Dear Families and Staff,
This week, we were scheduled to be sending students off for the summer. Instead, we continue our work in preparing to welcome students back in the fall. Today, I’d like to provide you with an update on our Return-to-Learn plans:
REQUIRED CONTINUOUS LEARNING
With the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year still 10 weeks away, it is too early to know exactly what the beginning of the school year will look like. What we do know is that the district will be prepared to provide required continuous learning should another disruption occur.
As a district, we will develop a model that allows us to have three required delivery options available:
- Fully in-person education
- Fully remote education
- Hybrid education, delivered as a combination of in-person and remote education
Based on best practices at the time, we will be prepared to pivot in and out of these options as necessary.
2020-2021 PROPOSED SCHOOL START DATE
Our primary goal is to prepare for learning to resume in August with students and teachers back in the classroom, bringing our schools to life once again.
We want our community of learners together in person as soon as it’s safe to do so!
With that as our goal, today we shared with the School Board a proposal to amend the 2020-2021 school calendar that includes moving the first day of classes for grades K-12 to FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, with orientation for grades Pre-K-5, 6 and 9 on THURSDAY, AUGUST 13.
VIEW THE FULL PROPOSED CALENDAR
This proposal is pending Board approval following a public hearing at the June 8 Board meeting.
It was our goal to add as many student attendance days as possible for next year and, thanks to great teamwork and collaboration among the district, our many bargaining units, and the district teacher quality committee, we are able to do so.
A final calendar will be shared with families following official adoption by the School Board.
HEALTH AND SAFETY PLANNING
The safety of our students and staff continues to be at the forefront of our work. We continue to review best practices and recommendations from federal, state and local health officials regarding health and safety protocols for welcoming back students and staff.
These best practices will likely continue to evolve in upcoming weeks and we will continue to share additional details over the summer as they are finalized.
We cannot wait to welcome our students back in August and appreciate your ongoing support and flexibility as we prepare to do so!
Sincerely,
Stan Rheingans
Superintendent of Schools