John Scarffe, Gilpin County. Gilpin County School District RE-1 buildings, activities and sports will be closed through April 30, 2020, and may be closed for the rest of the school year. Gilpin Schools Superintendent David S. MacKenzie, Ph.D., hosted an online Town Hall meeting on April 1, 2020, to address questions about the closure and what it means to the district.

Community members, students and staff logged into the question-and-answer format meeting and could send questions via chat and online. Co-host Andy Rothenberger received most of the questions via chat and directed them to MacKenzie.

MacKenzie opened the meeting by thanking everyone for their help and understanding as the schools accomplish the challenges they face due to the COVID pandemic. Today, Colorado Governor Jared Polis extended closing schools from April 17 through April 30. 

The governor met with school superintendents on March 20 and thought it was unlikely schools would return for the end of the school year. News about the virus evolves daily and hourly, and MacKenzie doesn’t see students retuning to the school building this year. 

“We would like the governor to say school is out and continue remote learning, but the uncertainty is disruptive for students and staff,” MacKenzie said. The governor did say it is very unlikely we will return for the end of the school year. 

When the casinos and Gilpin County open back up, they will look at opening back up. They will have to work with local health officials if they bring students back to the building. 

Asked whether students will have to repeat this year again, MacKenzie said, “No.” What we are attempting to do, in K-12 and higher education, is trying to move everything forward through remote learning.” The schools want to make sure students keep up and seniors can graduate through electronics and remote learning. 

Regarding tests and finals at the end of the year, MacKenzie said they will have to do things to bring closure to academics. Teachers will be asking students to do some of those things and are working together to close out the semester, so everyone can move on and start where they need to start next school year.

“We will look at grades, content and the expectation teachers have, and everyone will move on to the next grade. Everyone will progress as they normally would. We want students to continue to progress,” MacKenzie said. 

Asked about how many students don’t have access to internet, MacKenzie said they have done a couple of surveys and did one before they started remote learning. They didn’t have anyone respond that they don’t have internet, but some don’t have good internet. 

The governor has asked for internet providers to help with free things. Students with limited band width and who can’t access Skype or Zoom, which are big bandwidth hogs, should first contact their provider, but students who have problems connecting should contact their teacher, and the school will help.

“We have no plans to operate a summer program,” MacKenzie said. “We’re going to do our darndest to make sure kids don’t have to go to summer school. This is why student participation in remote learning is so important. Teachers will do work with students and parents, so students are ready for the next grade in the fall.”

Regarding schedules for next year, Counselor Kim Cobb wrote in to the meeting and said next year’s seniors have already completed their schedules. She has sent out an email for younger students to submit their schedule elective choices.

Sports will continue to be suspended through April 30, and it is also unlikely the school will get back to any sports for the school year. Regarding fees, if students are current on payments, the school will refund that full amount or apply it to sports in the fall. Students who have physical forms can mail or email them, or wait to the next school year.

MacKenzie received several questions about canceled activities and plans for those in the future. For graduation of the Class of 2020, he said they don’t have any plans yet and would like to work with senior parents and students to find out what they would like. 

All seniors will graduate. MacKenzie asked parents and students to email Secondary Principal Alexis Donaldson. She will gather the information and meet with the class of 2020. They will also discuss the senior trip, senior handprints in the senior lounge, money students raised for the senior trip and caps and gowns. 

He hopes an online meeting with seniors and parents can take place next week, and Donaldson will be talking to seniors. MacKenzie also referred questions about the sixth-grade trip to Donaldson. 

For food assistance, MacKenzie said the school will go through the Gilpin County Food Bank, which is collaborating with Holistic Homestead, for anyone who has a need for any kind of assistance. 

Food Assistance programs in Gilpin County include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cards and the Gilpin County Food Bank, which are available for low-income individuals and families in need. 

Hours are Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Families and individuals may receive food regardless of income. You must be a resident of Gilpin County. Contact David Josselyn, 303-515-4309 or email, or Katy Massa, 303-515-4393 or email at katy.massa@state.co.us.

Regarding cleaning out lockers, MacKenzie said: “We haven’t gotten that far yet. We will have to figure that out. We are emphasizing not only social distancing and not gathering in groups of ten or more but focusing on the directive to stay at home, students as well as staff.

“We are looking at the fact that the virus will peak in the next few weeks, and will have to see how that plays out. We will have to see what COVID does, and we have some time to see how it progresses, which gives us time to make plans.”

To hear the entire town meeting, go to https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C4eEtD8HfQhReO2GQ4XbHgebGwpLmIxA/view

(Originally published in the April 2, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)