Grant County school districts uphold positive relationship with public health dept.
By Logan Bagett on Monday, February 1st, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
JOHN DAY- We’re a month into 2021, and many organizations are finding unique challenges due to COVID-19 that they didn’t encounter last year at this time. Grant County Education Service District Superintendent Robert Waltenburg reflects on some of his office’s hardships:
“I think for us, one of the biggest challenges has just been the uncertainty around the Governor’s mandates. You know, the changing goalposts. One week we’re doing ‘this’ as a target; the next week we’re doing ‘this’ as a target, and I think they’re doing the best they can within the confines of their world. Where the boots are on the ground, it is a little frustrating to us.”
Waltenburg mentioned that in many parts of the state, Superintendents and health departments tend to clash. He noted just how fortunate he feels that our local school districts and public health department work well together:
“You know, the call-out really needs to be for our health department. They have been champions for our remote schools. Getting us back in, keeping us in, fighting for us tooth-and-nail. We can’t say enough about our health department.”
School districts served by Grant County ESD include Prairie City, Grant #3 (Grant Union, Humbolt & Seneca), Monument, Dayville and Long Creek.
