Letter from the Superintendent - December 2020
As we head into the holiday season, it is more important than ever to closely monitor your children’s health (as well as your own) to attempt to decrease the possibility of exposing others to this virus. Although we have experienced some issues with quarantines and Covid positive cases, the environment at our school has been such that we have been able to keep the large majority of our students immersed in face-to-face learning. We will continue to encourage vigorous hand washing, social distancing at all possible times and strongly encourage wearing masks. Along with the continual sanitation and disinfecting with anti-virus foggers in our buildings and busses, we can continue to remain in school. We do not want to go to an all-virtual learning model, and we need your help in this matter.
There is very good news on the vaccine front, but the distribution will take time and we can’t accurately pinpoint when that will be available to our area. Eventually, with all of the efforts taken towards slowing the spread of this virus, we will be able to return to a more normal school format. Our local health department has moved their dial to “red,” and this is based on local hospital capacity. It triggers, therefore, limits on numbers for activities, presentations, concerts and programs. Other schools have their own guidelines, as well, so we will see some variances from school to school. For most activities, at this time, we will be looking at parents only or no fans at all. Our number one goal is to keep our kids in school and hope to be able to also provide extracurricular activities that our students need. It is only with the cooperation of the community that this can continue.
As you may have read or heard in news from around the state, some schools are going to strictly on-line learning for the remainder of the semester after Thanksgiving break. Unless we get a directive from The Department of Education, The Commissioner of Education, The Governor, or our local health department, we fully intend to keep our regular schedule for a return to school as normal after Thanksgiving Break on November 30th and continue school until dismissal on December 22nd. Second semester would then start on January 6th for students. You will be notified immediately if conditions change.
I commend all of our district employees for facing this problem with grit and determination. It has been draining for everyone, so some safe rest and relaxation is in order. Thanks for all of the support from our community. It is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
R. Todd Porter - Superintendent