August 13, 2020

 

Dear Beacon Community:

I hope everyone is doing well!  I wanted to provide some updates on Reopening BCSD. First I just wanted to say that I know this is a difficult and challenging time for everyone in our community.  I am committed to both strengthening our plan and communicating regularly with the district about it.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Decision Timeline Extended to August 21

Last week you received a letter which I have attached to this email asking you to make a choice for your child between a hybrid (two days in school, three days out) model or an all-remote model of instruction and we gave August 14th as the deadline.

I am extending this deadline to August 21.  If you feel that you can make this decision now, please do so because it greatly helps our planning but it is ok also to wait.  If you choose hybrid in-person and develop either health issues or concerns or become uncomfortable, you may choose remote at any time.  If you choose remote and want to change, we will make the change in January.

Please fill out this link with your decision:  https://forms.gle/5qNgK4dYYwAAkyzKA

Masks

Here is the language in our reopening plan on masks:

Short Version:  Masks are required of everyone and so are mask beaks.  Mask breaks will be directed by staff in our buildings and be developmentally appropriate.

From the plan:

All building occupants will be required to maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from one another. Face masks are required to be worn in the school buildings.  Teachers will be required to give students mask breaks several times during the day.   Additionally, other Personal Protective Equipment may also be necessary.  Each school building will utilize visual aids such as floor decals to promote social distancing in commonly used areas and areas where lines are formed and bi-directional arrows to direct traffic flow in hallways and other common areas.  

Start of the School Year:

I am working with the Board of Education to add two additional professional learning days to the beginning of the year and make September 10 and 11 orientation days for all students with the plan of September 14 being the start of hybrid and remote instruction.  When this gets officially adopted, we will share a revised calendar with everyone.

Remote Learning

We are working with our administrators and teachers to further develop our remote learning plan.  It is a complex task and I will share more information next week on what it will look like.

Communications Plan

We have several zoom town halls coming up.

Beacon High School tonight at 7:00

Rombout Middle School Tuesday, August 18 at 7:00

PPS Department on Tuesday, August 18 at 11:30 and Wednesday, August 19 at 7:00

Superintendent Update Zoom on Thursday, August 21 at 2:00

All of these sessions will be recorded and posted.

Have a great rest of your day!

 

Matt Landahl