GPS administration and board members feel it is important to communicate our plan for the winter weather in the week ahead.  Trying the weigh the challenges of bone chilling temperatures, continued instructional time, snowy conditions and allowing time for parents to plan, we have developed the following plan for the week of February 15th:

Monday:  School closed for President’s Day

Tuesday: Traditional Snow Day

Wednesday-Friday: Distance Learning

We understand that the winter weather conditions are always changing and if changes to this plan need to occur, we will announce those when the time comes. 

Plans for meal distribution on distance learning days are pending as it depends on the ability to receive deliveries to our cafeteria. Please stay tuned as we get closer to those days.

We know distance learning isn’t the best learning environment for most of our students, however it prevents students from experiencing instructional gaps and from us adding instructional days at the end of the school year. Stay warm. Stay safe. Stay healthy.   

Grove School Board Revises Quarantine Guidelines
On December 8, 2020, the Grove School Board revised the district's Return to Learn Plan to align with the modified CDC recommended quarantine guidance. Included in the  modified guidelines are two additional options relating to quarantine: 

1. Quarantine can end after Day 10 without testing and if no symptoms have been reported  during daily monitoring, as long as no symptoms consistent with COVID develop, and  the person wears a face covering in public until at least 14 days after exposure. 

2. Quarantine can end after Day 7 if the individual has received a negative test and has not  had symptoms during the quarantine period, as long as no symptoms consistent with  COVID develop, and the person wears a face covering in public until at least 14 days  

after exposure. The test may be a PCR or antigen detection test, but must be taken within  48 hours of the end of Day 7. Under no circumstances can quarantine be discontinued  earlier than the end of Day 7. 

Under either scenario, continued symptom monitoring and the wearing of masks must be  met. 

After stopping quarantine, the CDC advises: 

a. Watch for symptoms until 14 days after exposure. 

b. If symptoms present, immediately self-isolate and contact the local public health  authority or a healthcare provider. 

c. Wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet from others, wash hands, avoid crowds and take steps to  prevent the spread of COVID-19.

10/8/2020: While the City of Grove has recently transitioned to a red COVID level, Grove Public Schools have seen a decline in students and staff members currently isolated and in quarantine.  Our current numbers of students and staff members unable to come to school are the lowest that they have been since the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.  As the COVID-19 story continues to unfold, we, at GPS believe that it is our responsibility to look at all of the data that affects our school, students, and staff members.  As the numbers of COVID infection and quarantined individuals stays low with GPS, we feel it is safe, and in the best interest of our students, for us to continue to offer face to face learning.  Distance learning is available to those students who are forced to miss school for COVID related reasons.  We consider it our great responsibility to protect our staff and students and believe that the mitigation efforts we have put in place over the last 9 weeks allow us to continue offering a traditional education model at this time.  We learn more about COVID and how it is affecting our community daily.  This information, along with constant communication with local health experts, helps us to make decisions as GPS moves through this unprecedented school year.  

We wish all Ridgerunners health and wellbeing!

Pat Dodson

Superintendent