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Back to School Action Plan

7/10/2020 | Superintendent Andrea Celico Update on Back to School Plan

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Greetings

 

As we continue to plan for the 2020-2021 school year, I want to provide you with an update in light of last night’s board meeting.  Thank you to those of you who tuned in.  Again, if you were unable to attend, you can access the presentation on our website or by clicking on the following links.

 

Due to the length of the meeting, we organized it by chapters.

First and foremost, our district is committed to the safety, health, and well-being of our students, staff, and community. We intend to stand by our core values, which emphasizes the safety of our students and staff. Our goal was to develop a plan that is educationally best for our kids but also feasible and successful from operational and safety standpoints.
 
With that said, the board met last night and made the decision to support a hybrid model for learning. This means that we will have cohorts of students who will attend on Monday and Tuesday, and Thursday and Friday. Wednesdays (and a weekend day) will be reserved for deep cleaning days. Wednesdays will also be remote learning days for all students.
 
As we move forward, we recognize that the hybrid plan will not meet the needs of everyone. Our intention is to provide a plan that brings as many students as possible back to school safely for in-person instruction. In addition, we plan to offer a 100% online option for those families and students who do not feel comfortable physically returning to the classroom. We will need a commitment from our parents as soon as possible. Therefore, you will receive another correspondence soon asking you to commit to online or hybrid learning for your child for the first semester.

 

The board also agreed to consider the change to the school calendar, which would have students starting Tuesday, September 8, the day after Labor Day.  While this calendar must be posted for public viewing for 30 days prior to the board voting, it has been presented and accepted for consideration by the board and as a result, parents should be mindful of the potential change and prepare for the strong possibility of starting after Labor Day. The reasons for the delay include the warm temperatures in August, the need for professional development and training for parents and staff, and the time needed to acquire and implement all the safety devices and protocols.

 

Finally, our goal is to have a draft plan for the return by the first week in August to present to families and staff. We will continue to keep you updated as we approach our goal, AND, as things change.  Thank you for your patience and I hope this helps you plan, at least in part, for the Fall. Take care and stay safe.