Ten Sleep Learns From Home While Teachers Are Out Sick

Ten Sleep students will continue learning from home this week as “illness” had reduced the number of teachers needed to keep school in session, in person.

Preschool and K-12 students in Ten Sleep will go back to school in person tomorrow after being dismissed from in-person classes last Wednesday. Students spent last Thursday (October 14th) in virtual classes – Friday, October 15th was already a school holiday.

Classes on Monday (Oct. 18) and Tuesday (Oct. 19) were also held virtually.

At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13, students were dismissed by Washakie County School District #2 Superintendent Jimmy Phelps for three days of virtual instruction. All school activities were also canceled.

The message reads:

“Dear Parents/Guardians,
Due to the large number of teachers and staff which are not able to be at school due to illness, we are closing school for a short period of time. There will be no school from Thursday, October 14th, through Tuesday, October 19th. We will return to school on Wednesday, October 20th. This will result in three days of online classes on October 14th, 18th, & 19th. There is no school scheduled for Friday, October 15th.
If your child is at school today, they will be sent home with the materials they need for their on-line classes. If your child is not at school today, we will make arrangements to provide them with the materials that they need.
All activities scheduled during this period of time will be canceled.
If you have questions or need additional information or materials for your child, please contact the school office.

Thank you for your patience,

Jimmy Phelps, Superintendent
Washakie County School District #2

The reason given for the dismissal and virtual instruction was “illness” – not specifically COVID-19.

COVID-19 has forced many Wyoming school districts to close entirely. Hot Springs County School District #1 was closed to in-person instruction for two weeks at the beginning of September as 30% of Hot Springs County High School’s students were absent, largely due to COVID.

Meanwhile, several schools have been forced to cancel extracurricular activities due to COVID-19 absences. For example, this past weekend, Rawlins canceled its homecoming events, while many other schools have forfeited sporting events throughout the Fall 2021 semester.

The Washakie County School District #2 website lists 17 teachers on its staff directory. The exact number of teachers absent from the illness has not been made public.

According to the website Niche, the district has a K-12 student-teacher ratio of 7-1, with an average of 109 students enrolled.