Great Bend USD 428 has canceled classes for Monday, March 16, as officials continue to monitor the latest information on COVID-19. Barton Community College has extended its spring break for students to March 30, when many classes will resume online.

This story was updated on March 16 to clarify that not all BCC classes will be online. Read the complete clarification here.

At Great Bend schools, USD 428 Public Information Director Andrea Bauer said Saturday that district employees will report to work Monday and will use the workday to prepare for students’ return on Tuesday. The time will be spent educating faculty and staff on the proper procedures and guidelines as required by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Other information released by USD 428:

• All school-related activities are canceled through Monday. Students will return to school on Tuesday, March 17.

• The use of district facilities by community groups is canceled until further notice.

• Medically fragile students and staff or those with compromised immune systems are encouraged to consult their primary care provider about whether attending school is advisable. In cases where doctors do not advise attendance, please submit the proper paperwork to the school office or your immediate supervisor. This will allow the absence to be marked excused.

• As always, Great Bend School’s focus is to ensure the safety of all students and staff and to minimize any impact on student learning in our schools. If you have any questions please email media@usd428.netor visit the greatbendschools.net for further information.

Spring break and online instruction at BCC

Spring break at Barton Community College was scheduled for March 16-20, but now it will extend through the following week for students. Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman issued a statement on the measures the college is taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Faculty and staff will maintain their work schedules for the week of March 23 and for the remainder of the term.

• Face-to-face classes will resume March 30 via Zoom, Barton’s online streaming video service, fully online or via other alternative instructional formats. The extension of the spring break will give faculty added time to plan and adapt the curriculum for alternate delivery. The revised format of delivery will continue for the remainder of the spring term.

Students are required to attend class remotely unless access to an internet connection is prohibitive or places undue financial burden on the student. In those situations, Barton will work with students to identify a resource or solution.

On a case-by-case basis, classes may still be held on campus depending on the associated risk and the nature of the course, with extra precautions taken.

Online classes will continue as normal, including the remaining sessions beginning March 16, March 30 and April 13.

Many of the college’s events for the spring semester may be canceled depending on the associated risk and status of the pandemic.

Check bartonccc.edu/covid19 for the most current information.

Additional information from Barton Community College

Faculty, Staff & Student Travel Restrictions

International Travel:

• Effective immediately, and through May 22, all college-related international travel is prohibited.
• All personal international travel is strongly discouraged (employees and students).

Out-of-State Travel:

• Effective immediately, and through April 1, all college-related out-of-state travel is prohibited.
• On a case-by-case basis, trips may be approved based on a risk assessment of each individual trip.
• Please contact one of the three Vice Presidents to report any planned out-of-state travel and/or to request a review of an upcoming trip.
• All college-related, non-essential, air travel is prohibited.
• All personal out-of-state travel and air travel is strongly discouraged (employees and students).

In-State Travel:

• Effective immediately, and through May 22, all college-related travel to the Kansas City metro area is prohibited. This travel restriction may be amended to include additional in-state regions.

Athletic Travel:

• Effective immediately, and through April 1, all athletic travel is suspended. For travel out-of-state and to the Kansas City metro area, travel is prohibited through May 22. This travel restriction may be amended to include additional in-state regions.

Returning or Arriving to Campus:

• Employees who become ill during or upon returning from travel with virus-like symptoms will need to contact a health care provider as well as their supervisor and HR department for direction as soon as possible.
• Employees returning from travel who do not exhibit virus-like symptoms must still contact their supervisor as well as HR department upon return and may be directed to remain away from the workplace for fourteen days to determine whether or not they have been exposed. The returning employee should work with his or her supervisor and HR to set appropriate telecommuting arrangements (if the position and requirements allow for this) or request leave time off from work.

General Preventative Measures

Faculty, staff, students and the community continue to receive communications from college personnel on best practices for preventing the spread of the Coronavirus, including text and email reminders to wash hands often and practice social distancing when feasible.

The list of guidelines the college is using is adapted from the Center for Disease Control:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
• Stay home if you’re sick.
• Cover coughs and sneezes. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
• Throw used tissues in the trash. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. It is strongly recommended that you call ahead to your healthcare provider’s office before you go in to be seen if you are ill. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room.
• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.  If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.  It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has SARS-CoV-2 on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the primary way the virus spreads.

The statement from Dr. Heilman concludes, "Thank you for your patience as we implement these preventative measures, which collectively act as a small cog in a larger machine designed to allow our nation’s healthcare infrastructure to keep pace with the spread of the disease and retain the ability to provide care for patients, saving many lives."