Change to be in effect Oct. 12-23
By Greg Seubert
The Manawa School District is switching to all-virtual learning for all of its students for a two-week period.
The change, which the district’s school board approved Oct. 7, will begin Monday, Oct. 12, and be in effect through Friday, Oct. 23.
“The SDM (School District of Manawa) is experiencing a shortage of certified instructional staff and substitute staff coverage to provide in-person instruction,” District Administrator Melanie Oppor wrote in a letter to district parents. “Also, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the district has continued to grow.”
The district is now in Level 4, according to the COVID-19 School Transition Framework Guidance that takes into account incident rates within schools and across Waupaca County.
“It is hoped that during this time period of the district’s virtual learning model, the community spread of COVID-19 will begin to slow and the trend will move toward lower daily active case numbers,” Oppor wrote.
School administrators will reassess each school’s instructional model on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
“Parents are asked to continue reporting positive COVID-19 cases to your child’s school office to ensure an accurate count within the School District of Manawa,” Oppor wrote. “Teachers will be available during the entire school day as per the regular school day schedule.”
Attendance will be taken each day as if students were in school, according to Oppor.
“It is important that students and teachers continue their close working relationship while learning virtually,” she wrote. “If a challenge arises, please be sure to connect with the teacher by telephone or email as soon as possible so your child does not fall behind in his/her learning. This enables teachers and other educators to support student wellness and academic needs as quickly as possible. In the event that a student is showing a lack of academic progress, a virtual meeting will be required with administration.”
Co-curricular activities – including athletics – will continue unless there are new positive cases directly related to the sport or activities.
Manawa’s scheduled athletic activities posted on the Central Wisconsin Conference website includes a home volleyball match against Wisconsin Valley Lutheran at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8.
Manawa’s home football game against Amherst scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, also remains on the schedule, as well as varsity, JV and JV2 home volleyball matches against Iola-Scandinavia scheduled for Monday, Oct. 12.