The Burns Flat-Dill City School District began the new year last week and of about 585 students enrolled, only around 25 are attending through distance learning.
Superintendent Larry Johnson commented this week, “School is going really well. We’re very concerned about being able take the precautions because of COVID-19.”
Johnson said about five in the elementary school are distance learning and around 20 in the Junior High are too.
Masks are required of all students in grades 4-12, Johnson said, and “it’s optional for grades below that unless we have a teacher who wants their students to wear them.”
He mentioned, too, “We have teachers who have gone through cancer treatments, students whose parents have gone through it and some students live with grandparents.”
The school district is furnishing masks and students may bring their own if they wish. Johnson said, “They are receiving two masks. One is a disposable mask and a mask they can wash. Students riding the bus and bus drivers must wear them”
Johnson stated, “We’re serving all students a grab and go breakfast. They grab their breakfast and take it to their classroom. We’ve added lunch periods so we’re having the students eat lunch in the cafeteria where we are social distancing.”
He said they are sitting only on one side of the table.
“Our students and teachers are cleaning their classrooms at least twice a day, most of them are doing it more,” Johnson commented.
“I hired an additional staff member to disinfect the buildings each day after school. That staff member uses an Electro-static sprayer that cleans the whole chair, goes completely around it.
“Bus drivers are spraying down their buses twice a day. Hand sanitizer is in each room and students and teachers are washing their hands frequently,” he continued.
Johnson pointed out he thinks the kids have been great, there have been no issues “They want to be in school,” he believes.
Regarding athletics, Johnson said the fast pitch softball team is playing and added, “We’ll have football. We are going to allow fans at both of those. We’re working on social distancing plans now.