Return to Learn
Updates
COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Haysville USD 261 will continue to provide our families and staff with updates during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. We are committed to working together as a community to support one another throughout these unprecedented times, and communication will remain a top priority. We will keep families informed using our notification system, School Messenger, posting updates on our website, and other social media tools. The most recent update is below. To read previous updates, CLICK HERE
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BOE Votes for Secondary Students to go Full Remote.
Posted November 10, 2020
During Monday evenings Special Board meeting, the USD 261 Board of Education voted that secondary schools, students in grades 6 – 12, will go full remote starting on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, through Jan. 21, 2021.
The BOE also voted to allow winter sports and extracurricular activities to continue but with no onsite spectators.
For more information, click HERE to read the minutes from the Special Board Meeting.
PREVIOUS UPDATES
Updates Made to District Guidelines
Posted October 20, 2020
During Monday nights Board of Education meeting, the Haysville USD 261 BOE voted to continue the 2020-2021 school year (K-12) with Parent Choice/Hybrid and to modify two of the districts COVID-19 response safety protocols beginning on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
1. Morning temperature checks will be discontinued for students (this change only applies to students). Children generally do not present with a fever as their first symptom of COVID-19 and none of the students that have been sent home were sent based on morning temperature checks. We encourage parents/guardians to continue to check their student/students for fever and illness each morning, prior to school.
2. Playground equipment will be reopened for student use. Students will sanitize their hands before and after play to prevent the spread of germs. Active play is essential for growth and development. It strengthens bones, muscles, and the brain and it establishes connections between all of them.
Haysville BOE Votes to Reopen with Parent Choice.
Posted August 31, 2020
The Haysville USD 261 Board of Education met on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 to discuss the gating criteria for how school will open on September 10, 2020.
Paige Crum, BOE President opened the meeting with the following statement:
"We want everybody to understand that our decisions are based on data.
- We recognize the emotional strain this is causing all of our families and the community as a whole. We feel the same emotions.
- We are considering social/emotional issues as well as the pandemic numbers. We are keeping in mind the challenging home life that many of our students have. Their health, safety, and wellbeing are primary to our decision.
- We have received many texts, messages, emails, and calls. Thank you all for helping the board to know what our families, staff, and students think is best. The preferences of our community members are quite varied. We are listening. We will do our very best to choose a path that is based on science, data, and the safety of all. We know that regardless of how our decision goes, many of our community will be displeased with the decision. There is no perfect answer. We will carry forth knowing that the decisions we make are in good faith according to the success and wellbeing of our students now and in the long run. This is a very difficult time and we truly appreciate your input and patience.
After going into executive session and much discussion, the board voted 7 - 0 to start the 2020-2021 school year (K-12) with Parent Choice hybrid, and revisit Learning Modes during the October 19, 2020 BOE Meeting or earlier if needed. They also voted 7 - 0 to allow the extra-curricular activities to go forward with the policies we have in place to make it safe and revisit this at the October 19, 2020 BOE Meeting.
Special Board Meeting Scheduled for August 26, 2020
Posted August 18, 2020
The Haysville USD 261 Board of Education will hold a special board meeting Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. The board will be discussing the gating criteria for how school will open on September 10, 2020. Currently, families have a choice of on-site, remote or high school hybrid. The gating criteria will determine the safe conditions required for returning to on-site.
The criteria will be based on local health data, medical community recommendations and scientific evidence. This process will not follow any predetermined timeline but will rather evolve based on the status of the pandemic in our community. The safety and security of our staff and students is our number one priority.
The meeting will be held via ZOOM. The link will be available on our website the day of the meeting, http://www.usd261.com/BOE/index.php#meetings.
This meeting is open to the public, however we will not be hearing public input. You are free to contact any board member or school administrator if you have any questions regarding the board’s decision.
Governor Kelly Announces Delaying Start of School
Posted July 15, 2020
This afternoon, Governor Laura Kelly announced that she would be signing an Executive Order on Monday, July 20, delaying the start of schools in Kansas until after Labor Day.
District and building administrators have been working this past week on a plan for reopening schools that will focus on ensuring that all students and staff are safe while experiencing high quality teaching and learning.
Once we have Board of Education approval, we will be sending out a new school calendar that will reflect the later start date. As always, thank you for your patience during this time of uncertainty.
Back to School Message from Dr. John Burke, Superintendent of Schools, Haysville USD 261
Posted July 13, 2020
I know that many of you are wondering about schools reopening this fall. Our plans will focus on the safety of students and staff. Here is what I can tell you so far:
1. Members of the District Executive Team met with the Commissioner of Education to be provided with an overview of the guidelines that the Kansas State Department of Education had been working on all summer. We will be reading this 1100 page document in preparation for beginning to work on a variety of plans for our board of education to consider at its next board meeting.
2. Last week surveys were sent to all parents and all staff members regarding reopening schools. That survey window closed on Friday. Early this week we will be compiling the results of both surveys. In addition, we are creating a new Frequently Asked Questions section to be place on the district website so that staff and parents will have a one stop place to look for answers.
3. Members of the District Executive Team will be meeting on Monday with Haysville Education Association leadership to examine and consider options for reopening schools. Later in the week additional building level administrators will be brought in for further planning of the reopening options that will be provided to our school board.
4. I know anxiety is high right now. Please keep in mind that the first day of school is still over a month away. Our goal is for you to have the information you need before August 1st.
Gov. Laura Kelly Mandates Statewide Use of Masks
Posted July 1, 2020
Masks will be REQUIRED in all Haysville USD 261 buildings begining Friday, July 3, 2020. This new requirement is in response to the current public health crisis and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly's executive order mandating statewide use of masks in public spaces.
Attention Campus High School Athletes
Posted June 25, 2020
Campus High School summer conditioning and activities has had the potential of exposure to Covid-19 to some students participating in a sports activity off grounds of Campus High. With that potential exposure, the requirement for any students participating in summer conditioning at Campus High School must be put on hold for a fourteen (14) day period. Strength and conditioning activities and all scheduled activities that include any students with participation in the strength and conditioning programs are suspended from occurring until July 10, 2020.
While we feel that the potential for any student-athlete getting Covid-19 remains extremely low, we take these precautions to continue to protect our student-athletes and staff health. Any student-athlete who experiences Covid-19 symptoms is encouraged to contact their physician for guidance or testing.
New Recommendation from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Posted April 9, 2020
The CDC now recommends the wearing of cloth masks while visiting places that it is difficult to stay away from others, such as grocery stores and pharmacies. This does not eliminate the need to maintain social distancing. The cloth masks will not prevent you from getting COVID-19, but may help decrease the chance of an infected person passing on the virus. This is important, because it has been determined that someone infected with COVID-19 can transmit the virus 48 hours before they are symptomatic. The use of surgical masks and N95 masks is recommended only for health care workers.
Below are some links with instructions for how to make a cloth facemask. When wearing a mask it is important to make an extra effort not to touch your face. These masks are not form fitting and there is a tendency to touch the mask during wear to make adjustments.
No Sew Facemask
Mask: Needle and Thread
Mask: Sewing Machine
Food Service Meal Program Time Change
Posted April 3, 2020
Beginning Monday, April 6, the drive through sites for the “grab and go” pre-packaged meals will be open from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM. These sites include Nelson Elementary School (bus drive), Haysville Middle School (west side parking lot), Campus High School (E Building), and Oatville Elementary School (via food truck). Again, beginning Monday, April 6, pick up of these meals will be from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
USD 261 Continuous Learning Plans Are Now Available
Posted March 30, 2020
Although schools are closed and are not providing traditional in-person instruction through May 31, 2020, education must continue. USD 261 is committed in providing our students with opportunities to continue their learning during this pandemic.
As we walk this uncharted territory together, please know that our staff has worked diligently to plan ways to continue learning for your students while not overwhelming you or your children. With this in mind, and guidance from the Kansas State Department of Education, we have developed a plan. You can access this plan along with other resources on our website at https://sites.google.com/usd261.com/continuouslearning/home.
USD 261 COVID-19 Continuous Learning System and Food Service Meal Program
Posted March 21, 2020
On March 17, 2020, Governor Kelly closed all Kansas school buildings until the end of May 2020. She issued guidance that no more than 10 people should be in a closed space together and each of them should maintain a 6 foot separation between them. These circumstances will not allow us to complete this school year in the same way we started; with students and teachers in classrooms together. The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) has determined that the week of March 23-27 will be used for school personnel to plan and develop a “continuous learning” system that will allow us to finish the school year. Due to the social distancing requirements and the fact that all of our school buildings are closed, the teachers and administrators will create a plan for the students to learn while at home, begining the week of March 30th, 2020. Information will be shared with families as details are worked out.
While staff are busy developing the new continuous learning system, Food Services will begin providing pre-packaged meals for children ages 1-18 on Wednesday, March 25th. These “grab and go” meals will be available for curbside pickup at four locations in the school district while schools are closed due to COVID-19. The drive through sites include Nelson Elementary School (bus drive), Haysville Middle School (west side parking lot), Campus High School (E Building), and Oatville Elementary School (via food truck). Pick up of these meals will be from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. There are no eligibility requirements to qualify for this service, however, federal guidelines require that your child(ren) must be physically present at the distribution site to pick-up their meals. Children can walk up, or families can drive through and pick up a package meal containing lunch and breakfast for the next day. If arriving by car, please stay in your vehicle, we are implementing social distancing. Pop your trunk when you reach the front of the line if possible. If necessary, we will hand the lunches to the driver through the window.
More information will be coming out in the near future from the district office, building principals and teachers. We appreciate your patience as we work through these difficult times.
Posted March 17, 2020
Today, March 17, 2020 Governor Laura Kelly announced all school facilities will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This will place tremendous hardship on our families and staff, and impact the social and emotional well-being of our students.
We have been working on contingency plans since mid-March, including how we can meet the ongoing learning needs of our students and provide breakfast and lunch for our students. March 23-27 administrators, teachers and staff members will be creating plans for how to provide alternative learning opportunities. The next week after March 30- April 3 school will resume for all students.
Our staff and board of education are also working on other critical issues, such as what this means for our seniors, how this will affect next school year and what impact this will have on our employees. We will provide updates on these issues as soon as the information is available.
We are committed to working together as a community to support one another throughout these unprecedented times, and communication will remain a top priority. We will keep families informed through email, our website and other social media.
As a reminder, this school closure is in response to the current public health crisis. The focus should remain on preventing the spread the coronavirus, or COVID-19 as it is also referred to.
Please be mindful of the following:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid close contact with people who are ill. Keep your distance from others to protect them from getting ill too.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or forearm at the elbow when coughing or sneezing. Be sure to immediately throw the tissue in the trash.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth because germs often spread this way.
- Stay home when you are sick and keep sick children home.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and items.
Follow additional guidance from these sources:
Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE),
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) or the
Sedgwick County Health Department)