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The Kansan
The largest graduating class in the history of Newton High School walked across the graduation stage May 22, in a new place thanks to COVID-19.
The class of 2021 was the first class in NHS history to host ceremonies at a location other than Fischer Field or the high school. More than
250 students received diplomas during a ceremony at Hartman Arena in Park City.
The arena was chosen, months ago, in order for planners and high school staff to have only one place to plan a ceremony for traditionally the ceremony was at Fischer Field in Athletic Park, but moved to the high school in the case of rain. According to principal Caleb Smith, in order to observe social distancing guidelines for COVID-19, the high school was not a usable alternative in the case of rain.
USD 373 enrolling for next year and no online option is available
The Kansan
For Newton USD 373, enrollment for the 2021-22 school year opened on April 1, and next school year will look different that this one.
Pandemic COVID-19 led to the shuttering of buildings in March of 2020, and when those building reopened for the fall semester of 2020-21 a significant number of students did not return to buildings.
At the start of the 2020-21 school year, 23 percent of students were enrolled in the remote only option as the district opened school with a flexible plan for student attendance. Under the flexible plan, the board of education determined if students would be in school all day, every day; in school two or three days a week alternating with online only instruction; or if buildings would be closed to students.
USD 373 working on COVID-19 testing expansion
The Kansan
Newton Unified School District 373 is pursing a way to provide COVID-19 testing to staff and students as the second semester of the 2020-21 school year begins. It will be free of charge through the end of the school year, said Superintendent Fred Van Rankin.
The school district had relied on testing by Well Health, which was initially offered to the community in the Newton High School parking lot before moving to the Chisholm Trail Mall, for testing in December. However, turnaround time was an issue for district employees.
The school district chose to go with to another source.