2021-2022 GIPS Safe Return to School plan
VIEW THE GIPS 2021-2022 SAFE RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN:
Grand Island Public Schools Pandemic Team Members and Additional Resources
The Pandemic Team is a group of dedicated individuals who meet three to four times each week to review research and develop protocols for the district. In addition, building administrators are included in the meetings whenever they want to discuss an issue or a need within their area of responsibility.
Leading the district through a global pandemic is a very fluid situation. There is often a vast amount of research that needs to be considered. The Pandemic Team watches International and National trends. We also monitor the situation in Grand Island, Nebraska as we establish protocols for the district.
Grand Island Public Schools is very fortunate to have a group of local and regional medical professionals who regularly make themselves available to work directly with the district on protocols. The district also relies on several organizations for our research. These include the Central District Health Department, HealthyLincoln.org, CHI Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
If you have a question for the pandemic team, please visit Let’s Talk.
Pandemic Team members:
Dr. Tawana Grover, Superintendent
Dr. Robin Dexter, Associate Superintendent
Chris Vrooman, GIPS Lead Nurse
Dr. Ken Schroeder, Chief Financial Officer
Dan Petsch, Director of Buildings & Grounds
Kim Grim, Assistant to Buildings & Grounds
Lee Jacobsen, Safety Coordinator
Todd Bennett, Warehouse Coordinator
Kris Spellman, Director of Nutrition Services
Lauren Rathman, GIPS School Dietitian
Dr. Toni Palmer, Chief of Leading for Learning
Dr. Ashley Tomjack, Director of Curriculum & Professional Learning
Renee Engel, Director of Special Education
Kate Crowe, Title I Coordinator
Dr. Amanda Levos, English Learner & Migrant Education Coordinator
Kristen Irey, Chief of Human Capital Management
Dr. Jonathan Doll, Chief Data Analyst & Organizational Strategist
Cory Gearhart, Director of Information Technology
Phil Kuhl, IT Specialist
Jennifer Worthington, Chief of Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
Kelli Mayhew, Communication Specialist
(August 10, 2021)
Effective Tuesday, August 10, 2021 Grand Island Public Schools will temporarily require masks for all PK-12 staff, students and visitors while inside school buildings, due to the rising and prolonged COVID-19 transmission rates in our community.
Students participating in school-approved activities (such as performers and athletes) are currently not required to wear a mask. We will continue to review NSAA guidelines.
GIPS will reevaluate the decision to require masks on Monday, September 27. Masks and hand sanitizer will continue to be available for those who need them.
GIPS is following the Safe Return to School Plan that went into effect August 1, which is available on our website. The plan states that masks will be encouraged, supported, and optional unless "Substantial Transmission" of 50 cases per 100,000 occur in Hall County as indicated by total new cases.
When implementing any changes in protocols such as masks, GIPS considers the threshold and data that may directly impact schools such as illnesses, absences, and/or hospitalizations.
Current Hall County case rates are well above the threshold, at 80 cases per 100,000. When monitoring the pandemic, GIPS works with and considers information from the Central District Health Department, the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Global Center for Health Security, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
We have closely monitored the local COVID-19 case rates, and were hopeful the start of school would be different from last year. The challenges of this pandemic persist, and the Delta variant is proving to be a major concern, especially among children. GIPS has made the decision to temporarily require masks as a proactive measure to keep students and staff safe, and to keep schools open. It is critical that our students stay in school and that we start the year strong, so we can finish the year strong.
Safety remains our top priority, and we want our students to continue to learn, grow and thrive. GIPS will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 in our community by gathering research and engaging with the Central District Health Department and local medical professionals to ensure a safe school environment.
We thank our families, staff, students and community for their support. Masks or no masks, our mission stays the same: Every Student, Every Day, A Success. We will get through this together. We are One GIPS for All!
Grand Island Public Schools will announce the finalized 2021-2022 Safe Return to School Plan during a press conference on Friday, July 30. Please tune in via the GIPS Facebook page for the announcement. The plan will go into effect August 1, 2021.
Under the plan effective August 1, masks are still encouraged, supported, and optional unless "Substantial Transmission", as defined by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), occurs in Hall County as indicated by total new cases.
GIPS will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 in our community. The safety threshold will take into consideration data that directly impacts our schools, such as illnesses, absences, and/or hospitalizations.
In accordance with Federal law, masks will still be required when riding district-provided transportation of students.
Continued high transmission of COVID-19 could require heightened safety protocols as recommended by the GIPS superintendent, Board of Education, and Central District Health Department.
For visitors, masks are required indoors during the school day.
