Back to School Update---11/28/2020

 


Dear Families,

I hope each of you had an enjoyable and relaxing Thanksgiving. It definitely looked and felt different and I am optimistic that this time next year we will be back to normal. As I mentioned in a communication a few weeks ago, I would be informing you today when and if we will be returning to school. As you know we had to close school for 14 days starting on November 17 due to a spike in cases in school and out of an abundance of caution. 

I have been tracking the data and in touch with area schools and the Douglas Board of Health. As things stand today, I will extend the closure one extra day and we will return to live instruction on Thursday, December 3. The 17 days away from school has allowed for the people and the cases we had in quarantine to end. The extra day, also gives us 7 days from Thanksgiving to track any new cases that may come up and have people quarantine if identified. I will continue to work with the BOH and track data between now and December 3. If we see a spike in cases and/or information changes I may have to extend the closure of schools beyond December 3. My goal is to stay and remain open for live instruction but we will follow the data.

In order to stay open we need your help. The Thanksgiving Holiday gatherings will, in all likelihood, cause another surge in cases. I implore you, that if you are not feeling well and are symptomatic to please stay home. Some of the issues we have had in Douglas could have been avoided if people stayed home when they did not feel well. This is not specific to Douglas as it is also occurring in area communities.

How long we are in our in person learning model, depends largely upon how our community comes together to bring our Covid-19 positivity rates down by following the guidance set forth by the Governor, maintaining social distancing, wearing a mask, washing hands, and staying home if symptomatic. The goal, as always, is to stay open for in-person instruction. We will continue to track the data and cases and communicate with the Douglas Board of Health. If things should change we will adjust our model accordingly. 

As we approach returning to school, I will also ask that if anyone in your household is symptomatic or being tested that you remain at home until the test results have come in. This is a higher standard, but one that I discussed with the Local Board of Health and one that we feel will allow for us to stay open through the Winter Break.

Thank you for your assistance with this, I know this is not easy for families, especially those with younger children. I hope that these additional precautions will allow for us to not have to close over the next few weeks. I will continue to communicate with you over these next few days and share information as it becomes available.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Paul

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