STAR JOURNAL

The Rhinelander School Board will discuss the future of end of the year events for students at the Monday April 20 regular meeting.  The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the tiered class room at Rhinelander High School. If the number of attendees prohibits six-foot social distance spacing, the meeting will be moved to the RHS commons area or the John and Dori Brown Performing Arts Center to maintain social distancing guidelines.

Because of the current COVID-19 health emergency, Superintendent Kelli Jacobi will recommend the cancellation of the traditional summer school program this year. In the board agenda, Jacobi referenced the possibility of the Safer-at-Home order being extended, thereby requiring the cancellation. She also stated that if there was a delay in announcing the program would be held, there would not be enough time to hire staff or for staff to prepare.

Plans to provide a more limited summer school program for online credit recovery and online options for students that are struggling are in the works. A 4K “summer camp” type program in early August is under consideration if the social distancing order has been lifted. The program would allow incoming four-year-old kindergarten students to become familiar with the school setting.

Other end of the year events, including graduation, scholarship night and National Honor Society induction remain under discussion. As part of the summer school resolution, Jacobi also asks for authorization to make “decisions necessary for an effective end to the 2019-20 school year with ongoing communication to school board members of the decisions being made.”

At 6:30 p.m., or following the regular meeting, a special board meeting and public hearing will convene to consider approval of a resolution for the waiver of the required instructional hours for students for the current school year.

Due to the health emergency, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) will offer certain requirements for school districts that make the request. One requirement is that districts hold a public hearing. Those present will have an opportunity to discuss the requested waivers.

Upon conclusion of the hearing, the administration will complete and submit an electronic waiver to the DPI. If the number of attendees exceeds social distancing rules, the meeting will be moved to the RHS commons or theater.