Dear HGSD Parents, Staff and Community, October 2nd, 2020
Every championship comes with hard work and dedication. This school year is very similar to making a run to the Super Bowl. We have to work hard every day to keep our students and staff safe and continue to keep our in-person option viable. That hard work is shared between school and home and I am so proud of the work all of you are doing!
I have had a few questions over the past week regarding some of the COVID-19 protocols. When we have a student or staff member, who tests positive for COVID-19, contact tracing occurs. Contract tracing consists of identifying students who would have been in close proximity (within 6 feet) for more than 15 minutes (cumulative time). A student who is deemed a close contact will need to be quarantine for 14 days, regardless of having no symptoms or a negative test. This is a county health order. This can be very challenging and taxing on families, however it is the protocol we have to follow.
We are happy to introduce SPEAK UP SPEAK OUT, a new resource for our students and families. Created by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of School Safety, SPEAK UP SPEAK OUT (SUSO) is a comprehensive one-stop place to turn to with your concerns regarding school safety. One of the most important facets of SUSO is the threat reporting system. The SUSO threat reporting system is available 24/7 and is free to all. The SUSO threat reporting system aims to empower students to share their concerns safely and confidentially without fear of retaliation. The tip line is used to identify threats to schools, and other daily safety concerns students encounter, such as bullying, drug use, suicidal thoughts and more. Please contact Mr. Hickmann, our school social worker, or your building principals if you have any questions.
A drive-thru food pantry has been established in the Howards Grove Community in partnership with the Sheboygan County Food Bank. The pantry is open every week on Thursdays from 4-6 pm and Saturdays from 9-11 am and is available to anyone in the community who has a need. The pantry is located at the corner of Cty Rd M and Cty Rd FF. For more information about how you can access the pantry or make a donation, please contact Jennifer Marten at jmarten@tds.net or Laura Yurs at yurs.laura@gmail.com or by calling 565-3554. The Howards Grove School District will also be helping with fund-raising efforts in the future to support the food pantry.
Recently the district hired Josh Swanson to be the district’s new Business Manager. Josh graduated from UW-Green Bay and has 11+ years of accounting and auditing experience. During his time as an auditor, Josh developed a strong knowledge of school district finances. Outside of work Josh enjoys golfing, running, and spending time with his wife, 2 children, and chocolate lab named Raji (can you tell he’s a pretty big Packers fan!). Please join me in welcoming Josh to the Howards Grove School District. Josh will fully assume his role on October 12th.
Thank you all for working together to keep our schools open. Our goal has always been to keep our students and staff safe as we begin the 2020-21 school year. Your continued support and help is making this possible. Thank you. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Chris Peterson, Scott Fritz, Heather Zizis, Jason Cole, and Tracy Bandt