Schools closed for at least three weeks

After the issuing of a press release from Governor Mark Gordon and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow, all schools in Hot Springs County School District #1 will remain closed through April third to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the Coronavirus.

Superintendent Dustin Hunt consulted with our county health official and state infectious disease officials before making the decision. Whether or not the schools remain closed after the April third date will be reassessed later.

According to a press release from Hunt, instruction will be provided to students in a number of ways, including mail home packets, digital and hybrid digital formats and each principal will be posting or calling all parents to share how students may continue with their learning at home.

The district will continue to communicate to the community through their Facebook page, the all-call system and the district’s website at hotsprings1.org.

In addition, at the recommendation of the Wyoming High School Activities Association, all extra-curricular activities and sports practices are cancelled as well.

According to Activities Director Brandon Deromedi, track and golf practices have been suspended for the district until April 6, at the earliest. State FFA Convention has been cancelled as were State Speech and State 3A/4A Basketball.

Practices for the spring drama are also suspended until school resumes.

Lights On Afterschool is currently doing their best to provide continuous services to students during this school closure, materials and resources will be provided digitally online and sent home via hard copy during our time off. Each site coordinator will be posting educational materials on google classroom, on our facebook page, and on site location youtube channels for students/families to access during their time out of school. Our goal is to assist in the reinforcement students maintaining educational skills learned at school.

We are aware that not everyone has internet access and/or a device to access materials online, with that being said, hard copy materials will be sent home.

Charter-Spectrum and RT Communications have stated that they will be offering free access for 60 days to broadband and WiFi services for those students K-12 currently without internet. To enroll in the service you can call 1-844-488-8395, the company says it will waive installation fees for student households.

Meals provided by the district for students during the school closure for the COVID-19 pandemic. will be handed out through the loop at Ralph Witters Elementary.

All meals will be free and all meals will be picked up through the loop. All meals for all K-12 students will be picked up at this location.

Meals will be available 8 a.m. til 10 a.m. today and Friday. They will not be available during the week of Spring Break, but will resume on March 31 with breakfast and lunch to go that Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

See the district's facebook page for complete information.