monitor learning while they also tended to the needs of their families.  OUR collective response has been overwhelmingly positive and I wish to thank students, parents, teachers, and our community for their tremendous effort.

What can parents, students, and the community expect for the start of the 2020-21 School Year?

We are hopeful that we can start school in a “normal environment” with students arriving at school on August 12th.  However, news and conditions associated with COVID-19 changes daily requiring us to consider a number of different approaches to the opening of school next fall.  As a result, we are preparing several different plans for the start to the next school year that include:


  • A traditional start on August 12th.
  • A traditional start on August 12th with an interruption occurring at some point in the year.  Similar to what we experienced this past school year.
  • A September start to the school year beginning on September 8th.
  • A start to the school on August 12th in an alternate learning environment.


Our goal is to have plans established by July 1st but will ask for patience as our planning efforts may be impacted by decisions beyond our control.  The school district will continue to monitor and comply with district health measures, mandates by the Governor and the Commissioner of Education, and guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Please monitor the district’s website and social media accounts for more information about the start of the next school year.

Graduation

We want and are still planning for a traditional graduation ceremony to occur on July 25th.  However, we are living in uncertain times and the conditions in which ceremonies can occur seem to change each week.  Please monitor the district website for more information about graduation.

The Weight Room

The weight room will open June 1 for Gibbon athletes and coaches with restrictions.  Athletes should be in contact with their coaches for the schedule.  NSAA and CDC guidelines will be in place. 

The weight room and school facilities will remain closed for public use until further notice.

Given the conditions, we live in changes daily, and understanding the reality that we face a global pandemic of epic proportions, educators are forced to view conditions about school differently and are expected to plan accordingly.  We are excited to see our students and parents again next fall.  We have truly missed seeing our young people in the halls each day.  To increase the likelihood that we see everyone in August, we hope that everyone remains safe, practices social distancing, and takes the necessary precautions to protect themselves from contracting this virus.  While we know challenges remain, we are quite confident in the resolve of Gibbon Nation.   Go Buffaloes!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Access to the School Facility

I was recently made aware of Facebook posts claiming the school district is not allowing representatives of the community to use the school facility. This claim is highly inaccurate and using social media to make posts of this nature creates confusion, frustration and sometimes anger that unfortunately places the school district in a negative light with the community. This version of SUPTs On is intended to address this false information. I’ve listed several “FACTS” that supported the district’s decision to tighten up safety and security through a keyless entry system and a facility use form. FACT: Given events that have occurred internationally, nationally, and within the state of Nebraska, we can no longer ignore the reality that violence can occur in our community or in our school district at any time. Think back to this past summer when an incident that involved a shooting occurred in Gibbon. This reality demands a practice and the commitment to co...

The Approach to Public Concern Over Corona Virus

Gibbon Nation, I am confident you have had several opportunities to listen to multiple news reports on the Coronavirus Outbreak, and I am also confident folks have many questions about how your school district is responding to this crisis.  This version of SUPTs On is intended to share the district’s approach to this public concern. This past Sunday, every superintendent in the state of Nebraska participated in a video-conference call with the Commissioner of Education to learn more about the outbreak, specifics associated with the virus, and how school districts across the state of Nebraska are responding to a particular incident.  These conference calls will occur each Sunday until we have weathered this particular storm. Today, superintendents from school districts across Central Nebraska, met at Educational Service Unit #10 in Kearney to visit with Jeremy Eschliman, the Health Director at Two Rivers Public Health Department.  During this meeting, I recommended t...

Update from Dr. Fisher

Hi Gibbon Nation.  Wow.  These past several weeks have been interesting and panic associated with COVID-19 challenged a sense of normalcy for the entire world.  What was considered normal a few weeks ago is no longer normal today.  That is especially true for educators and public schools. Students, families, educators, and support staff left for spring break and the world was somewhat normal.  I venture to say no one thought March 12th would be the last day school would operate in the traditional sense.   On March 16th, the COVID-19 Pandemic immediately threw the school district into a new normal, “alternate learning environments,” without an opportunity to adequately prepare for this experience.  As a result, students, parents, families, educators and entire communities were thrown into a world where folks were asked to stay home and education would occur … “differently.” Overall, I am extremely proud of the way parents, students and the sc...