January 26, 2021
January 11, 2021
I am writing to share that, upon consulting closely with the Stark County Health Department, the Dickinson Public School Board decided this evening to move to a full-time in-person learning model. We have made this decision based on a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases in our area.
Starting Tuesday, January 19, students will begin the transition to in-person learning, five days per week for all levels (elementary, middle, and high school). At that time, we will no longer use our current hybrid model.
• All elementary and middle school students will return to full-time in-person instruction on January 19.
• The high school will return to full-time in-person instruction on Wednesday, January 21.
Please know that the health, safety, and well-being of our school community remains our top priority. We will continue to follow sound protocols aligned with expert health guidance to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect everyone’s health.
To that end, students and staff will be required to wear masks and engage in social distancing when possible. We will also continue encouraging frequent hand-washing and we will continue to thoroughly clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces and common areas regularly.
In addition, we will continue to offer a full-time distance learning option for families who do not yet feel comfortable having their students return to school. If you would like to discuss this option, please call your student’s school office as soon as possible.
Please visit the DPS Reopening Plan & Distance Learning Plan and the DPS Health Plan for further information about returning to school, Once again, thank you for your patience, grace, and flexibility this school year. Your principal will follow up soon with more details about the transition.
Sincerely,
Dr. Shon Hocker
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to frequently asked questions our families, students, and community members may have regarding the Dickinson Public Schools’ plan to return to full in-person learning.
Will students and staff need to wear masks? Currently, the state of North Dakota remains under the mask mandate issued by Governor Burgum. However, if the mandate is lifted, all employees and students will wear masks or facial cloth coverings where social distancing is not possible or reasonable. Staff, following the direction of the Building Leadership Team, will continue to provide opportunities for students to remove their facemasks when appropriate (e.g., planned breaks, when utilizing outdoor spaces, in small group settings, etc.).
How will the district ensure physical distancing takes place in school buildings? Each school Building Leadership Team will develop protocols for use of congregate spaces/activities. (e.g. cafeterias, common areas, etc.)
How will the district monitor students’ health? Each school Building Leadership Team will identify a process for monitoring students and staff for symptoms of COVID-19 which will include the taking of staff and student temperatures. Individuals entering our buildings will continue to have their temperature taken at the door.
I am not yet comfortable sending my child to school. Can I have them continue with remote learning only this school year? Yes. We will continue to offer a distance learning option for families who do not yet feel comfortable having their students return to school.
What should I do if my child starts to exhibit flu-like symptoms? Students exhibiting flu-like symptoms, as well as staff exhibiting flu-like symptoms, are asked to stay home. For additional information or questions, please use the North Dakota Department of Health COVID-19 Exclusion Guidance: Decision Tree for Schools.
How will the district clean buildings, rooms, and surfaces to ensure a safe learning environment? The district will continue to use our enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols to keep students, staff, and families safe while COVID-19 remains with us.
Will the district close schools if a certain number of students or staff report illnesses? Yes, the district is preparing for situations in which school buildings or classrooms may need to close due to a significant number of students or staff testing positive for COVID-19 or reporting other illnesses.
What are the district’s plans for transitioning back to remote learning if schools need to be closed again in the future? The decision to transition between risk levels will be based on circumstances occurring within the community. If extended school closures become necessary during the remaining school year, the district will be ready to quickly transition to remote learning. While we recognize that the transition last spring was not perfect, we learned a great deal about how to improve the process in the future. Our administrators, teachers, and staff continue to make great progress in planning for this scenario.
Shon Hocker, Ed.D. Superintendent 444 4th Street West Dickinson, ND 58601-4951 shocker@dpsnd.org www.dickinson.k12.nd.us (701) 456-0002 Fax: (701) 456-0035
I am writing to share that, upon consulting closely with the Stark County Health Department, the Dickinson Public School Board decided this evening to move to a full-time in-person learning model. We have made this decision based on a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases in our area.
Starting Tuesday, January 19, students will begin the transition to in-person learning, five days per week for all levels (elementary, middle, and high school). At that time, we will no longer use our current hybrid model.
• All elementary and middle school students will return to full-time in-person instruction on January 19.
• The high school will return to full-time in-person instruction on Wednesday, January 21.
Please know that the health, safety, and well-being of our school community remains our top priority. We will continue to follow sound protocols aligned with expert health guidance to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect everyone’s health.
To that end, students and staff will be required to wear masks and engage in social distancing when possible. We will also continue encouraging frequent hand-washing and we will continue to thoroughly clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces and common areas regularly.
In addition, we will continue to offer a full-time distance learning option for families who do not yet feel comfortable having their students return to school. If you would like to discuss this option, please call your student’s school office as soon as possible.
Please visit the DPS Reopening Plan & Distance Learning Plan and the DPS Health Plan for further information about returning to school, Once again, thank you for your patience, grace, and flexibility this school year. Your principal will follow up soon with more details about the transition.
Sincerely,
Dr. Shon Hocker
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to frequently asked questions our families, students, and community members may have regarding the Dickinson Public Schools’ plan to return to full in-person learning.
Will students and staff need to wear masks? Currently, the state of North Dakota remains under the mask mandate issued by Governor Burgum. However, if the mandate is lifted, all employees and students will wear masks or facial cloth coverings where social distancing is not possible or reasonable. Staff, following the direction of the Building Leadership Team, will continue to provide opportunities for students to remove their facemasks when appropriate (e.g., planned breaks, when utilizing outdoor spaces, in small group settings, etc.).
How will the district ensure physical distancing takes place in school buildings? Each school Building Leadership Team will develop protocols for use of congregate spaces/activities. (e.g. cafeterias, common areas, etc.)
How will the district monitor students’ health? Each school Building Leadership Team will identify a process for monitoring students and staff for symptoms of COVID-19 which will include the taking of staff and student temperatures. Individuals entering our buildings will continue to have their temperature taken at the door.
I am not yet comfortable sending my child to school. Can I have them continue with remote learning only this school year? Yes. We will continue to offer a distance learning option for families who do not yet feel comfortable having their students return to school.
What should I do if my child starts to exhibit flu-like symptoms? Students exhibiting flu-like symptoms, as well as staff exhibiting flu-like symptoms, are asked to stay home. For additional information or questions, please use the North Dakota Department of Health COVID-19 Exclusion Guidance: Decision Tree for Schools.
How will the district clean buildings, rooms, and surfaces to ensure a safe learning environment? The district will continue to use our enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols to keep students, staff, and families safe while COVID-19 remains with us.
Will the district close schools if a certain number of students or staff report illnesses? Yes, the district is preparing for situations in which school buildings or classrooms may need to close due to a significant number of students or staff testing positive for COVID-19 or reporting other illnesses.
What are the district’s plans for transitioning back to remote learning if schools need to be closed again in the future? The decision to transition between risk levels will be based on circumstances occurring within the community. If extended school closures become necessary during the remaining school year, the district will be ready to quickly transition to remote learning. While we recognize that the transition last spring was not perfect, we learned a great deal about how to improve the process in the future. Our administrators, teachers, and staff continue to make great progress in planning for this scenario.
Shon Hocker, Ed.D. Superintendent 444 4th Street West Dickinson, ND 58601-4951 shocker@dpsnd.org www.dickinson.k12.nd.us (701) 456-0002 Fax: (701) 456-0035
