BEATRICE – A bit of reassurance for parents and students from the Beatrice School District Monday night, regarding how schoolwork will be graded during the time students have been out of buildings, due to the coronavirus pandemic.


"No grades will be lowered, from the third-quarter grade...only improvement will be noted". For high school student courses on the semester basis, they would be able to choose between all letter grades, or pass-fail grades.


Beatrice High School Principal Jason Sutter spoke about the policy that was approved by the Board of Education Monday night. District students had completed three quarters of the school year, before buildings were shut down, and learning began to happen from home, online.


Requirements of some high school classes where students had to go out into the community have been waived….such as internships, community service and the like. On Tuesday, discussions are to be held with teachers about fourth-quarter progress reports of students. Sutter said no second semester grades will factor into class rank or grade point average.


"You can show on your transcript, either letter grades or pass-fail. We're gonna remain with letter grades, unless you let us know, differently".


School officials say coming up with a policy has focused on establishing an equitable system.
Middle School Principal John Jarosh says the grade policy is similar for students of his building. Both principals estimated that about 50-percent of students are keeping up on schoolwork while not at district buildings, during the pandemic. Sutter says teachers have been doing a good job with getting assignments to students and maintaining contact with them.


"Our focus has really shifted more to the social and emotional aspect and what can we do to make sure that our kids are okay, make sure our kids are getting those lunches that we're delivering and making sure that our kids are doing good in the home setting and trying to follow those social distancing guidelines and those kinds of things".


Elementary Principal Betty Replogle says a big part of the discussion between administrators is not with grades, but with the overall wellbeing of students during an unusual time.
"Our biggest concern is we don't get to see our kids everyday, and they don't get to see us, either".


Superintendent Jason Alexander said the school year remains in session through May 20th.


"We appreciate all the support of parents and partners of us in education that have been willing to do everything they possibly can to provide enrichment activities for the students....to work with us and partner with us to continue to provide an education through this time period. I will say it's not ideal...I don't think it ever will replace what takes place in the classroom, but I will say that I'm happy that we've had such positive parental support through this time period".


School officials have not yet settled how the graduating class of 2020 will be recognized. Alexander says administrators are considering the best way to recognize this year’s graduating class. School officials plan to send out an invitation to speak with seniors by video conference, about graduation, recognizing the leadership they have shown in school.


The grading policy approved by the school board, officials say, will be on the district’s website.