Schools and colleges impacted by coronavirus

Here's a list of Omaha area schools and universities impacted by the coronavirus:

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Ft. Calhoun Public Schools

Closed indefinitely

Papillion La Vista Community Schools

School Closing Update

Governor Ricketts announced late last night in a Directed Health Measure (DHM) that all schools in Nebraska would remain closed until May 31. Though we knew it was becoming apparent that we may not be able to get back in school this year, we were not aware that a DHM was being issued last night. However, we support the decision to take whatever steps are necessary to keep our community safe and healthy and get us back on track for school in the fall. Knowing that school will not resume this year and students will not have the opportunity to benefit from receiving direct instruction face to face from their teacher, we are currently in the process of updating our teaching and learning plan.

Will additional time be added for students this summer or in the fall to make up the missing days?
No. We will not be making up the missing time with students. Instead the continuity of learning will take place virtually or through other means.

Knowing that school will not resume for 2019-20, does it change the current learning plan for students?
Yes. Knowing students are not coming back to school and will not have any additional direct face to face instruction from teachers, the current learning plan will be adjusted.

What will the new learning plan look like?
Currently, we are in the process of finalizing the details of the plan. We will then share that plan with teachers. Once that plan is completed, it will be shared with students and parents. The new plan will begin on April 13.

It is important to note that PLCS is committed to finding a balance for parents, students and staff. These are very challenging and unprecedented times for all of us. Learning is important and we will get through this together but we know that parents, families and staff have a lot of extra pressure and stress being placed on them right now. Our philosophy is not to add to that plate but to help everyone find a balance. We are moving slow and steady to make sure students get what they need for next year and yet we don’t want this new form of virtual learning to be overwhelming for anyone. More information is coming soon.

Arbishop Bergan Catholic Schools

Archbishop Bergan Catholic Schools, including the Bergan Elementary & Bergan Middle/High Schools will be closed effective immediately for an indefinite period of time. Bergan Early Childhood Education Center WILL REMAIN OPEN for Day Care services for families until further notice.

Trinity Lutheran Schools

Trinity Lutheran Schools will be closed effective immediately for an indefinite period of time. Trinity’s Early Childhood Center WILL REMAIN OPEN until further notice. ● The following activities will be canceled or postponed. ○ All athletic practices and games/meets are on hold ○ K-3 musical postponed ○ The school auction on March 28th will not occur as planned. There is a possibility of an online version of the auction. Further details will be communicated. ○ Trinity families will receive further instruction in regard to how learning at home will take place as it becomes available. Staff is meeting today to plan and proceed.

Fremont Public Schools

Fremont Public Schools is announcing the Continuation of Learning Plan to be implemented during the indefinite closure of schools out of an abundance of caution to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The Continuation of Learning Plan will begin on Monday, March 23, 2020.

“The FPS Continued Learning Plan provides the opportunity for students to keep their skills sharp while away from school, as well as engage families in the learning activities. Students and their families are encouraged to work together and engage in discussion around the activities, as well as extend what they are learning into their everyday life. We are hopeful that the familiarity of academic resources will provide some consistency for our students during this uncertain time,” stated Kate Heineman, Executive Director for Teaching and Learning for FPS.

Grades PK-8 Continuation of Learning

• Packets including Reading, Writing, and Math skill review and application activities will be available for all students. Packets are created in a weekly format with skill activities for each day of the week.
• PK-8 packets will be available in PDF format on the Fremont Public Schools website on March 23, 2020 and the link will be sent through the district’s communication system.
• Hard copy packets will be available for families who do not have access electronically or who prefer to pick-up a copy may do so at their student’s school building on Monday, March 23, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Packets will be distributed in grab & go style at your vehicle.

• PK-4 Buildings - Please follow the traffic flow plan set up at your school building for the distribution.
• Johnson Crossing Academic Center & Fremont Middle School - Please use the bus lanes for a smooth distribution process.
• If you are unable to pick-up the materials on March 23, 2020 please contact your student’s school office to make arrangements for another time.

Grades 9-12 Continuation of Learning

• All students will have access to the “On to College” program through our partnership with John Baylor.
• Students with online access will receive an email to their FPS email account with their log-in information.
• Hard copy packets will be available for students who do not have access electronically. Packets may be picked up at Fremont High School on Monday, March 23, 2020 from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the North Parking Lot. Please follow the traffic flow coming from the south using the Lincoln Street entrance to the parking lot.
• If you are unable to pick-up the materials on March 23, 2020 please contact the Fremont High School office to make arrangements for another time.

John Baylor, CEO and Founder of On to College stated, “We are thrilled to have a small role in helping Fremont High School students continue the terrific education they receive from their teachers, despite the recent challenges Fremont has faced. Our hope is that the content can make the teachers’ jobs less stressful, as they were thrown challenges that no one would expect.”

Seniors

• We are putting our efforts into doing everything we can for the Class of 2020.
• We are reviewing credits earned, graduation requirements and determining next steps for helping students achieve their diploma. More information will be coming soon regarding this.
• At this time all special activities are to be determined by guidance from local, state, and federal agencies. As information is received, decisions will be made and communicated to all.

“Our plans will continue to develop and evolve over the next several weeks as long as the school closure continues. First and foremost our students and families must take care of themselves and their loved ones. The extended break is an opportunity to continue to learn in a different environment,” stated Mark Shepard, Superintendent of Schools.

Lincoln Public Schools

3/31/20 UPDATE:
With the latest information about the Coronavirus COVID-19, Lincoln Public Schools officials announce they will continue with Remote Learning until at least May 6. There will be no student classes or activities in school buildings during this time, and a decision for the remainder of the school year will be made as more information becomes available.

As middle and high school students wrap up review materials and begin new coursework, Lincoln Public Schools is outlining the following grading and graduation guidelines during the period of Coronavirus Pandemic Remote Learning.

“Our teachers and administrators are going to continue to work with students and families to make sure students have the skills they need to succeed after high school while following recommendations from the Nebraska Department of Education,” said Steve Joel, superintendent. “If students remain engaged during this unique situation and put forth effort, they will be able to move on academically and graduate on time.”

During fourth quarter, all grades will either be Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory based on work completed and a special Coronavirus Pandemic Closure designation will be noted in student transcripts. For middle and high school classes that run on a semester schedule, students will have the option of using their third quarter letter grade for their semester grade.

Students have until April 10 to work with their teachers to turn in missing assignments from third quarter and work on improving their grades. For all students who ended the third quarter with an incomplete or an F, teachers have been working with students since March 23 to support students in successfully completing course material.

Due to block scheduling at Southwest High School, fourth quarter courses are semester courses. Southwest will develop a system for converting Satisfactory grades into letter grades if a letter grade is requested by the student. Students enrolled in eLearning courses will follow the same guidelines.

There will not be fall academic honors due to the unique fourth quarter circumstances. This will be noted on student transcripts as due to the Coronavirus Pandemic Closure.

The following changes are being implemented for graduating seniors at LPS this year:

• Courses that placed students in the community, such as Government and Politics required volunteer hours, work experience, and/or internship courses, will have those service requirements waived.
• School counselors will complete graduation checks and work individually with students. Students who are short on meeting requirements can fulfill needed coursework through eLearning courses, summer school, or independent study as identified by the counselor.
• Final class rank is the students’ Semester 1 rank (Term 2 for Southwest students). There will be no Semester 2 class rank calculated for seniors at the end of the school year.

---------------------------------------Closed until further notice.

Lincoln Public Schools Nutrition Services will provide a sack lunch and breakfast for the next day to any LPS student at any of the five locations beginning Monday, March 16. The sites are:

· Belmont Elementary School (3425 North 14^th Street)

· Arnold Elementary School (5000 Mike Scholl Street)

· Hartley Elementary School (730 North 33^rd Street)

· Park Middle School (855 South 8^th Street)

· Northeast High School (2635 North 63^rd Street)

· Lincoln High School (2229 J Street)

· Lincoln High School (2229 J Street)
The student needs to be present to pick up the meal. One meal per student will be available between the hours of 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. while supplies last.

The student needs to be present to pick up the meal. One meal per student will be available between the hours of 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. while supplies last.
Schools with LPS BackPack Program
For those families currently receiving BackPacks from the Food Bank of Lincoln, they intend to continue distribution of BackPacks on the regularly scheduled Friday afternoons. They will begin BackPack distributions according to each school's regularly scheduled dismissal time and continue for 30 minutes.
Schools with LPS BackPack Program
For those families currently receiving BackPacks from the Food Bank of Lincoln, they intend to continue distribution of BackPacks on the regularly scheduled Friday afternoons. They will begin BackPack distributions according to each school's regularly scheduled dismissal time and continue for 30 minutes.
School Food Markets
At this time, Food Markets will temporarily take place outside the school building during the school’s regularly scheduled day and time. To simplify the distribution process and increase health and safety, most of the food will come pre-bagged, except produce, bread and meat, which will be bagged onsite. Look for us to be set up in areas close to the front door of your school.
School Food Markets
At this time, Food Markets will temporarily take place outside the school building during the school’s regularly scheduled day and time. To simplify the distribution process and increase health and safety, most of the food will come pre-bagged, except produce, bread and meat, which will be bagged onsite. Look for us to be set up in areas close to the front door of your school.
LPS Emergency Pantry
Following our standard LPS closure policy, the LPS Emergency Pantry will NOT be open while LPS is closed.
LPS Emergency Pantry
Following our standard LPS closure policy, the LPS Emergency Pantry will NOT be open while LPS is closed.
Griswold Community School District

Closed until further notice.

Wayne State College

The Fourth Annual World Speech Day, Tuesday, March 17 in the Kanter Student Center Atrium at Wayne State College is called off.

Fort Calhoun Community Schools

No classes the week of March 16.

Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha

Closed through March 27.

DC West Schools

DC West has decided it is in the best interest of our students and staff to close DC West Community Schools for the week of March 14-22 with guidance from local medical and health department experts. This is effective tomorrow (Saturday).

This is a Level 2 closure, where the campus will be partially closed or modified for the safety of all. Self-monitoring, self-quarantine, and social distancing will occur at this level.

This particular closure means no school or activities for all students, no practices, no travel, no weight room or gym use from March 14-22. The building will be open on Monday and Tuesday next week with all staff reporting. Staff will be preparing eLearning opportunities for students, food service for those in need, as well as cleaning and maintenanace. Our building principals will all ensure that each building will be open on Monday between 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM for any families that need to come to school and pick up medications and other items of interest. All students grades 8-12 will need their technology at home. We are hopeful they have the tools they need at home but if not, families may stop by school quickly to gather their iPad. There will be no congregating of students allowed on campus for the safety of all.

This has been an extremely difficult decision that we didn’t take lightly. There are so many issues we factored in and continue to discuss. The main reason for school closure is for the public good. Social distancing is the one practice that can intervene with the spread of COVID19.

We will continue to discuss our plans moving forward, immediately focusing on next week. Beyond that, we are operating with a week to week mindset. This situation is literally changing by the day and sometimes hour.

By this coming Monday afternoon (March 16), we will communicate information about food availability in our community for those in need. We will be establishing various pick-up locations and dates/time. Providing support for all of our students and staff is always a top priority. By Tuesday night, students/families will receive information about eLearning plans during closure. We ask for your patience as we prepare to implement the plans we have been working on across our district.

We will continue to do our best to communicate on a regular basis with updates. Thank you for your continued support of and we will do our best to support our students, staff and community through this unprecedented time.

Ralston Public Schools

Ralston Public Schools Families,

Ralston Public Schools has spent the past few weeks researching and monitoring the rapidly-changing COVID-19 (coronavirus) health issue in our community and across the world. District leaders have participated in several meetings and conference calls with local and state health officials to stay on top of developments that seem to change by the hour.

To be proactive and limit possible exposure with regards to COVID-19, Ralston Public Schools will be closed beginning Saturday, March 14 through the week of March 16th-21st. This includes all buildings, activities, athletics, and the Lil’ and Tiny Rams program. Updates will be provided to families each week on Thursdays to provide you with the latest information for the following week. As a District, we will take this as an opportunity to do deep cleanings throughout all our buildings.

The health and safety of students and staff remains a top priority for Ralston Public Schools. This was a tough decision to make, and we do not take it lightly. As part of the “Ram Family,” please know we appreciate your patience and support as we work through these challenging times together.

We will continue to do our best to keep you informed.

Stay healthy,

Ralston Public Schools

Alpha School

Classes canceled March 16-20

Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic Schools

Update 3/18/20

The Archdiocese of Omaha is preparing its 71 schools for remote learning that begins Monday, March 23 and could last as long as six to eight weeks.

The archdiocese is following the recommendations of Governor Pete Ricketts and Nebraska Commissioner of Education Matthew Blomstedt.

“The duration and nature of alternative learning options will be reviewed with health and civic authorities every two weeks,” said Dr. Michael Ashton, the archdiocese’s superintendent of schools.

Ashton said each school will be informing their communities this week on how they plan to go about transitioning to and sustaining quality remote learning for the foreseeable future.

Ashton said each school will be informing their communities this week on how they plan to go about transitioning to and sustaining quality remote learning for the foreseeable future.
Previous Story

Dear Catholic School Communities,

May God bless your efforts as you continue the care for our children, families and staff during these difficult times. To support your efforts, the Catholic Schools Office and Chancery maintain constant contact with our health authorities, the department of education, the governor’s office, and public school leadership. We are available to help your decision-makers in any way we can as you consider how to continue the education of our students in light of this unique situation.

Our schools face a broad range of variables in their decisions to remain open or closed. Some of them are from the standpoint of medical precaution, but many other factors are operational or practical. For example, in light of Omaha Public Schools announcing a closure for March 16th through March 20th, the Catholic Schools Office is posting the same closure for metro Catholic schools in our media outlets for the same time period, since OPS closures create so many operational adjustments and disruptions to those schools and families within OPS’s boundary.

The Chancery has full confidence in the resourcefulness and creativity of our Catholic school educators that closures will not stop the educational and personal progress of our students. Please access our services and supports as you meet challenges in your efforts to continue education and formation through extended disruptions.

Thank you for your diligence, leadership, and patience through this challenging time.

In Christ,

Michael W. Ashton, Ed.D

Westside Community Schools

Governor Ricketts issued an order Wednesday night requiring Nebraska schools to operate without students in buildings through May 31. With that, we now know that we will NOT be able to physically come back together this school year; Westside Community Schools will remain closed with our Extended Campus Learning Plan to continue.

While we held out hope we would be reunited with our students this school year, we have also been preparing for this worst case scenario. Administrators are meeting throughout the day today to begin finalizing plans we have been discussing since closures began.

We will continue our Extended Campus Learning Plan as we have done these past three weeks. With that in mind, we are going to adjust our school calendar slightly due to these unusual circumstances. The last day of school for students is now going to be moved up to Wednesday, May 13th. Teachers will work on May 14th and 15th to finalize grades, etc.

Assignments will continue to count. Our heavy emphasis is on learning, staying academically and socially engaged, and reviewing key concepts. We want to continue to focus on learning as opposed to grading. We just want everyone to simply do the best they can.

We take great pride in our robust and viable curriculum. Our Teaching and Learning Team is evaluating how to scaffold additional learning opportunities at the beginning of the next school year to support possible learning gaps for students.

We will continue to work through ‘end of school year’ procedures:

• iPad / Laptop Turn-in: We are not sure yet what our iPad and laptop technology collection process will look like. We will share details from our Technology team as soon as those plans are finalized.
• Lockers / Library Books / Instruments / Show Choir Costumes / PE Clothes: We are discussing how to handle the return of instrument rentals, textbooks, library books, costumes, school supplies, etc. These discussions also include how we can clean out lockers and classrooms, and make sure all families and staff get anything left in our buildings. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

We will also continue to support the needs of our students and families, especially regarding food availability and mental health/emotional support.

• Free Meals for Students: Unless the health department tells us we can’t, or we are placed on a statewide lockdown, we plan to continue to provide FREE meals to all 1-18 year olds each Monday from April 6th through May 18th at least using the schedule below. We will send home 5-days worth of breakfasts, lunches, and milks for each child that needs it.
  • Westbrook Elementary at 1312 Robertson Drive 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Prairie Lane Swing School at 3534 South 108th Street 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Westside Middle School at 8601 Arbor Street 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, 4:00 - 6:00 PM
• Westside Support Hotlines: We know this is a stressful, challenging time for all of our students, families and staff members.
  • If you need help for yourself or your child regarding behavior, mental help support, or how you can access help, please call the Westside Support Hotline at 402-390-2109. Your information will be kept private and used to connect you directly with help from Westside officials and our partners. This line will be activated by the morning of 4/3/2020.
  • If you have concerns about safety, bullying, depression, suicide, substance abuse, relationship issues, or anything else that could threaten someone’s physical or emotional well-being, please call the Safe2Help Hotline at 402-390-2118. This hotline connects callers with trained Boys Town National Hotline counselors who are available 24/7, 365 days a year. Callers are not required to give their names.
  • Please remember, if you or someone else is facing a life threatening situation, always call 911.

Closing our schools for the rest of the year also impacts several high-priority events:

• Spring Activities/Sports: The spring activities season has officially been cancelled by NSAA.
• Warrior Walkabout: Warrior Walkabout and 6th grade Information Nights for incoming 7th graders and their families will be rescheduled before school starts in the fall. We want all soon-to-be 7th graders to feel welcome and confident about their great days ahead at WMS and will keep you updated on these important dates as soon as we know more.
• Kindergarten Round-Up and Incoming Parent Meetings: We will look to have these important gatherings over the summer as we are excited to welcome these new learners. Stay tuned for more info.
• Honors / Awards Assemblies: Honors Nights and Awards assemblies scheduled for April/May at WHS will now be conducted over social media. We will have some duplication of this to honor major award winners in the fall at school assemblies and other district events.
• We hope to be able to have a Non-Formal Prom/Dance on June 6th: This is dependent upon county/state mandates for large gatherings and if events of this nature will be allowable by then. This event would take place at WHS. Stay tuned for more info.
• Graduation, scheduled for May 17, is being formally postponed. We continue to work on possible graduation plans (including virtual graduation ceremonies) for the Class of 2020. We have alternate dates of June 20th and 27th at 2:00 set up if large group gatherings are available by then. Again, please stay tuned for details. We hope to know by May 29th if we can hold a ceremony and will share the pertinent info at that time.
• Try-Outs @ WHS: Stay tuned for more info on WHS Try-outs (Show Choir, Cheer, Dance Team, etc). Sponsors and coaches will decide and communicate by April 16th what virtual tryout plans will look like for their respective programs.
• Summer School & Camps: At this point, we are not sure what our summer is going to look like regarding summer school, camps, etc. We hope as we move into May and receive further guidance from state leaders and health officials, we can plan for June and beyond. We will communicate plans with you as they become final; stay tuned.

We realize we are using the phrase ‘stay tuned’ quite a bit. That is the common theme for us as we work through these new changes and plan for additional developments as our community, country and world continue to respond to this pandemic

We will continue to iron out details as we work through this and will follow up with you through email over the next 10-20 days. We do not want to overwhelm you with communication, and our goal is to share as much as possible with you to keep everyone on the same page. We encourage you to continue checking our COVID-19 Reference Guide for families for daily updates, and topics that may specifically affect you and your family: https://www.smore.com/0j172-covid-19-reference-guide [track.spe.schoolmessenger.com]

REMINDER -- we will observe Spring Break April 6th - 10th with no school assignments.

Thank you for your support, engagement, and patience - we are all in this together. Just keep doing your best. We appreciate all that you’re doing. Better days are ahead.

#WeAreWestside

Mike Lucas

Nelson Mandela Elementary

Closed March 16-20

BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY

Bellevue University has closely monitored the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease outbreak. At this time, Bellevue University is taking action to help ensure the health and safety of our students, employees and community.

Bellevue University has made the decision to proactively suspend residential, in-person classes starting Monday, March 16, with classes expected to resume in a distance learning format the week of Monday, March 23. This includes all day and evening residential classes scheduled on the Bellevue and Lozier campuses.

Students enrolled in current online classes will not be impacted.

This decision was made in consideration of the health and safety of our students, employees, and the community. It was based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local and state health officials.

Currently, more than 90% of Bellevue University students are enrolled fully online and all faculty have access to a variety of digital classroom technologies, including Zoom.

In addition, at this time, the Bellevue University campus will remain open to serve those who rely on services, such as dining services, housing and other campus services. Employees will report to work, though flexible work from home arrangements are being made available.

Given that one of the best ways to prevent the spread of viral illness is to limit contact and the associated risk of disease transmission, we encourage both students and employees to practice social distancing and preventive measures as recommended by the CDC.

OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Following updated guidance at the federal and state level, Omaha Public Schools announced Monday that the district will extend its closure to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

At this time, there is no tentative date for return. Every two weeks, district staff will evaluate the health conditions in our community in consultation with health, city and state leaders to determine next steps.

For Omaha Public Schools' complete letter to our community, please follow this link: https://district.ops.org/DEPARTMENTS/GeneralFinanceandAdministrativeServices/DistrictCommunications/HealthUpdates.aspx [icm-tracking.meltwater.com].

DOANE UNIVERSITY

Due to the threat of COVID-19, Doane University has made the decision to cancel all in-person classes next week (March 16-22), extending the current Spring Break of its Crete residential students one additional week. This includes the cancellation of courses on Doane’s Lincoln, Omaha, and Grand Island campuses. Those programs would be in the second week of their spring term.

All classes (including adult and graduate) will resume on Monday, March 23 in an online/virtual format and will be taught online for the remainder of the semester/term. All current online courses for the spring term will continue uninterrupted.

“We are in unprecedented times,” said Dr. Jacque Carter, Doane University President. “We will be using this break time to allow our faculty to convert their courses online and to develop the many details required to be able to answer questions from our community. First and foremost, the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority and we believe it is in everyone’s best interest to take these actions now.”

The university will remain open, as will the residence halls, but students are being encouraged to stay home instead of returning from spring break. Students who cannot leave campus will continue to receive support in the residence halls and dining facilities. Doane’s library and other campus facilities will remain open.

Additionally, all non-essential university student and employee travel has been suspended until further notice. Any changes in campus events will be announced at a later date.

Additionally, all non-essential university student and employee travel has been suspended until further notice. Any changes in campus events will be announced at a later date.

BENNINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Schools will be closed March 13. The district is not on spring break next week and will continue to evaluate the current situation to decide if the closure will be extended.

ELKHORN

EPS Families,

In a proactive effort to limit possible exposure to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Elkhorn Public Schools will be closed beginning tonight at 6:00 PM through Monday, March 23, 2020, noting that spring break is scheduled for March 19, 20, and 23. The closure affects all programming throughout the District, including all athletic and extracurricular practices and competitions, weekend events, and EKC before- and after-school programs.

This situation is fluid; thus, we plan to communicate weekly on our closure status and will provide an update on Friday, March 20th. If this closure is extended, remote learning plans will be communicated to families by Monday, March 23rd. We affirm our commitment to continue learning objectives during the closure if extended beyond next week.

We are in a serious community health crisis and global pandemic that requires extraordinary measures. It is important to communicate that the effectiveness of this public health strategy to prevent the spread is predicated on limiting contact with others and following social distancing guidelines when travel is essential.

It is important to note that at this time, there are no active COVID-19 cases within EPS. However, the well-being of students and staff remains a top priority; thus, the decision to close. Please know this was not an easy decision and we do not take it lightly. We realize that we are making decisions that sometimes create new questions but please continue to be patient and supportive as we work through the issues together. This is a rapidly changing situation and we will monitor and adapt our plans as new information and guidance are provided.

MILLARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Dear Millard Families and Staff,

We are sorry to interrupt your spring break. We wanted you to have this information as soon as possible. As you may be aware, the Governor has requested all schools in the State close for at least two weeks following this week. Millard school buildings will remain closed for students after spring break. School will resume through remote learning on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

Closing our buildings will help slow community spread, keep our hospitals from being overwhelmed and protect our families. This is a very important and difficult decision, and it is being made with one thing in mind, protecting health and safety.

On Tuesday, March 24, 2020, Millard Public Schools begins remote learning. This will certainly look and feel very different from what we are all used to, but it lets us meet a critical need - to continue educating our students. We are very thankful we have the tools in place to be able to do this.

We are also aware of the heavy burden closing our buildings puts on families. We are doing everything we can to help. Our principals and staff will start reaching out soon with information on remote learning and additional resources for families, including options for students without internet in the home and grab-and-go breakfast and lunch sites.

State leadership and health officials will monitor the situation daily and reassess every two weeks. But as the Governor has said, we expect this will be a six to eight week closure of our buildings. We will reopen as soon as we are confident we can safely do so.

This is something entirely new for all of us. It will be challenging at times, and it will also build our educational capacities in whole new ways. It is my hope that we come out of this in a stronger place with even better ways to reach and teach our kids. Most importantly, it is what we need to do to keep our families safe.

Sincerely,

Superintendent
Jim Sutfin, Ed.D.

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY

OMAHA, Neb. (March 12, 2020) – To ensure the safety and well-being of all members of the Creighton University community, and the broader Omaha community, Creighton has made the decision to suspend in-person courses during the week of March 15 in order to transition these courses to an online learning format.

Although currently there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) at Creighton, we are taking steps to reduce the spread of this virus, while ensuring academic continuity for our students.

During this time, the Creighton campus will remain open, but we strongly encourage students who are home for spring break, and those who have traveled to other locations, to remain or return home and not return to campus until April 13. Students who cannot make arrangements to return home will be permitted to stay in the residence halls, but will be expected to practice social distancing, appropriate hand hygiene, and live by Creighton’s community standards.

Creighton will continue with most operations and services while in-person classes are being delivered online. Effective immediately, all public University events are canceled until the University resumes normal operations.

For now, the University plans to resume in-person classes April 13. We will confirm this date by no later than Monday, April 6. Information about the University response can be found at creighton.edu/covid-19.

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA OMAHA

To all members of the UNO community:

The University of Nebraska at Omaha has been actively monitoring the rapidly evolving novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and providing regular updates to the UNO community as the situation changes.

The health and safety of our community continues to be our primary concern in this fluid situation, and we are making decisions following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The Nebraska University Central Administration, along with state and county health departments. These decisions are being made to help mitigate and slow the spread of COVID-19 and to help protect the UNO and greater Omaha community.

Alongside our extensive prevention efforts that are already being carried out, it is now necessary to take further proactive steps to help keep the UNO community safe. The steps that we are taking are necessary to help ensure the continuing good health of our community and the excellence of our university academic programs. On behalf of University of Nebraska at Omaha, I am grateful to all of you in advance for your patience, support and dedication as we work together to strategically address the challenges and opportunities associated with COVID-19.

Given that one of the best ways to prevent the spread of viral illness is to limit contact and the associated risk of disease transmission, the following policies are to be implemented immediately:

UNO will continue classes through Friday, March 13^th, as usual, and thereafter go into “remote teaching and learning mode.”

Effective Monday, March 30^th, UNO will conduct all classes in remote learning mode. Instructors will deploy a range of digital technology tools (Canvas, Zoom, Vidgrid, etc) to enable students to continue their academic coursework uninterrupted for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester.

During the period of remote learning, students without sufficient access to internet services, or without sufficient computing technology, may use the wireless internet on campus and may apply for a limited number of UNO laptops from the Office of Digital Learning. Additionally, campus computer clusters will be available, though with limitations on the occupancy of each room determined by capacity and overall safety.

Spring Break for UNO will begin earlier, on Saturday, March 14th, and will extend through Sunday, March 29^th. This extended spring break will permit preparation for the transition to remote learning operations.

Faculty and staff will report to campus as usual Monday, March 16^th, through Friday, March 20^th, to conduct planning and work on transitioning the curriculum to remote learning. Please know that our faculty and college leadership has been strengthening and testing our remote learning technology over the past weeks with every attempt to minimize any confusion during this transition phase.

At the present time, our campuses will remain open to serve all those who rely on our services, such as health and counseling services, dining services, residence halls, and available campus study spaces.

We encourage students residing on campus to return to their place of permanent residence because there are advantages for social distancing. For those students living on campus who are not able to go home or who have work or other commitments in Omaha, will continue to support our students in residence halls and dining facilities where appropriate social distancing and enhanced preventative public health and hygiene measures will be actively encouraged. The availability of campus facilities and services are subject to change as circumstances dictate.

Each department, college, and unit has been undergoing an assessment of essential on campus personnel and off campus (online/virtual) personnel. Faculty and staff should consult with their supervisors to establish appropriate telecommuting protocols for their work in event this becomes necessary in the future.

Effective today for faculty, staff and students, all University-related international travel is suspended. All University-related domestic air travel is suspended. Any proposed exceptions for University-related air travel will need to be approved in advance by the responsible Vice Chancellor or Senior Vice Chancellor. Personal international travel is highly discouraged. Personal domestic travel should be carefully considered and should be limited to essential travel. In the event of university-related interrupted travel, individuals will be reimbursed for non-refundable expenditures as if the travel had taken place.

Upon completion of any travel, personal or professional, faculty, staff and students may be required to self-quarantine for a period of up to 14 days as based on the current recommendations from the CDC, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the county health department. If self-quarantine is required, faculty/staff travelers must work with their supervisor on appropriate accommodations to work from home and contact Human Resources or Student Health as appropriate prior to returning to work or class. Students returning from international travel should check in with Dean of Students, Dr. Cathy Pettid, or the Office of International Programs, Dr. Jane Meza.

Effective immediately, visitors to UNO, particularly to our residence halls, are strongly discouraged. Previously scheduled visits should be postponed, and it is important to keep in mind that travelers from international destinations may be subject to the 14-day, off-campus self-quarantine on arrival.

Effective immediately, large group gatherings and events outside of classroom instruction are immediately suspended until further notice. No gathering or meetings of more than 20 individuals shall be permitted. While there may be some exceptions in the future, they will be individually considered based upon viral disease tracking and other considerations.

All athletic competition, home and away, is suspended for Omaha teams until further notice. This mirrors decisions regarding Division I athletic programs widely across the country.

This is a situation where the information and guidance is evolving daily, in some instances, it is evolving hourly. We will continue to adapt UNO’s policies and procedures as the situation warrants to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to support the health and wellness of our community. For additional information, UNO’s Coronavirus Updates website is updated daily.

Thank you again for your support of the university’s metropolitan mission and our ongoing commitment to the well-being of the UNO and Omaha community. At this time of public health concerns, we truly are all in this together as we navigate our way forward. This IS a time that the Maverick Spirit will truly glow within us all.

Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.Chancellor

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

4/13/20 - Metropolitan Community College has made the decision that its annual commencement ceremony scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2020, will not be held. It was scheduled to take place at Baxter Arena. The College’s priority is the safety and health of students, their family and friends, as well as the health of MCC faculty and staff.

Graduating students have been notified of this decision with a letter from the College President and what they can expect. At the end of spring quarter, student diplomas, along with a printed copy of the graduation ceremony program and any honors medallions, will be mailed to graduates.

For more information, visit mccneb.edu/graduation.

Previous update:

Effective Wednesday, March 18, Metropolitan Community College will move credit classes to e-learning and alternate class delivery methods through the end of the Spring quarter (May 22) in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Faculty will communicate specific instructions to their students for each individual class.

All other College operations will continue as usual.

There are currently no COVID-19 cases related to MCC, but suspending face-to-face instruction assists the community in helping stop the spread of the virus.

College administration is working closely with the Douglas County Health Department and other local health officials, while following guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The College believes it is in a position to positively impact the Omaha community by slowing the spread of the virus. By suspending on-campus classes, the College is practicing social distancing, minimizing personal contact and virus transmission.

ASHLAND-GREENWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Closed through March 27.

COUNCIL BLUFFS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

As a precautionary action, Council Bluffs Community School District Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo will close school and all school activities, beginning Tuesday, March 17 through March 27.

We have chosen to have school on Monday, our normal early-dismissal day, to allow teachers to connect with students and to provide information and learning materials to students so they have the opportunity to continue engaging in learning during the closure. Elementary students will bring home a bag with all necessary materials, including directions for accessing online materials. Students in grades 2-5 will also bring home Chromebooks and chargers. Middle and high school students will bring home Chromebooks and chargers. Specific instructions will be sent to middle and high school students via email. In addition, all materials may be accessed on the school district’s website www.cb-schools.org [cb-schools.org]. While these learning activities are not required or graded, they will provide students an opportunity to continue their learning routine during the closure.

We will continue to discuss our plans moving forward, immediately focusing on the weeks of March 17 - March 27. Beyond that, we will operate with a week-to-week mindset, and will plan to communicate with parents at least weekly.

We have established nine pick-up locations for families to drive-through/walk-up for daily breakfast and lunch throughout the closure

Our closure also means the 21st Century after school clubs and Kids & Company School-Aged Childcare will be closed, beginning Tuesday, March 17

Riverside Community School District

After consulting with our community partners, and as a precautionary action, Riverside has decided to close school and cancel all school activities beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020 through Friday March 27, 2020. This was not an easy decision, due to the short and long-term effects it will have on our staff, students and community. However, given the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 and the high probability of community spread this is the right time to close.

We have chosen to have school on Monday March 16, 2020, to allow teachers to connect with students and to provide information so they can continue engaging in learning during the closure. If your child is unable to attend school on Monday, we will get information to you on how to get the needed information. Buildings will be closed for the remainder of the week, beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2020. Staff will take the time to continue deep cleaning of all buildings. Small gatherings such as the Regular School Board Meeting will still be held at 6:30 PM at Carson Elementary in Carson at 6:30 PM Monday March 16, 2020.

Riverside will continue to discuss plans for moving forward, immediately focusing on the weeks of March 17 - March 27. Beyond that, we will operate week-to-week and will plan to communicate with parents regularly. As you know, the situation is evolving daily, sometimes hourly.

Riverside will communicate more information very soon about food availability in our communities for those in need. We will establish various pick-up locations and dates/times. Providing support for all our students and staff is always a top priority.

Riverside will continue to communicate on a regular basis with updates, and we will do our best to support our students, staff and community through this unprecedented time. We will continue to address any questions as they come up and share our plans with you as they develop.

Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and understanding during this difficult time.

Louisville Public Schools

Closed the week of 3/16.

Gretna Public Schools

With guidance from local medical and health department experts, it was in the best interest of our students and staff to close Gretna Public Schools beginning Monday, March 16^th through Friday, March 27^th. In an effort to help support families in our community during the school closing we will be offering meals at no cost.

PAPILLION LA VISTA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

PLCS Closed Starting March 23, 2020
Papillion La Vista Community Schools will be closed starting March 23 with no designated return date at this time. We will be working with local and state health officials to re-evaluate the closure every two weeks. Please know we have been working on our contingency plan in case we need to close for an extended period of time.
PLCS Closed Starting March 23, 2020
With this week being a planned spring break take time and enjoy it with your family. Nothing is changing for this week. We will be sending additional information with the details of our plan by the end of this week.

The plan will include the answer to many questions.

How will we feed students? How will we provide parents and students with necessary resources and enrichment to keep the brains of our students active? What will we do for our seniors? What events will be canceled or rescheduled?

For now, just know that school will be closed and we will re-evaluate every two weeks. There will be no school activities or practices during this time. More to come. Until then wash your hands and please take precautions to stay safe and healthy!

Papillion La Vista Community Schools has created new social accounts and a website where families can find the most updated information from the school district about COVID-19. Please bookmark the website and follow the PLCS Health page on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to make sure you have the latest information from the district.

BELLEVUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

After careful consideration and guidance by the CDC and Nebraska Governor, Bellevue Public Schools will be extending our closure following spring break with no tentative return date. We will re-evaluate every two weeks regarding return options. BPS is on spring break this week (March 16-20).

This closure includes all BPS buildings, the Welcome Center and Lied Activity Center, as well as the Kids’ Time program. This also means no activities, athletics, clubs, meetings, etc.

As we mentioned earlier today, this helps keep not only our students and staff safe, but also our community safe, as we do our part to help limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

State leadership and health officials will monitor the situation daily and reassess every two weeks. But as the Governor has said, we expect this will be a six to eight week closure of our buildings. The District will reopen as soon as we are confident we can safely do so.

More Information Coming Soon…

We are putting plans in place to ensure students can stay engaged with learning opportunities and resources.

We understand that many of our students rely on the school district for some of their meals; food insecurity is a reality in our district. Both the school district and community organizations are working to address this need following spring break and information will be shared out.

This is something entirely new for all of us and it will be challenging at times. BPS will remain in constant communication with local and state education, health and medical officials. We’ll provide updated information to our families and staff as it becomes available.

Please continue to take care of one another. We will get through this together.

Stay safe and healthy!

University of Nebraska at Kearney

Academic operations will transition fully to remote learning at the University of Nebraska at Kearney beginning Wednesday (March 18), Chancellor Doug Kristensen announced today.

This is in response to changing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state and local officials in response to the health threat from the coronavirus (COVID-19).

On a virtual forum today with faculty, staff and students, Kristensen congratulated the campus community for their team approach to transitioning to remote learning, which he announced last week would begin on March 30 following spring break. He announced the new date at the beginning of the forum.

“The tremendous efforts that have been undertaken by faculty and staff to accommodate this unprecedented disruption to the academic calendar are evidence of the commitment that you all take to create an exceptional learning environment for our students,” Kristensen told faculty and staff today.

“Further, our students have shown resilience and professionalism in adapting to change. Changing course mid-semester is difficult. Our campus community has performed exceptionally under these circumstances.”

Kristensen and senior vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs Charlie Bicak said work over recent days has given opportunity to make plans and develop communications that will serve to place students in the best position for success over the next weeks.

Some lab, practices or similar assessments may continue as scheduled, if approved by the department chair, college dean and Bicak, they said. These follow CDC and state guidance on event size under an updated event policy developed amid changing responses to the coronavirus.

Students are scheduled for spring break March 23-29. Residence halls, campus dining, and student services such as the library, Learning Commons, Student Success Office, Academic Advising and Career Development, Student Health and Counseling, Student Disability Services, First Year Program, Military and Veterans Services, Financial Aid, Admissions and others, will continue operating.

Faculty will continue to work as they are able, making coursework available online, virtual-access, real time or recorded, using an array of remote-delivery tools and resources.

Staff and faculty this weekend received guidance on leave from University of Nebraska President Ted Carter, which effective immediately and subject to supervisor approval, provides UNK and University of Nebraska employees up to 80 hours of administrative paid leave in the event of self-quarantine, quarantine or care of an immediate family member, childcare resulting from school closures, or other related scenarios.

Kristensen and Bicak reminded the community that updated information and changes to campus events, policies or guidance will be posted on a special webpage: unk.edu/coronavirus [unk.edu].

Midland University

Midland University has announced its plans to continue with online instruction through the remainder of the spring semester.

With the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation at the forefront of our nation, Midland is continuing to use an abundance of caution in making sure the health and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority. Through communication with our local health departments, we believe continuing with online instruction is the best course of action.

Spring Break will take place as previously scheduled from March 23-27. After Spring Break, beginning April 1, all spring semester classes will be held online.

Midland will not be hosting the following student events on campus: Student Awards Banquet, Research Fair, Nursing Pinning Ceremony, and Commencement. Additional information regarding these events will be shared in the coming weeks.

Founded in 1883, Midland University is a liberal arts college providing relevant opportunities in more than 30 academic areas, four graduate programs, and a variety of professional studies programs to students at both their Fremont and Omaha locations. Recently recognized by the Chronicle of Higher Education as the 9th fastest-growing private, nonprofit baccalaureate institution in the country, Midland takes a modern approach to liberal arts education. Their innovative approach of working from the marketplace back provides students with the relevant skills to lead in the world with purpose.

Founded in 1883, Midland University is a liberal arts college providing relevant opportunities in more than 30 academic areas, four graduate programs, and a variety of professional studies programs to students at both their Fremont and Omaha locations. Recently recognized by the Chronicle of Higher Education as the 9th fastest-growing private, nonprofit baccalaureate institution in the country, Midland takes a modern approach to liberal arts education. Their innovative approach of working from the marketplace back provides students with the relevant skills to lead in the world with purpose.

College of Saint Mary

In order to protect the health and safety of its students and community, College of Saint Mary (CSM) has postponed its 2020 Commencement Ceremony originally scheduled for May 17^th. The College announced plans to reschedule the ceremonies to the weekend of August 1^st - 2^nd, 2020.

“We recognize that this day signifies such an achievement and is one of the highlights of your experience here at College of Saint Mary,” says CSM President Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM. “It’s our hope that by pushing back the formal commencement date, we’ll be allowed to gather together and share the joy of this amazing milestone with you and your families.”

Baccalaureate Mass, Honors Ceremony, Nurse Pinning Ceremony and Graduate Hooding Ceremony will take place on campus the evening of Saturday, Aug. 1^st. Then Sunday morning, at 10:30 a.m., the College will host its 2020 Commencement Ceremony at CHI Health Center in Omaha.

“This is your day – and I so look forward to being there to greet you as you walk across that stage,” adds President Stevens.

The university will still confer degrees this May to all undergraduate and graduate students who are eligible to graduate.

Further information and updates about Commencement will be shared on College of Saint Mary’s website at CSM.edu. To stay informed on updates and announcements from the university related to COVID-19, please visit CSM.edu/COVID-info.