Riverside will work to notify the community but must protect the confidentiality of their students and staff. Schools with 5 or few cases we will not provide a specific count, but will only confirm there are cases within the school population. Each week the district will provide a Community Update.
Riverside COVID-19 Information Page--More information on COVID-19 can be found at www.riversideschools.org and then click on “Riverside COVID-19 Information Page” at the top of the page.
Due to high numbers of student and staff absenteeism, Riverside will be moving to Full Required Remote Learning next Monday, November 23, 2020 and Tuesday, November 24. 2020. We currently have approximately 25% of the students and approximately 15% of the staff out due to testing positive for COVID-19 or being determined a primary contact and having the need to be in quarantine. We plan to return to our traditional model (100% Face to Face)on Monday November 30, 2020.
Riverside Childcare will be open for the normal hours of operation.
Teachers will discuss expectations with their students in their classes today. They will also make sure they take technology home. If you need help with accessing the Internet please contact your school.
We will have meals available at each building. The student/parent/caregiver has to pick up at the building their student attends. If they have one in each building they will pick it up for that student at the building they attend. We are a closed site, providing for only enrolled students, and the eligible number for reimbursement is based on our enrollment number . Distribution 9:00 AM-11:00 AM Monday November 23, 2020. Each meal packet will include food for two breakfasts and two lunches.
Pottawattamie County Public Health and Riverside Community School District can confirm:
There were additional students and staff this week placed in quarantine due to primary exposure or testing positive in the community. Three groups of students: Kindergarteners, Middle School Basketball Team and a pod of the Wrestling Team. We have had a total of two hundred thirty-six (236) students or staff since the beginning of the year that have been out and most have returned to school, Currently, one hundred and twenty-seven (127) are not in school. Many are set to return on Monday November 30,2020.
No students or staff members with major symptoms or a Positive COVID-19 diagnosis are attending school or will be allowed to attend school or participate in activities.
We are implementing strict mitigation protocols.
All students who tested positive have completed quarantine, been cleared by Public Health to return to school and are asymptomatic. Most of the staff members who tested positive have also completed quarantine and have returned to school.
As of today (11-20-2020), Pottawattamie County is 22.5% positive-14 day average.
You can access this information at:
Positive Analysis - Public School District Summary
**Across the state we are seeing an increase in the number of waiver requests to provide primarily remote instruction. Here are some important reminders about remote instruction and the waiver process:
**Schools can immediately transition to remote learning for up to 48 hours while waiting for a waiver decision. Riverside will utilize this option and go remote for November 23 & 24, 2020.
**Schools can also move one or more grade levels or sections of a building to remote instruction without State approval. Riverside Kindergarten Class, Middle School Basketball Team and a pod of Wrestlers with Coaches have been identified as primary contact to a positive case and are currently quarantined.
**Schools can make these local decisions based on local conditions and only need to request a waiver if they feel that closing an entire building or the district is the right decision for their community. Riverside will not be seeking a waiver at this time.
**Schools do not have to wait until they reach both student absenteeism of 10% and a county positivity rate above 15% to apply for a waiver. These guidelines are to assist districts when they are determining when they might want to use remote instruction, but they are only guidelines.
**The county positivity rate is just one factor that school districts and nonpublic schools should take into account, and it may not be indicative of the positivity rate among their students and staff.
**If a district or school chooses to use primarily remote instruction they are required to temporarily cease in-person extracurricular activities for the duration of the period requested. Riverside will cease in-person extracurricular activities for the week of November 23-27, 2020.
The following documents will help answer some of the questions you may have about how decisions are made related to quarantine and keeping schools open.