'Go slow to go fast'

In order to help meet social distancing guidelines, the fourth grade class at Davenport Elementary has been meeting in the K-8 library where desks could be situated five feet apart. The district recently moved to half days as COVID-19 numbers have dropped in the area. School days are now Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m.-noon. Superintendent Jim Kowalkowski said staff have been taking on extra COVID-19 related duties this year including cleaning, using kiosks to take student's temperatures before the start of school and teaching remote classes for over 80 students. Despite the extra challenges, Kowalkowski said having kids back at school has been "great."

"It's been great to see the kids even with their masks on. They bring a great energy," he said. "We are taking a 'go slow to go fast' approach to bringing kids back to school so we can be sure we are ready to make that transition and meet the Coronavirus rules."