April 17 COVID-19 Community Memo
Lamoni Demons Community,
In her news conference today, Governor Reynolds announced that Iowa schools will not reopen for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). I want to be clear though, that while the Governor’s directive does not reopen schools, we are NOT done educating our students.
The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association also cancelled all four boys’ and girls’ spring sports, including golf, soccer, tennis and track and field. The cancellation of the school year and sports seasons comes out of an abundance of caution for our students, staff and community in general.
Additionally, summer sports are suspended pending an assessment made in collaboration with state officials before June. Practice, competition and post season dates will be determined based on the current status of the coronavirus in Iowa and announced when they become available.
The Lamoni Board of Education is scheduled to meet in session on Thursday, April 23 to formally respond to the Governor’s directive. At this meeting, Board Directors will review Iowa Department of Education guidance that waives instructional time requirements for the remainder of this school year and consider implications for potential summer learning opportunities and students’ return to learn in August.
Lamoni Community Schools initiated voluntary educational enrichment opportunities for students in preschool-12th grade this week and will continue to provide learning lessons and activities for students for the remainder of the school year, which can be accessed at Lamoni Educational Opportunities. The following data is a testament to the tremendous job Lamoni staff have done in creating meaningful ways to engage in learning this week and how preschool - senior students have responded accordingly:
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94 Google Classroom Meets, Facebook Live or Zoom meetings were offered for preschool - senior students to attend
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1,719 student contacts were realized this week through email, virtual meetings, phone calls or through Google Classroom
Lamoni students and staff will continue to come together as a school community for the remainder of this school year. Teachers will continue to meet virtually with students and new lessons and activities will be developed on a weekly basis and are detailed in this letter from Dr. Dykens.
We understand today’s news creates an unsatisfying and unfortunate end to the 2019-2020 school year. The spring is filled with a variety of activities and events that are significant in the lives of our students and staff. We are actively working with the Board, our staff and students to develop plans that will bring a successful resolution to an unanticipated disruption and closure.
Additionally, we are working to address logistical considerations, such as access to the building for student materials that were left in lockers and desks, as well as academic considerations, such as 3rd quarter and semester grades and a host of other details that are impacted by this most recent change in our structure. Any decisions made will be communicated to our school community.
As always, we will continue to monitor the guidance of Governor Kim Reynolds @ Office of the Governor and @ COVID-19 in Iowa and the Iowa Department of Public Health @ Iowa DPH in order to ensure we are responsive in our work to keep our students and staff safe.
Tell your kids, our students, we miss them and to be well. We all look forward to a return to an even stronger Lamoni Demons Community. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have questions.
Chris Coffelt,
Lamoni Superintendent of Schools