USD 378 Riley County will close all schools and suspend all school-related activities for 14 days effective Monday, March 16. The local health officer in consultation with the Superintendent of Schools, mandated that USD 378 take that course of action. A similar course of action for USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden schools, effective March 16, had already been announced on Friday.
Riley County Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs said the decision to temporarily close USD 383 and USD 378 schools was not made lightly, but was a necessary precaution given the unique characteristics and transient population of the City of Manhattan as well as the large number of students in USD 378 that live in Manhattan.
The decision not to close Blue Valley / Randolph USD 384 was made after consultation with district administrators and taking into consideration the rural nature of the school, as well as no confirmed cases in Riley County. This can chance as developments unfold and all parents of USD 384 are urged to stay informed.
The Riley County Commission has directed all county departments to review their Continuity of Operations Plans to ensure that, in the event of a confirmed COVID-19 case in Riley County, that all essential operations will continue. The commission is staying informed of the situation and providing the necessary support to the Riley County Health Department and the applicable planning and response partners.