State board extends school closure due to coronavirus

The Idaho State Board of Education on Monday extended the closure of schools for the rest of the academic year, but also offered the option for school districts to reopen under certain circumstances.
 Board members said there is the potential for local school boards to reopen schools if they meet certain criteria that will be developed in consultation with public health officials, school leaders and the governor and reviewed by the board on April 13.
 There are areas in the state where there are few or no coronavirus cases, and local school districts should have the opportunity to possibly reopen schools, board members said.
 Board President Debbie Critchfield said the board needs to be flexible and provide guidance to local school districts so they can make the best decisions for their areas.
 The board approved a motion to extend the soft closure to the end of the school year, “or until such time as local and state distancing orders have been lifted and re-entry criteria established by the board have been met.”
Schools across the state have been locked since the board approved the statewide closure through April 20. Since April 1, students in the Weiser School District have been receiving their coursework remotely by teachers.
 Weiser Superintendent Wade Wilson said without knowing what the criteria and conditions are for re-opening schools, it is too early to say what the Weiser School District will do. The local school year ends on May 21.
 Once the criteria has been identified and met, the school board will make the decision to either finish the school year using the remote learning model or reopen schools and allow students to return.
 The next school board meeting is Monday, April 13, and Wilson said he hopes to be able to present the information from the SBOE then for the board to consider.
 In other school district news, the district has received a second food service waiver and will be able to begin serving two meals a day as of April 6.
 Wilson said the district plans to serve both a breakfast and a lunch at the same time, so families will only have to make one trip to the middle school per day. The meals will continue to be served from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.