Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed Executive Order 20-34, which moved Kansas into Phase 2 of “Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas.” Phase 2, which became effective Friday, May 22, was modified to include data-driven restrictions necessary to prevent community transmission of COVID-19.

Stockton High School Senior Ellie Bellerive received the Dale M. Dennis Excellence in Education Award, which is sponsored by the United School Administrators of Kansas.

The Stockton City Commission met with pool managers Tricia Morgan and Jess Billinger to discuss the opening of the pool and the regulations they will need to follow during the COVID-19 re-opening. City manager Courtney Flower stated that she, Tricia, Jess and water superintendent Jon Voss have been working on plans such as spacing out the deck chairs, the slide and high dive would not be open at first, hourly bathroom cleanings, no drinking fountains, posting safety and health rules, no use of pool phone, etc. They also discussed the idea of opening the pool in two-hour shifts. Everyone will sign in and out when they are at the pool, and everyone will also need to fill out contact information. Nothing is decided as of now, though the pool is being filled with the proposed opening to be Monday, June 8th. It needs approximately two weeks of mixing in the chemicals before it would be ready for use. Also, as of now the plan is for no swimming lessons until July.

The Smoky Hill Education Service, along with the Kansas State Department of Education and HY- PERLINK "https://www.character.org/" \t "_blank" Character.org, announced the 2020 Kansas Schools of Character recipients in a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, May 12th. Kansas Commissioner of Education, Dr. Randy Watson made the announcements.

Beatrice Griebel of Stockton High School, was recently recognized by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly as a 2020 Kansas Governor’s Scholar. Typically, students receiving this recognition are invited to an awards program held in Topeka at the invitation of the Governor. Unfortunately, this year’s program was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Sentinel will require early copy for next week’s issue because of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed Executive Order 20-32 last Thursday, May 14th, which establishes a new phase to the “Ad Astra: Plan to Reopen Kansas.” The new “1.5” Phase, effective May 18, 2020, continues reopening efforts while preserving some data-driven restrictions necessary to prevent community transmission of COVID-19.