March 16, 2020 at 8:30 PM - Board of Education Emergency Meeting

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 (also known as the coronavirus) global pandemic and epidemic sickness has already had a substantial disruptive effect on Nebraska school districts; and

WHEREAS, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and epidemic sickness will likely continue to substantially disrupt Nebraska school districts; and,

WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a national emergency because of the COVID-19 epidemic; and,

WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, Governor Ricketts declared a state emergency because of the COVID-19 epidemic; and,

WHEREAS, the Nebraska Commissioner of Education and the Nebraska State Board of Education has the legal authority to waive, suspend, delay, alter or otherwise forego implementing, enforcing and interpreting certain statutory and regulatory requirements for school districts in Nebraska; and,

WHEREAS, the Wausa Public School District will by law be required to provide educational services to the children residing or electing education in such school district for the balance of 2019-2020 school year; and,

WHEREAS, pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-529.51, and other applicable laws, before any expenditures, contract, or obligation is undertaken it shall be approved by a vote of the governing body of such local government, here the Board of Education of the Wausa School District, and,

NOW, THEREFORE, on the basis of the foregoing facts, the Board of Education of Wausa Public School District 54-0576, a/k/a the Wausa Public School District, should and does hereby declare that an emergency exists due to the COVID-19 pandemic and epidemic sickness to continue in effect until the state and federal government determines that a state of emergency no longer exists due to the COVID 19 pandemic, and the Board of Education further should and does hereby authorize the Superintendent of Schools, or designee, to: 

Make emergency expenditures, enter into contracts, and incur obligations for emergency management purposes regardless of existing statutory limitations and requirements pertaining to appropriation, budgeting, levies, or the manner of entering into contracts in excess of or in violation of existing statutory limitations or requirements,. 

Make adjustments to the school calendar for the 2019-2020 school year to meet statutory requirements if necessary for hours of instruction in the elementary and secondary grades due to the loss of instructional days. 

Take all necessary action to (1) work with state and local health department officials for advice on functions that may involve large gatherings of people.

Take all necessary action to prepare for the Board of Education to declare the COVID 19 virus situation as a "emergency" under the Nebraska Emergency Management Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§81-829.36 through 81-829.75.

Monitor the COVID 19 virus conditions in the State of Nebraska and the Educational Service Unit No. 13 area, and based upon the directives of the Commissioner of Education and community spread of the disease in the Wausa Public School District, Wausa, Nebraska to determine and decide all issue related to the close of attendance centers, adjust the school year calendar, take measures to continue educational services assign certificated and non-certificated staff as needed, and extra-curricular activities.