Heather Nebesniak, Ord, NE

We are asking rural communities to share how COVID-19 is impacting them and how teachers and teacher-leaders are adapting in the face of nationwide school closures. Read below for a perspective from Superintendent Heather Nebesniak of Ord, NE. You can share yours here: http://bit.ly/iaartcovid

We had never run an alternate food program in our District before. I am very proud of the Nutrition Services, my Administrators, and my team. Within 24 hours we were able to work with our Nutrition Services Program and NDE to have meals ready to go. With our area being in a Winter Weather Advisory and Blizzard Warning at that time, we did three days of lunches and breakfasts for almost 400 students and this kicked off our daily meals. We are now serving/delivering 350 breakfast and lunch daily to our students. We have pick-up at one site in town and then drive to two other locations in other towns for our students to get meals.

In many districts, teachers and other staff formed a car parade past students’ homes. In Ord, the families formed a car parade past the school to let the school staff know how much their efforts are appreciated.