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  • Important: School Plans for January 19, 2021

    Dear Parents/Guardians of Students in Brown County Schools, When we planned our return to school following the Winter Break, we promised our families that we would analyze the metric data after two weeks to determine the best/safest level of educational delivery.  (Red/Yellow/Green) The county color status continues to be on the Red Level, which is a concern. However, the school district’s Metric #1 and Metric #2 data do not evidence any significant elevation in data points. Many of the situations where metric #1 has been elevated was due to an active case that indicated a large number of close contacts on athletic teams or elementary classrooms. Even with those elevated cases, all school buildings are forecasted to evidence data points well below the 20% threshold (metric #1) and 11% threshold (metric #2) on 1/19.   With all data points being considered, our plan is for all schools to return on the Green Level of our Covid-19 Educational Service Delivery Plan on January 19.   The Green Level of the plan means that all students attend school in person every day.   If a student is 100% remote, they may continue to participate in that format.   As with all of our response protocols during the pandemic, should this decision prove to not be a good one, we will readjust.  Hopefully we have proven throughout the pandemic that we are deeply committed to using data to drive our decision making. If the data support a transition away from the Green Level in the future, we will make that transition happen.  A reminder that Monday, January 18 is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and school is not in session.   Should you have any questions about the plans for return to school on January 19, please do not hesitate to share them with me or your building Principal.   Sincerely, Dr. Laura Hammack, Superintendent

    Friday, Jan 15 2021

  • Positive Covid-19 Case at BCHS and BCJHS: 1/12/21

    Good evening, We received notification today, 1/12/21, that an adult closely involved with Brown County High School athletics tested positive for Covid-19.  Additionally, we were notified that a student at Brown County Junior High School tested positive for Covid-19.   Close contacts were identified and families of close contacts have been notified.  These positive cases do not change any school level statuses.  On Wednesday, January 13th, HES, SES, VBES, and BCIS will be on the Green Level of the plan.  BCJHS and BCHS will be on the Yellow Level of the plan.  January 13th is a BLUE day.    As always, please be vigilant in monitoring your child for symptoms of Covid-19 before they attend school.   If your child is symptomatic, please keep your child at home and call the school to receive further instructions.    Sincerely, Dr. Laura Hammack, Superintendent Mrs. Holy Gordon, Corporation Nurse 

    Tuesday, Jan 12 2021

  • Monday Update w/ Dr. Hammack: 1/11/21

    Good afternoon, My Monday Update can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/QVaxalEhQeE A couple of important reminders: No School on Monday, January 18th - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This is not an eLearning Day, just a good old fashioned day off! eLearning Day on Friday, January 29th. The entire school district will have a planned eLearning Day on Friday, 1/29, so district employees can receive professional development regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We will release a statement via Parent Square this Friday (1/15) regarding building color statuses for January 19th. Go Browns!! Sincerely, Dr. Laura Hammack, Superintendent

    Monday, Jan 11 2021

  • Positive Covid-19 Case at BCIS: 1/9/21

    Good afternoon,  We received notification today, 1/9/21, that a staff member at Brown County Intermediate School tested positive for Covid-19.   Close contacts were identified and families of close contacts have been notified.  This positive case does not change the Green Level status for BCIS.  As such, SES, VBES, and BCIS will be in session on Monday, January 11th on the Green Level of the plan. BCJHS and BCHS will have a BLUE day of in person learning on the Yellow Level of the plan.  Helmsburg Elementary School remains on the Red Level with 100% remote learning.   As always, please be vigilant in monitoring your child for symptoms of Covid-19 before they attend school.   If your child is symptomatic, please keep your child at home and call the school to receive further instructions.    Sincerely, Dr. Laura Hammack, Superintendent Mrs. Holy Gordon, Corporation Nurse 

    Saturday, Jan 09 2021

  • Positive Covid-19 Case at HES - RED LEVEL OF THE PLAN!

    Good afternoon, This notification is to advise that a staff member tested positive for Covid-19 at Helmsburg Elementary School.    Unfortunately, the number of close contacts identified with this case moves Helmsburg Elementary School above the 20% threshold for the metric of building population absent related to active exposure cases.   Since this threshold was reached, Helmsburg Elementary School is required to transition to the Red Level of our plan.  This means that all HES students will be 100% Remote instruction through January 12th.  On January 13th, students will be able to return to school on the Green Level of the plan.   It is possible that this date will need to be extended if additional cases are added.   Teachers will be posting activities and assignments in Canvas.  We will work on a plan to distribute Chromebooks as soon as possible.    All students at SES, VBES, and BCIS will report to school on the Green Level of our plan tomorrow, Friday, January 8thth.   Students at Brown County Junior High School and Brown County High School remain on the Yellow Level of the plan.  January 8th is a Gold day.   We will work to provide meal kits for all remote learners and will release more information about food service distribution when it is available. We regret the inconvenience of this necessary transition.  Please communicate your questions/concerns and we will work to address them as soon as possible.   Sincerely. Dr. Laura Hammack, Superintendent Mrs. Kelli Bruner, Principal Mrs. Holly Gordon, Corporation Nurse

    Friday, Jan 08 2021

  • Monday Update with Dr. Hammack: 1/4/21

    Happy New Year! My Monday video update is ready for your review via this link: https://youtu.be/5rJxdGGhMqw We have some very hard things to get through these next few months, but we will get through!! Thank you for hanging in there with us! #WeAREBrownCounty! Sincerely, Dr. Laura Hammack, Superintendent 

    Monday, Jan 04 2021

  • Pop Up Pantry this WEDNESDAY!

    Good morning, The next Pop Up pantry is this Wednesday from 3:30pm-5:30pm (or while supplies last) at Parkview Church of the Nazarene. **Please enter the church parking lot from SR46. We are so grateful to the following partners for making these events happen: BROWN COUNTY COAD St. Vincent De Paul/St. Agnes BCCYMCA BC FOOD ALLIANCE BCCF TRIAD GOD’S GRACE, Inc See more here:

    Monday, Jan 04 2021

  • Social Media Post

    Good morning, This message is to notify our school community that an inappropriate and troubling post is currently circulating on social media. The post includes an altered screenshot from our school district website and includes a statement that is deeply disrespectful towards an under-represented population. The Brown County Schools website was not hacked. The photograph that is circulating has been altered to include the statement of concern. Because of the nature of this post, law enforcement is engaged and we intend to pursue legal action to the fullest extent allowable once the origins of the post are identified. Should you have any information about the origin of this post, please let us know or contact the Brown County Sheriff's Department. If you would like to remain anonymous, please submit this information via our anonymous reporting tool located here: https://brownco-in.safeschoolsalert.com/   You can submit via phone call, text, email, or web.  All submissions will be turned over to law enforcement for their review.   It is the policy of Brown County Schools to maintain an education and work environment which is free from all forms of discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and harassment based on sexual orientation. Brown County Schools does not discriminate or tolerate harassment on the basis of a protected class including but not limited to race, color, sex, gender, sexual preference, ethnicity, religion, family makeup, socioeconomic class, and able-bodiedness in the programs or activities which it operates. Respectfully, Dr. Laura Hammack, Superintendent

    Tuesday, Dec 29 2020

  • 2020 Fall Athletic Awards Program

    Congratulations to our 2020 Fall Athletic Awards recipients! We are so proud of all of our student athletes for overcoming extremely challenging circumstances with incredible success.   #WeAREBrownCounty Please enjoy this video of our 2020 Fall Athletics Awards Winners: https://youtu.be/zUiSNcVt9fA

    Sunday, Dec 27 2020

  • Positive Case for Covid-19 at BCHS

    Good afternoon, We received notification today 12/22/20, that a student at Brown County High School has tested positive for Covid-19.   Close contacts were identified and families of close contacts have been notified.  The following plan continues to remain in place for January 4, 2021: Brown County High School – Yellow Level (Hybrid: Blue/Gold) Brown County Junior High School – Yellow Level (Hybrid: Blue/Gold) Brown County Intermediate School – Green Level Helmsburg Elementary School – Green Level Sprunica Elementary School – Green Level Van Buren Elementary School – Green Level It is very important that you continue to notify us of any positive cases/close contacts over the Winter Break.  Please call our hotline if a student in your home tests positive for Covid-19 or is identified as a close contact.  The hotline is: 812-988-3477 Sincerely, Dr. Laura Hammack, Superintendent Mrs. Holly Gordon, Corporation Nurse

    Tuesday, Dec 22 2020