Jamestown  (JPS)  Jamestown Public School Superintendent  Dr. Robert Lech has issued a brief update on plans for JPS and progress made towards a formalized virtual learning plan:

“As you know, Governor Doug Burgum declared that all schools were closed through March 31 and directed all schools to create a virtual learning plan by April 1st.  The purpose of this plan was to allow the option to educate our students remotely instead of making up each day missed, beyond 3/31.

This plan had to address a number of issues including ensuring equitable services and the district’s plan to provide a high-quality, effective, and standards-based education through distance/virtual learning.   It can be viewed through this attachment and can also via our school district’s alert center.  Over the past week with our virtual learning pilot, we have already learned so much about what works and what does not.  Thank you for your patience as we continue to improve our instruction in this environment.

I am happy to announce that the Jamestown School District was one of the first Virtual Learning Plans approved by the Governor’s Office.  The process was a three-step approval (Department of Public Instruction review team, Superintendent Baesler, and Governor Burgum).  Credit truly goes to all staff that has worked so diligently to get an excellent plan in place to educate our students virtually.

With the approval of this plan, and Governor Burgum’s executive orders, the district will plan to provide virtual learning for the foreseeable future.  If guidance from the Governor’s Office changes, the district may consider other alternatives, but, for now, the Jamestown School District will be continuing the virtual learning plan.  If circumstances change, we will provide additional communications to families as soon as possible.

Lastly, please note that with the transition of schools to an online platform due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this also means that school common areas, such as the MS green space, and school playgrounds are closed to the public.  We look forward to a time, hopefully in the near future, when we are able to see children enjoying that equipment and organizing time to congregate together.  Until then, however, we ask that all consider those places closed to the public.”