The South Sanpete School Board met in an emergency meeting on Friday following Governor Gary Herbert’s announcement that all Utah K-12 schools would go on a two-week school dismissal.  Superintendent Kent Larsen presented the district plan to the board and said these are preventative measures to keep the community free from the Covid-19 virus.  The dismissal means that students would be sent home, but facilities would be kept open and faculty and staff would be allowed to continue to work.  Teacher preparation will take place Monday and Tuesday, with at home class instruction on iPads taking place Wednesday through Friday.  The following week, March 23-27, is spring break, and no instruction will take place.  The State will reassess at that time and decide whether to continue the dismissal.

Parents received a letter by email or text Friday afternoon explaining details of the dismissal and how the online instruction will be delivered.  A copy of the  District letter is available at ssanpete.org.   Every effort is being made to make sure all students have access to the Internet, and Technology Director Nadean Demill complimented both Manti Telephone and Gunnison Telephone for their help in making sure access is available.

School lunch will not be provided Monday and Tuesday, but will be served beginning Wednesday, March 18.  Additional information about when and where lunch will be served will be sent to parents on Monday, March 16.

Superintendent Larsen said this situation has put them in uncharted waters, and while they may not have the answer to all the questions, everyone in the district is on board with the plan, and he is very confident it will work well for students in the district.  Resources for parents include the Coronavirus Hot-line at 1-800-456-7707 and schools.utah.gov/coronavirus.