At the direction of the Kansas State Department of Education, Great Bend USD 428 is canceling school and suspending operations for the entire week of March 16-20. This closure includes the cancelation of all activities, athletics and usage of buildings for any reason. The USD 428 District Education Center will be open and staffed by essential personnel. All buildings/attendance centers will be closed.

“We appreciate the public’s patience and attention in this rapidly changing situation,” said Superintendent Khris Thexton. “While there are no confirmed cases in our community, the coordinated effort to close schools state-wide will give us time to focus on the future instead of trying to keep pace with the present.”

The recommendation from KSDE has the support of the Kansas Department of Health & Environment and Governor Laura Kelly’s office. USD 428 continues to monitor this situation both at the local level with the Barton County Health Department, as well as at the state level with daily conference calls with Kansas superintendents led by KSDE and KDHE.

More information will be provided as soon as it becomes available. Questions can be directed to the District Education Center, 620-793-1500.  

Monday's school board meeting will go on as scheduled, at 5 p.m. at the District Education Center, 201 South Patton Road.