February 12, 2021
St. Charles County, Missouri — At the St. Charles County Council meeting on Feb. 8, County Executive Steve Ehlmann presented Dr. Bernard DuBray, Superintendent of the Fort Zumwalt School District, with a proclamation congratulating the district on their 100-days milestone for the 2020-2021 school year. Traditionally, the 100th day of school is celebrated by the district’s youngest students as a way for elementary school teachers to celebrate the various mathematical concepts that can be taught using the number 100. But with the challenges presented by the pandemic, the entire Fort Zumwalt School District found it appropriate to celebrate. The district will reach the milestone on Feb. 16, 2021.
“Last summer, County Government and the Department of Public Health took the position that we were going to educate our school districts about the pandemic and precautions and leave the decision for how schools should handle opening in the fall with each school and their school board,” says Ehlmann. “As a former teacher, I was very, very pleased to see every one of them give students the chance for in-person learning. I want to thank and congratulate the boards and staff of all our school districts for their extraordinary efforts this school year.”
In addition to recognizing the school district, the proclamation recognizes the entire community for playing a role in the district’s success, and that these efforts “were the result of a strong relationship between the schools, parents and the community.” Because of these combined efforts, more than 15,000 students have been at school with teachers and peers since Aug. 31, 2020, and another 2,500 students have been learning online with teachers.
DuBray thanked Ehlmann and the County Council for recognizing the district and explained how staff were nervous when COVID-19 cases went up over the summer as the first day of class approached. “But our parents wanted their kids in school,” said DuBray. “Eighty percent of them wanted their kids in school. And I’m here to tell you tonight it was the right decision.”
DuBray recognized all the “outstanding” school districts in St. Charles County for working together. “We hung in there and we did what was right because these kids need to be in school,” he said.
All school districts in the county have worked closely and diligently with the St. Charles County Department of Public Health before and during the school year to prepare for and manage the pandemic. Department staff communicate frequently with schools to answer questions and concerns, and to follow up on positive cases and contacts.