Update on Uniontown USD 235 plans

USD 235 Superintendent Bret Howard on Monday updated district patrons on the district’s plans moving forward during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Due to a recent confirmed positive test result for COVID-19 in Bourbon County, Howard said, “At this time, we have no immediate plans to bring students back into our buildings in small group settings.”

Howard said district staff will proceed with planning Continuous Learning Plans next week by focusing on online learning opportunities using video conferencing and packet learning.

“We will provide more details to our parents/guardians when the entire plan is created,” he said. “We will not be ready to put our plan in place until Monday, March 30, at the earliest.”

Howard said district staff are reviewing options for continuing serving meals to students. The approved waiver from USDA allows the district to serve meals to anyone 1 to 18 years of age.

“With the confirmed positive test in Bourbon County, we will review our plan and make that plan/schedule available to the public as soon as possible. Our waiver does not allow us to serve meals during anytime we were scheduled to not have school. That is why we can’t serve meals this week during our scheduled spring break.

“Our building principals will attempt to create a scheduled in the next 7 to 14 days that allows you the opportunity to come and pick up your child’s personal items at school. With the current guidelines of no more than 10 in any area and no one within 6 feet of each other this will be difficult. We thank you for patience in these extraordinary times.”

Howard said district staff “still need the help of all parents/guardians in planning what our Continuous Learning Plan will look like in Uniontown USD 235.” Staff will use information collected in a survey of parents and guardians to being forming learning plans.

“Please continue to help us to spread the word asking all parents/guardians of students in Uniontown USD 235 to fill our tech survey. We have just over 450 students in our district and at this time, we have received a survey from 392.

The district’s administrative team and technology staff are meeting this week to gather information in preparation for staff to use in forming learning plans the week of March 30 — April 3.