Tuesday, July 14, 2020
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Iola plans to open pool Wednesday By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
The Iola Municipal Pool will open Wednesday, giving swimmers a few weeks of summer fun — provided they can do so safely. City Council members ordered the pool’s opening after debating the pros and cons of opening a pool amid an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has delayed the opening since Memorial Day. The bottom line: large groups already are congregating at Iola’s Riverside Park on a daily basis to watch baseball, softball and T-ball games, Councilman Carl Slaugh noted. Why can’t they do the same at the pool? Four of the six Council members in attendance favored opening the pool, provided special rules are implemented before Wednesday.
B&W worker tests positive for COVID-19 By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — B&W Trailer Hitches in Humboldt is taking extra precautions and suspended a small portion of operations after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The company learned of the employee’s test result Friday, B&W marketing manager Beth Barlow said. The employee experienced mild symptoms but is mostly recovered. Using contact tracing, B&W identified two other employees who work in the same department and sent them home for quarantine. The area where the infected employee worked is undergoing a thorough cleaning. Work in that department is See B&W | Page A2
Iola city officials are working to implement safeguards for the city’s municipal pool to open its doors Wednesday. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
“I’m thinking there are ways we can comply with state rules and meet some exceptions,” Slaugh said. “If we allow baseball, we should allow swimming.”
Among the expected rules: Attendance will likely be capped to no more than 30 swimmers at a time, and swimmers will be asked to limit their swimming ses-
sions to two hours if others are waiting to enter. All visitors also will be expected to sign in, and wear masks if they’re not in the water. Opening Wednesday will allow the city to have the pool open for about three weeks. “It’s danged if we do, danged if we don’t,” Councilman Gene Myrick said. “My gut feeling is, yes it’s three weeks. Why deprive these kids and adults with an activity any more than they’ve already been deprived of ?” Joining Myrick and Slaugh in favoring reopening the pool were Kim Peterson and Steve French. French noted the crowds already attending ball games, most of whom are unmasked. Voicing opposition were Mark Peters and Nancy Ford. “I’m not for any of it,” Ford said. “I don’t think they
Humboldt swimming a no go
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See HUMBOLDT | Page A3
By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — Despite Mayor Nobby Davis’s gentle prodding that opening Humboldt’s swimming pool, albeit for only four weeks, would be greatly appreciated by area residents, his efforts failed to persuade council at their meeting Monday night. By a unanimous vote, members decided the town’s municipal pool will remain closed for the summer. “It sounds like a night-
Survey says: Open campuses for fall By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
More than 90% of parents and faculty in USD 257 want students in classrooms this fall, provided basic safety measures are taken to protect against the COVID-19 coronavirus. But the logistics needed to make that possible have yet to be determined. “We are intending to have in-class instruction and remote learning. How that’s going to look is still a work in progress, but we are going to reach all of our students either in person or remotely or a combination of that,” Superintendent Stacey Fager said. Surveys were sent to families and faculty members last week, asking if they plan to send their children to school, if they have adequate internet access for remote learning and how the district could improve its remote learning plan. Of the 681 responses from
USD 257 school board member Jennifer Taylor, left, and Superintendent Stacey Fager listen to a presentation at Monday’s meeting. The board is waiting for state guidance to help decide how to have classes next fall during the coronavirus pandemic. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS families, 91.5% said they plan to send their children to school, instructional coaches Briana Curry and Jenna Higginbotham told the school board at their meeting Monday evening. A similar survey of teachers and staff indicated 92% felt it was important to have face-to-face learning opportunities. Teachers also wanted more technology training. In both surveys, respondents said they wanted precautions like daily temperature checks, handwash-
ing, smaller group sizes, increased disinfection measures and optional mask wearing. That’s easier said than done, Fager noted. For example, increased disinfection requires a large amount of cleaning products that are already in short supply. Smaller group sizes may not be possible in classrooms that are already limited in size. If the district instead continues remote learning, such as was done in the spring when the virus first
hit the U.S., parents want the district to provide lessons that are meaningful and not “busy work.” They also want teacher-led videos that can be viewed at any time, because many parents must work and cannot help students with school work during regular school hours. They want students to be engaged, with clear and consistent expectations and consequences to hold students accountable, and improved See 257 | Page A6
Still more questions than answers for 258 By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
Humboldt High School building trades instructor Scott Murrow, from right, shows board members Tony Works and Josh Wrestler features of the new house completed by himself and the building trades class at 512 Osage in Humboldt. REGISTER/TREVOR HOAG
Vol. 122, No. 180 Iola, KS 75 Cents
HUMBOLDT — At this stage, Superintendent Kay Lewis suggested there are more questions than answers regarding what the fall term will look like in USD 258. However, a number of meetings and plans are coming together in order to solidify how things will proceed in Humboldt and elsewhere across the state. This week, for instance, Lewis and others will be meeting with the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health De-
partment to “try to get us all on the same page,” and to create a blueprint “if incidences [of COVID-19] happen.” “We’re in charge of student learning,” she said, “but we’re also in charge of their safety.” Lewis said she ordered masks, face shields and other protective supplies, though it is not certain which equipment will be worn and by whom. Along these lines, Lewis said she was aware that many policies the school would have to enact would not be popular, for instance, not allowing most visitors inside schools. “We’re going to have to
keep out as many visitors out as we can,” she said. She also noted changes such as not having students all meet together in the lunchroom for meals, and instead eating in their classrooms. Another possible change was that “the only kids able to ride the bus are literally the bus kids,” with their city friends off limits. And if the district is compelled to reenact virtual distance learning, students and/ or parents “will have to fill out a log,” in order to ensure See 258 | Page A3