Dear Parents/Community Members:
Beginning Monday, October 12, PK-8 students will be back in the DEMS building Monday-
Thursday following their normal schedule. There will be no in-person instruction on Fridays.
High school students will continue their all-virtual schedule next week. High school students will
return to the building the week of Monday, October 19, under a hybrid schedule with half of the
students attending in person Monday and Tuesday and the other half attending in person on
Wednesday and Thursday. Mr. Lancaster will communicate the details of the hybrid schedule in
the high school early next week. There will be no in-person instruction on Fridays.
Fridays in both buildings will be used for deep cleaning, teacher preparation and professional
development. There will also be time on Fridays for teachers to work individually or in small
groups (virtually) with students who are struggling or have questions. Lunches will be distributed
on Fridays to all kids 18 and under, free of charge, at the following locations:
11:00-12:15 Piggly Wiggly
11:00-12:15 Municipal Building
11:00-12:15 Legion
11:00-12:15 Pool
Rather than continuing a pattern of being in and out of school, we are hoping that these changes
will allow us to maintain a more consistent schedule. The reduced number of high school
students in the building each day should allow us to space them out in such a way that a positive
case will only result in that one student having to go into quarantine. In the DEMS building (PK-
8) we will limit the number of potential close-contacts by doing everything we can to eliminate
interactions between students in different classes.
We appreciate your understanding and support. Please contact me if you have any questions or
comments about this new schedule. I can be reached at jacksonc@darlington.k12.wi.us or 608-
776-2006.

Thanks,
Cale Jackson
District Administrator

Dear Families of the Darlington School District:

The Darlington School District has been made aware of two confirmed cases of COVID19 in our elementary/middle school. As part of their investigation, the Lafayette County Health Department will be contacting those people named as close contacts within the next few days. If you are contacted, they will provide you further quarantine guidance. Anyone who has been named a close contact should quarantine at home and monitor for symptoms for COVID during this time. At this point, just the two cohorts of students who were exposed and any additional staff who were in close contact will be quarantined and moved to virtual learning.

The following guidelines will help to prevent further spread of illness at our school:

• Stay home when sick and do not send sick students to school
• Watch for symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever and chills, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, fatigue and body/muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea
• If you suspect that a household member has COVID (sick with a COVID like illness or tested for COVID) please keep your student home until test results are back
• Notify the school if your child is diagnosed with COVID or has had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID
• Call your medical provider if symptoms of COVID-19 occur
• Encourage the following health habits: frequent handwashing, cover coughs and sneezes, keep a physical distance of at least six feet from anyone who is not part of your household, use of face coverings in public and staying home as much as possible

Thank you for your cooperation. We will share additional information as it becomes available.

Cale Jackson

District Administrator

Dear Parents/Community Members:

We recently received new guidance from the State Department of Health Services. The information included definitions for key words, an updated list of symptoms and a chart detailing specific recommendations to follow when someone either has symptoms or tests positive. I have included the two most relevant pages. The entire document can be found on the DHS web page at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p02757.pdf . When we have students or staff members with symptoms or a positive test result, this information from the state will help guide us. We will also work closely with our county health officials to decide an appropriate course of action.

When a student, or faculty/staff member can return to school: http://www.darlington.k12.wi.us/district/district_20200827_100622.pdf

Thanks,

Cale Jackson

District Administrator 

School will resume on September 1, 2020 for all students.

Parents need to choose option A or B.

A. In-person learning five days per week with a normal schedule in the school building

B. Virtual Learning from home

Please let us know by August 21 if you choose the virtual option by contacting the appropriate building principal –
(If this option is selected, it will remain through the first quarter or until guidelines change)

Key points related to option A:

Full in-school learning will occur five days per week under our normal schedule which will still include an early
release on Fridays.

These lessons will be broadcast live to students choosing to learn from home. Your child may be visible at times
during the broadcast.

The buses will be run at approximately ½ capacity – the number of routes will double.

K-8 students will be kept in cohorts as much as possible and the teachers will rotate.

The high school will switch to a block schedule – four classes per day.

Seating charts will be implemented on the busses and in all classrooms to limit close contacts.

Backpacks will be encouraged to reduce required trips to lockers.

Lunch will be served in classrooms to minimize group gatherings.

Increased cleaning protocols focused on classrooms, playground equipment and bathrooms will be implemented.
The board recently approved hiring two additional part-time cleaners.

The board has approved the purchase of a Bipolar Needlepoint Ionization system for the air-handling units in both
buildings. Information about this system can be found at https://globalplasmasolutions.com/   

Masks will be required on the busses and in the buildings. Exceptions must be approved by the building principals.

Students will be allowed to carry water bottles. The drinking fountains will not be used.

Key points related to option B:

Students will learn virtually from home.

Students selecting this option must remain in virtual instruction through the end of the first quarter or until guidelines change.

Participation in extra-curricular activities will be allowed.

Students in grades 5-12 will follow their normal daily schedule virtually from home. Recording or any reproduction
of these virtual lessons is strictly prohibited. Students in grades K-4 will be provided more flexible learning options
geared to fit their schedule and abilities.

La escuela va a comenzar el 1 de septiembre de 2020 para todos los estudiantes.

Los padres deben elegir la opción A o B.

A. Aprendizaje en persona cinco días a la semana con un horario normal en el edificio de la escuela.

B. Aprendizaje virtual desde casa

Háganos saber antes del 21 de agosto si elige la opción virtual comunicándose con el director de la escuela correspondiente (si se selecciona esta opción, permanecerá durante el primer trimestre o hasta que cambien las pautas)

Puntos clave relacionados con la opción A:

• El aprendizaje completo en la escuela ocurrirá cinco días a la semana de 7:55 am a 3:15 pm.

• Estas lecciones se transmitirán en vivo a los estudiantes que elijan aprender desde casa. Su hijo puede ser visible a veces durante la transmisión.

• Los autobuses funcionarán aproximadamente a la mitad de su capacidad; el número de rutas se duplicará.

• Los estudiantes de K-8 se mantendrán en grupos tanto como sea posible y los maestros rotarán.

• La escuela secundaria cambiará a un horario en bloque: cuatro clases por día.

• Se implementarán tablas de asientos en los autobuses y en todas las aulas para limitar los contactos cercanos.

• Se alentará a las mochilas para reducir los viajes necesarios a los casilleros.

• El almuerzo se servirá en los salones de clases para minimizar las reuniones de grupo.

• Se implementarán mayores protocolos de limpieza enfocados en aulas, equipos de juegos y baños. La junta aprobó recientemente la contratación de dos limpiadores adicionales a tiempo parcial.

• La junta aprobó la compra de un sistema de ionización de punta de aguja bipolar para las unidades de tratamiento de aire en ambos edificios. Puede encontrar información sobre este sistema en https://globalplasmasolutions.com/

• Se requerirán máscaras en los autobuses y en los edificios. Las excepciones deben ser aprobadas por los directores de la escuela.

• Los estudiantes podrán llevar botellas de agua. No se utilizarán los bebederos.

Puntos clave relacionados con la opción B:

• Los estudiantes aprenderán virtualmente desde casa.

• Los estudiantes que seleccionen esta opción deben permanecer en instrucción virtual hasta el final del primer trimestre o hasta que cambien las pautas.

• Se permitirá la participación en actividades extracurriculares.

• Los estudiantes en los grados 5-12 seguirán su horario diario normal virtualmente desde casa. La grabación o cualquier reproducción de estas lecciones virtuales está estrictamente prohibido.

• Los estudiantes en los grados K-4 recibirán opciones de aprendizaje más flexibles adaptadas a su horario y habilidades.