The Pierre School Board has approved a plan to move T.F. Riggs High School to a hybrid schedule starting Monday (Sept. 21), but schedules for the middle and grade schools will remain normal.
Principal Kevin Mutchelknaus outlined the details in a special board meeting today.
As of today (Sept. 18), 18 high school students have active cases of COVID-19 and five others have recovered. Supt. Dr. Kelly Glodt says many more students are in quarantine because they were close contacts of the positive cases. He says so far, no staff members have tested positive.
Mutchelknaus says accommodations will be made for Pierre High School students who don’t have internet access at home.
Mutchelknaus says school having been in session for several weeks already should be an advantage because staff and students have had time to make a connection.
Each of the school board members also expressed extreme disappointment in the low number of high school students who wear a mask at school. The Pierre School District’s current policy is that masks are “strongly recommended.” Board members said they didn’t want to mandate masks because that puts another task on teachers, but they will consider a mandate if necessary.
Earlier this week, the school announced all Riggs High School activities through Monday have been either postponed or canceled. Next week’s Homecoming festivities have been postponed until the week of Oct. 12.
Listen to the entire meeting in this KGFX Beyond the Mic podcast.
Find information from Pierre Schools athletic director Brian Moser in this Dakota Radio Group sports story.
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