Local School District Suspends Classes

Gunnison Watershed School District Community –

(este mensaje aparece en español a continuación) 

In an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community, Gunnison Watershed School District will suspend all classes starting tomorrow, Friday, March 13, 2020. This includes:

• Lake School

• Gunnison Elementary School

• Gunnison Middle School

• Gunnison High School

• Crested Butte Elementary School

• Crested Butte Secondary School

• Marble Charter School

At this point, students across the district will return to classes on campus on Monday, March 30, 2020. Learning will continue during this closure. Please watch for communication from your school about online and alternative instruction.

 

Why are we suspending classes?

While we do not yet have confirmed cases within our school community, we are taking preventive measures to reduce the spread of this illness by practicing social distancing. Our elderly and immunocompromised populations are most at risk for serious illness from the disease. While children continue to show a resilience to this coronavirus, they can still spread the illness, so reducing contact among our population will help reduce the spread.

 

• As of the writing of this email, the confirmed count of Gunnison County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 is 3 (the 4th positive case was reclassified to Denver County as place of residence, but the test occurred in Gunnison) and there are 14 more pending tests.

• The turnaround time for tests is 4 to 5 days.

• Pitkin County now has 10 confirmed positives and Eagle County has 7.

• Governor Polis in his address regarding COVID-19 last night indicated that our region of the high country has concerning rates of spread of the virus.

• Concern exists regarding the ability of regional health care systems in rural areas to handle a surge in cases.

• Our resort community is a destination for travelers from around the world. Gunnison schools and Western Colorado University all have spring break next week. The prevalence of travel from both of these realities potentially increases our community’s exposure to the virus.

• Colorado High School Activities Association has suspended all high school spring sports until April 6.

 

How will education continue?

Our teachers are hard at work developing online instructional materials for students, and we are also developing a system to check out devices (Chromebooks, laptops, iPads) to students who need them. Please stay tuned for details via email.

 

 

Extracurricular activities and athletics are cancelled during this closure.

 

Outside use of our buildings is cancelled during this closure.

 

Information is forthcoming regarding emergency food service from schools.

 

School closures have enormous impacts on our students, our families, and our community, and we are aware of this and doing what we can to mitigate impacts. Our mission is to ensure that all students are successful. A pandemic is certainly a challenge to K-12 education, and we remain committed to our mission through these difficult times.

 

Remember, if you have questions about your own health or the virus in general, please call the Gunnison County Health Hotline first at (970) 641-7660.

More resources for your information include:

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

CDPHE: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/2019-novel-coronavirus

CO HELP 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911

Resources for emotional support include:

Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019

WHO Infographic Helping Children Cope

National Association of School Psychologists Helping Kids Cope

Colorado Crisis Services 1-844-493-TALK (8255) Text to Talk 38255