By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The vaccination of Reno County educators this past Sunday was a positive event, according to Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman.
"I think there was actually weeping when I sent that email out," Couchman said. "I'm so thankful to Medicine Shoppe and Reno County Health Department and all the volunteers that made that happen on Sunday. We got everyone who wanted a vaccination a shot. That also, you know, just gives it so much peace of mind to our staff and some of our at risk, health-wise, staff and just makes it a little bit easier to come back into a classroom that has 25 or even a band room that has a lot more than that."
USD 313 is back fully in person as of March 1 and there is a lot of hope that they can make it to the end of the year that way.
"We feel very confident that we're here, the weather is nicer," Couchman said. "We know that being outside more, being able to eat lunch outside. We have picnic tables sitting outside of our buildings that we'll utilize once the weather is nice. I'll bet we're utilizing them today, actually, with a high of 71. All of those things combining is to me like this perfect storm for the numbers to stay low and us to stay in person."
In fact, plans are already underway for prom and graduation and though they won't look exactly like they did pre-pandemic, it's good to not look at the schedule with so much uncertainty.
"There may be some limitations on the group size that we want, whether it's inside versus outside," Couchman said. "I think there will still be some modifications that we make. In fact, our prom, we're making sure that right now, as it is scheduled, is after school is out, just so we can make sure that we don't have the dealing with kids missing school and missing finals towards the end of the year, if there is an exposure."
The last day of school right now for USD 313 is May 26.