OAKES, N.D. (Newsdakota.com) – There haven’t been any cases of COVID-19 in Oakes or the surrounding area, but that doesn’t mean the impact isn’t being felt.

Schools have been closed the rest of the week and a decision will be made Friday on next week’s status. The days missed this week were excused by Governor Doug Burgum, so schools won’t have to make those up at the end of the year.

It’s a trying time for many, but Oakes Public School Superintendent Kraig Steinhoff praised the community’s response.

“The people in this community have been fantastic,” said Steinhoff. “The [school’s] staff have been amazing. We’re dealt with this pandemic, and we know we have to wade through it, and as we’re going through it the attitude has been roll your sleeves up, let’s just get it done,” added Steinhoff.

Despite the closure the school has been involved with making sure families are taken care of. The school has been providing curbside lunch and breakfast pick up each morning, and with the possibility of no school for another week, the school has also been calling families checking on internet access for students.

Internet may be a must moving forward.

“Our teaching staff, administration staff have been developing plans on how they will educate differently if we don’t have school as normal. For us a lot of that will be online learning,” said Steinhoff.

Oakes Public School utilizes an online platform called Schoology already. If a transition to online schooling occurs, Steinhoff said they’re lucky to have this past experience. Steinhoff also said they’re lucky, again, to have a great community looking out for the students.

“Dickey Rural Network came out and said ‘if you identify with us and let us know do you have families that don’t have access to internet… Dickey Rural Network is going to provide two full months of free internet service [for families needing internet],” said Steinhoff.

At this point in the week, Steinhoff and the rest of the state’s superintendents are connecting during conference calls trying to conjure the best plan moving forward.  It’s a waiting game for parents and students right now, so Steinhoff asked them to stand by.

“Continue to monitor Oakes Public School social media. We’ll continue to put out information as soon as we have that and as soon as there’s something significant that’s changing,” said Steinhoff.

On the bright side, Steinhoff said this time can be used to bolster a family’s relationship.

“There’s gotta be a silver lining in everything. This is a great opportunity for us as families to think about that time and utilize that time as best we can… keep taking it one day at a time and together we will overcome it,” added Steinhoff.

As of March 18th, there were six confirmed cases statewide but zero confirmed cases from the Oakes hospital and clinics according to Sanford Health’s Dr. Tara Mertz-Hack.

Listen to Mr. Steinhoff’s “Midweek Focus” full interview below.