Letter to Families

 Hello everyone,

You may have noticed that health numbers continue to rise across the State of Iowa and that we are also experiencing an increase in illnesses in our communities.  Due to these two factors, I continue to evaluate our health information and our current mode of instructional delivery. Couple this with the uncertainty of the future and I would say that today we are much closer to modifying our methods of delivering instruction.  So, if you have not had the opportunity to develop alternate plans, I would encourage you to do so at this time.

Our number of absences due illness and quarantine are higher than normal.  At the end of last week, we could see a decrease in our absentee numbers on the horizon as many would be returning to school over the course of this week.  This is positive as when members of our school community have quarantined due to in-school exposure very few have then developed symptoms requiring extended leaves.  Our anticipated lower absentee rates are always based on the assumption that no additional illnesses will present, but we understand that during this time of year symptoms and illnesses will likely continue.

With different viruses continuing to surface, it very important to remain diligent in our efforts.  I feel very confident in our mitigation efforts and appreciate our custodial staff’s efforts to maintain a clean environment.  Furthermore, we must continue to monitor our data to assist in our decisions and timing of change.  

We appreciate your efforts in monitoring the health of your children, as you truly are the frontline of defense in mitigating the spread of the virus.  As we move forward, we continue to ask you to be sensitive to symptoms and have your students stay home if ill or if primary exposures have occurred outside of the school.  These efforts along with frequent hand washing and wearing of masks will assist limiting the virus. 

Additionally, our teachers are working incredibly hard to deliver quality in-person instruction, as well as preparing on-line content for families and students who elected or are required to attend virtually. I applaud them for their continued efforts.  They are doing so, while also understanding our primary model of delivery may need to change at any time.  Their preparation is occurring as they experience the same anxieties you are experiencing for their families, students, as well.

We continue to talk with Pottawattamie County Public Health to monitor the health data of our communities and area.  Their assistance has been very much appreciated in our efforts.  At this time there has been a change in procedure and you will be receiving calls regarding quarantine information from AHSTW Community Schools.  These calls will be made after collaboration with public health.

Please know that we will work to provide you with as much notice as possible when a change is needed, but change may come quickly based on our health information.

Respectfully,

Mr. Darin Jones

Superintendent

AHSTW Community School District

Public Health Measures

Good afternoon,

Guidance was shared by the State of Iowa earlier today in regards to new public health measures.  Youth and high school sporting events were addressed in this release and the expectations will begin on Wednesday, November 11, 2020.

The Western Iowa Conference [WIC] had developed mitigation efforts prior to the release of today’s measures and had decided continue with four spectators per athlete rule for all events.  Those tickets have already been shared with our JH parents.  However, today’s release requires use to reduce the amount from four to two through the month of November.  Please know that we hope to be able to return to four attendees after the expiration of the public health measure.  At this time, we ask that you please determine who will be attending games prior to the event.

The two-spectator measure DOES NOT impact tonight’s game with CAM.  This has been confirmed with them.

Thank you!

Mr. Darin Jones

AHSTW Community Schools

Enhanced Public Health Measures

Effective Dates:

• Start Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at 12:01 AM
• End Date:  Wednesday, November 30, 2020 at 11:59 PM

Mitigation Efforts for Youth and High School Sports:

• If more than 25 people and indoors, all spectators over 2 years old must wear masks and maintain 6 feet distance from other spectators.
• Only two spectators permitted for each athlete
• Athletes of any age can be closer than six feet and are not required to wear mask.

Community Engagement Meetings

Hello everyone,

AHSTW Community Schools in conjunction with SiteLogIQ will host six community engagement meetings to share information regarding our school infrastructure and listen to ideas, questions, and comments from all of our AHSTW communities regarding our school facilities.  Our goal in these meetings is to listen to ideas to help us determine how we can continue to provide excellent facilities for our students, staff, and communities to attend and utilize.

We would very much enjoy hosting our meetings in person, but we also want to act responsibly in regards to the health of our community members and at this time will host the meetings virtually.  Our virtual meetings will follow a similar format to an in-person meeting and will certainly allow time for sharing,  feedback, and questions.  We hope that you will be able to attend, but we will also record the meetings for those who may not be able to attend.

The meeting dates, times, and links are included in the table below.  Please know that you are able to attend any virtual meeting, but we want to be inclusive of all communities and allow time for each community to participate.  

Meeting Dates:

Date	Community	Meeting Time	Links to Community Engagement Meetings
Nov. 9, 2020	Tennant	5:30 – 7:00 PM	https://sitelogiq.zoom.us/j/92272005040?pwd=djZQa3hvQklncDlTdTdjbnBPdDcxdz09
Nov. 9, 2020	Shelby	7: 30 – 9:00 PM	https://sitelogiq.zoom.us/j/92710697239?pwd=bStQekdVcnY1ZnpGU2NvdnV6YTU5QT09
Nov. 10, 2020	AHSTW	10: 00 -11:30 AM	https://sitelogiq.zoom.us/j/96921435598?pwd=WWlYUjM2T0VnaXBqMW1vaWcvUlUzUT09
Nov. 10, 2020	Avoca	7:00 – 8:30 PM	https://sitelogiq.zoom.us/j/96841759814?pwd=eDFVSHBJbTlITm52QWRoNzBqRmxlUT09
Nov. 11, 2020	Hancock	5:30 – 7:00 PM	https://sitelogiq.zoom.us/j/91042844010?pwd=YWk2eVQ1VGJ4QisrbnQ3cDd6VFdldz09
Nov. 11, 2020	Walnut	7:30 – 9:00 PM	https://sitelogiq.zoom.us/j/93851837295?pwd=aHBBSFZiUFEwN200NisxTGJ0c1dQdz09

We look forward to your participation in our continued planning and hope that future meetings will be able to held at meetings sites in our communities.

Please also feel free to contact Mr. Darin Jones with any questions at 712-343-6364.

Respectfully,

Mr. Darin Jones

Superintendent

AHSTW Community School District

AHSTW Community School District Facility Update

Hello everyone,

AHSTW Community Schools in conjunction with SiteLogIQ has completed a review of our school facilities.  The review facilitated our evaluation of the condition of our assets in all areas, including physical, educational, and functional needs.  In the end the review and future community engagement opportunities, will assist us in prioritizing potential projects and facility improvements.

At this time, we are excited to enter the next phase of our facility planning process.  The upcoming activities provide us with the opportunity to meet with community members with a focus on listening to your thoughts on the condition of our facilities and to share concepts, ideas, and needs based on our facility review.  

In the near future, AHSTW Community School District in conjunction with SitelogIQ will share our Facility Improvement Community-wide Survey.  The survey has been designed to not only share insights regarding our facility but to collect your thoughts through a series of questions in regards to potential next steps.  We appreciate your time as you review and complete the survey, as the data will be important to all planning events and discussions.

The survey will be shared both electronically and in paper/pencil form.  We hope that by sharing in multiple formats we will meet the needs of all community members. First, a link to the survey will be shared at www.ahstwschools.org under School Notifications > AHSTW Facility Information > Facility Improvement Community-wide Survey.  If accessing the on-line survey does not meet your needs, you will also be able to secure a paper/pencil copy of the survey by visiting Mr. Jones or Mrs. Allen in our district office.  Upon request we will can also mail a copy of the survey to you and ask that you return the survey to the school upon completion.

We appreciate your participation in our continued planning.  Your help will certainly provide us with the needed information as we continue to move forward in the planning and overall improvement of our facilities for our students and community.

Additional information regarding upcoming events will be shared through the postcard mailing, surveys, and community meetings.  Please also feel free to contact Mr. Darin Jones with any questions at 712-343-6364.

Respectfully,

Mr. Darin Jones

Superintendent

AHSTW Community School District

Health Topics

Hello everyone,

 

As a school district we want to abide by legal, and Privacy issues while still informing our communities about COVID-19 and positive cases in our area. As you may have seen, cases continue to be reported in our area and positive cases have developed recently in our surrounding communities and counties. 

 

At this time Pottawattamie County Public Health and AHSTW Community School District have confirmed positive COVID-19 tests within our school building. We have been in communication with public health and are following their guidance. Contact tracing has been completed by the district and Public Health to determine possible exposures.  Any students and staff identified as having primary exposure have been notified and appropriate steps as shared by the Center for Disease Control [CDC], Public Health and the Iowa Department of Education have been enacted.

 

AHSTW Community School District continues to implement the recommended mitigation procedures to provide a healthy and safe environment for our students and staff. 

 

Mitigations Efforts Include:

·      Screen health conditions daily and stay home if ill.

·      Face coverings are a critical tool to reduce the spread of the virus.  Coverings are required at AHSTW Schools, this includes while on district transportation.

o   Face covering breaks are taken during the day when physical distancing is possible.

·      Social or Physical distancing is promoted. 

·      Frequent and routine hand washing and sanitizing before and after coming in contact with high touch areas is promoted.

·      Essential visitors are welcome to our building by appointment only.

·      Extensive cleaning and disinfecting occur nightly.

·      Efforts are made to maintain cohort groups to the extent possible to limit movement and interaction within the building.

 

At this time, we also continue to ask your assistance to ensure a healthy and safe environment by continuing to implement mitigation efforts at home.  Together we can reduce potential exposures and truly make an impact on the virus.

 

Thank you for understanding during this time.

 

Respectfully,

 

Mr. Darin Jones

AHSTW Community School District

COVID-19: What to do when?

 COVID-19 Procedures

 

Questions arise from time to time as different scenarios pop-up in regards to the current health situations we are in.  At this time, I would like to provide some clarity to the Evaluating Sick Students and Staff document with the assistance of the following scenarios.  We hope this helps in your understanding.

 

Scenario #1:  I am Healthy! 

·       See you at school, events or work!

 

Scenario #2:  Students and staff who have symptoms of COVID-19 that test positive or persons with symptoms electing not to be tested and not follow-up with a health care provider should self-isolate at home until:

·       At least 10 days have passed since their symptoms have started AND

·       Fever Free for 24 hours [without the use of fever-reducing medicine] AND symptoms have improved.

 

Scenario #3:  Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 and do not have any symptoms should self-isolate at home until:

·       At least 10 days have passed since they have tested positive AND NO symptoms since the day of testing.

 

Scenario #4:  Students and staff with symptoms of COVID-19 who test negative AND are not a close contact to a person who tested positive for COVID-19 should self-quarantine at home until 24 hours after their symptoms resolve and consider seeking an alternative diagnosis from your primary caregiver.

 

Scenario #5:  Students and staff with symptoms of COVID-19 who test negative AND are in close contact to a person who tested positive for COVID-19 should self-quarantine at home until:

·       14 days after their last contact to the person who tested positive for COVID-19 and an improvement of symptoms. [This could be as long as 24 days depending on the contact between family members in the home.]

 

Scenario #6:  Students and staff who are a close contact to a person who tested positive for COVID-19 should self-isolate at home until:

·       14 days after their last contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19. [This could be as long as 24 days depending on the contact between family members in the home.]

 

Scenario #7:

·       Parents, students and staff who have been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting test results should self-isolate until the tests results are returned.  Family members are able to attend school as long they are asymptomatic.  Please refer to Scenario #6 if the test returns positive.

 

Scenario #8:

·       Previously diagnosed students and staff with COVID-19 and have since recovered and remain asymptomatic:

o   Retesting is NOT recommended within 3 months after the date of symptom onset [or date of test if asymptomatic] for the initial COVID-19 infection.

o   Quarantine is NOT recommended in the event of close contact with an infected person during the three-month period, as long as the previously diagnosed person remains asymptomatic [i.e., has not developed symptoms of a new illness

o   In persons who develop new symptoms consistent with COVID-19 during the 3 months after the date of initial symptom onset [if an alternative etiology cannot be identified by a provided] they should be clinically evaluated as appropriate and re-testing should be considered if there is not an alternate diagnosis.

o   The symptomatic person should be isolated again, if symptoms developed within 14 days after close contact with a new COVID case.

 

Additional Information:

 

·       Definitions:

o   Self-Quarantine:  A person in self-quarantine stays home with no contact to persons outside of the family unit.  If family members have not also been exposed this may change to Self-isolation.

 

o   Self-Isolation:  A person is living in an alternate portion of the home with no contact to anyone including family members for at least 2 days prior to testing positive.  This is done to prevent family members from receiving a primary exposure.

§  If family members are exposed to the positive person by being within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more, that person must also self-quarantine and not attend school or work.  Please review the above scenarios for timelines.

 

·       Symptoms:

o   High Risk Symptoms: [Evaluate Health when 1 symptom presents.]

§  New Cough

§  Shortness of Breath

§  Difficulty Breathing

§  New Loss of Taste and Smell

 

o   Low Risk Symptoms: [Evaluate Health when 2 or more symptoms present.]

§  Fever

§  Headache

§  Sore Throat

§  Congestion

§  Vomiting

§  Fatigue

§  Muscle / Body Aches

§  Runny Nose

§  Nausea

§  Diarrhea

 

 

We hope the above information assists you in evaluating potential health situations.  We cannot say enough how much your assistance in promoting the health and safety of our students, staff, and families is appreciated!

 

 

Thank you!

 

Mr. Darin Jones

AHSTW Community School District

AHSTW Facilities

Hello everyone,

 

Over the final months of the 2019-2020 school year, AHSTW Community Schools and schools across the nation were faced with a virus that changed the idea of what the delivery of instruction looks like.  COVID-19 moved us in a direction that required us to understand how we can effectively provide instruction to students and continue to develop each student’s understanding through the use of on-line learning systems.  During this time, we continued to move forward on other topics, as well.  One such area of discussion was that of our district’s facilities.

 

The communities of our AHSTW School District have promoted the care and upgrade of facilities over the past years and they are certainly a sense of pride for our communities.  The pride and dedication to our facilities is evident with the recent additions of our PK-6 building, the new HS science and 7^th-8^th grade classroom addition, the new athletic complexes along with the new weight room, wrestling [multi-purpose] room, and locker rooms.  These have all been great additions to our district and supports for our students.

 

In an effort to continue providing excellent facilities for our community and future generations, AHSTW Community School District commissioned SitelogIQ last fall to assist us in developing a Master Facility Plan.  SiteLogIQ’s engagement began with interviews with staff members to help them better understand the needs within our building.  Actions then progressed into inspections of our facilities and mechanical systems.  The inspections certainly will assist us in projecting the life expectancy of our systems and prioritizing any updates.  The report has been completed, summarized and shared with the AHSTW Board of Education during the spring of the year.  The information shared in the report was valuable and completes Phase I of our facility planning process.

 

With the conclusion of Phase I we arrived at a decision point.  The decision point required us to determine how we would like to proceed and if we would like to continue forward with SitelogIQ, as they provide many services up to the completion of any and all potential projects.  At July’s Regular Board Meeting, it was decided to extend our relationship with SiteLogIQ and enter into a Professional Services Agreement with them.

 

The Professional Services Agreement [PSA] provides many benefits and services to our district.  The services provided by SiteLogIQ include:

 

·      Community Engagement Activities

·      Prioritization of Projects

·      Project Design

·      Evaluation of Funding Options

·      Oversight of Project Bidding

·      Construction

·      Final Commissioning of the Project

 

We are excited to enter Phase II of our Facility Planning process.  Phase II allows us to share concepts, ideas, and the needs with our communities.  In addition to the opportunity to share, we also gain a great opportunity to listen to your ideas for the continued development of our school facilities to assist us in serving students far into the future.

 

Please be looking for future communications, surveys and invitations to potential focus group meetings regarding our facilities, as your input is appreciated.  Please know these communications may be provided by either AHSTW Community Schools or SitelogIQ.  We hope you are able to attend and assist in our planning process.

 

 

Respectfully,

 

Mr. Darin Jones

Superintendent

AHSTW Community School District