Trenton R-9 Out Of School Until April 27

There will be no classes in the Trenton R-9 School District until at least Monday, April 27.
Superintendent Mike Stegman announced on Monday that concerns about COVID-19 have resulted in a decision to extend the closure for another four weeks. In a letter to staff, students and parents, Stegman said he is concerned this will not be the last extension, but that the district will continue monitoring the situation and will provide updates as soon as any additional information is known.
Grundy County superintendents were scheduled to meet on Monday afternoon with health department officials to discuss the situation and make any additional plans that may be needed.
Stegman said the district will continue to provide enhancement materials and ask that students and patrons continue to email teachers with questions and needs regarding the materials available. At the high school level, where credits are attached to classes, Stegman said the district will be working with individual students to assure they have the appropriate opportunities to receive the academics needed to move to the next level. High school students who are taking dual credit classes will continue with those classes online in accordance with the college with which the course is attached.
“We will continue with the protocols we established at the beginning of this pandemic,” Stegman said.
All school buildings will remain closed, all extracurricular events, practices and use of Trenton R-9 property for social gatherings have been cancelled or postponed. Buildings will remain locked down during this time period as well as no one is to enter the facilities without prior authorization from Stegman or administrators Kasey Bailey, high school; Daniel Gott, middle school; Tiffany Otto, elementary school; and Tara Hoffman, director of special services. Staff and patrons needing to pick up items from the facilities must first contact their building administrator to make arrangements to enter the building.
Office hours for administrators will vary in each building, but administrators can always be reached by email. The district office will remain open from 8 a.m. to noon each day.
Meals for youth up to 18 years of age living in the school district will continue to be provided during this time, Monday through Friday. Orders can be called into the district at 359-4643 between the hours of 8 to 9:30 a.m., with pickup between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Stegman recognized the cooks and administrators for their efforts in providing meals to students as well as the custodians who came in last week to disinfect the school facilities. He also thanked teachers and counselors who are developing the enhancement materials for students, which he said have “truly been amazing in their efforts to get us through this very unique time.”
Stegman also addressed students who are missing out on activities that usually occur at this time, in particular those events involving seniors.
“Over my 36 years in public education, I have always appreciated the variety of activities that come year in and year out,” he said. “Losing out on any of those must be devastating to you. I will promise you that we will consider this when the pandemic passes. I cannot promise we can replace all of them, but we will do what we can to substitute the events we can. Hang in there; you are our future and you will learn many lessons from this time of unrest.”
Other Grundy County school districts have not announced if they plan to extend their closing date. Livingston County school districts on Friday announced they would remain out of classes until April 27, including the Chillicothe R-2 and Tri-County R-7 at Jamesport schools.
Meanwhile, Grundy County continues to have no reported positive COVID-19 cases. Cases were reported over the weekend in both Livingston and Harrison counties, with both individuals affected currently being self-quarantined in their homes.
Beginning, March 31, the health department will no longer be open for walk-in services. Birth and death certificates, children’s immunizations nd WIC services are available by appointment only at 660-359-4196.
As of Monday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 903 positive cases in Missouri and 12 deaths. The department has established a statewide public hotline to handle citizen questions about COVID-19, which is being operated by medical professionals and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The hotline number is 877-435-8411.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are cough, fever and shortness of breath. Persons who have symptoms or believe they have been exposed are asked to stay home except to seek medical care. Persons should call ahead before going to the doctor. The Grundy County Health Department is not testing for COVID-19.