Area schools extend COVID-19 break

Area schools made the decision to extend students’ time out of school past the original April 6 return date.

Southeast Missouri superintendents had a conference call on Friday morning to discuss the possibility of extending the break caused by COVID-19.

On Tuesday, Van Burn R-I schools and Neelyville R-IV announced the decision to push the break until the end of April. Meanwhile Stoddard County schools pushed it until April 24.

Van Buren R-I

Dr. Jeff Davis, Van Buren superintendent, said the date lines up with the social distancing guideline update from President Donald Trump. The federal social distancing guideline was extended Monday until April 30.

Davis said he has to take into consideration the concern of three Carter County positive tests.

“We’re trying to do the best we can,” he said. “It’s tough.”

The end of school for Van Buren was scheduled for May 12, but five make-up days has pushed it to at least May 19. The situation, right now, is fluid, he said.

One of his concerns, Davis said, is the want for his students to still participate in the regular traditions such as prom and graduation. The staff is still looking at those situations, he said.

Neelyville R-IV

Neelyville Superintendent Debra Parish agreed with Davis about adjusting the schedule to reflect the new social distancing guidelines. She said the last week of April, administration will meet to discuss the situation at that point.

Along with this decision, all events scheduled for April have been canceled. Parish said this includes the third through sixth grade musical program, the junior high and high school choir shows, and prom.

She said the district is hoping to still do something with prom at a later date, but it may be a summer dance or a fall ball.

Teachers are working to provide alternative methods of instruction for students during the closure.

Poplar Bluff R-I and Twin Rivers R-X are expected to make an announcement later this week about changes to their breaks.

Stoddard County districts

Meanwhile, the Stoddard County schools announced together a push to April 24. In a joint statement, the superintendents said the decision comes after consultations with the Stoddard County Health Department and the Stoddard County Emergency Management Agency.

Poplar Bluff R-I and Twin Rivers R-X are expected to make an announcement later this week about changes to their breaks.“They are unprecedented,” said Advance Superintendent Shannon Garner of the current challenges facing the schools. “We are trying our best to make sure our students are safe.”

It is unknown what will be done in regards to graduation for the county schools. This is one of several questions the schools are trying to answer. Bloomfield Superintendent Toni Hill stated that Bloomfield Schools will do everything in their power to hold a graduation ceremony for its seniors. She went on to say that she didn’t know at this time if it would be the current scheduled date of May 9 or if the school would have to try for another date.

Doniphan

Doniphan R-I superintendent Brad Hagood said Tuesday morning that he will be among many Missouri school administrators participating Wednesday (today) in a webinar with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“We will not be going back to school on April 6,” Hagood said. “I’ve told some of our administrators that we have to prepare like we may not come back (this year) and if that happens there are a lot of things we’re going to have to address and tough decisions that we are going to have to make,”

Hagood along with Poplar Bluff R-I and Twin Rivers R-X are expected to make an announcement later this week about changes to their breaks.

Additional reporting by Josh Ayers with The Dexter Statesman and Ron Smith with The Prospect News