East Prairie R-2 announces plans to delay start of school year

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — The East Prairie R-2 School District Superintendent has announced plans to delay the start of the school year until next month.

“Due to the increase in positive COVID cases in our community, I am recommending the district delay the first day of school to Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020,” Superintendent Lesli Jones said in a letter posted on the district’s official Facebook page late Thursday. “This will reduce possible exposure for both students and staff during the community outbreak.”

The new school year was initially set to begin Aug. 26.

Jones said East Prairie R-2’s delay will also allow district staff to continue preparing for 100% virtual instruction if that is necessary in the upcoming weeks.

If health and safety conditions improve in the next two weeks, the district will start on Sept. 8 with face-to-face instruction and virtual instruction for those students who have chosen that route, she said.

“After consultation with local and county health officials, a decision will be made after Sept. 1 as to how we will begin the first day of school (face-to-face and virtual or 100% virtual),” Jones said.

During the two-week delay, staff members will report to work on campus and student activity practices will continue. The Board of Education will meet in a special session on Monday to formally approve modifying the 2020-21 school calendar, Jones said.

“We are anxious to see our students on campus and in classrooms,” Jones said. “We also want that to take place in the safest way possible. Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation.”

According to the Mississippi County Health Department, there have been a total of 55 new positive COVID-19 cases reported since Aug. 15. The health department does not break down community cases by towns. As of Friday, the other public school district in Mississippi County, Charleston R-1, was still planning to start the new school year on Aug. 26.

In the meantime, the health department said as it continues to receive new positive results, it is highly recommended that the following precautions be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community:

— Limit close contact with people who are outside of your household

— Wear a mask or cloth face covering in public

— Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content

— Avoid touching your face

— Stay home if you are feeling sick