June 29, 2020
Families –
I want to provide you with an update of the work of our district’s Re-Opening Committee (ROC). The committee, which meets weekly and has had three meetings to date, includes district administrators, principals, and parents. Additionally, subcommittees comprised of district teachers, classified staff and students are working to provide input to the ROC.
The ROC’s goal is to have a recommendation to the School Board around July 22. The committee’s work is guided by directives from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
Here are the key points from the ROC’s last meeting (Friday, June 26) that I want to share with you:
- The committee came to agreement on these four broad primary considerations, or principle guidelines, by which re-opening options will be evaluated:
- High quality learning opportunities for all students
- Safety of students and staff
- Sustainability
- Community
- While we all agree that our goal would be to have every student back in school, in person, full time, as soon as possible, the committee, after considering the most recent guidelines from OSPI and the DOH, overwhelmingly (more than 80 percent) expressed the opinion that it is unlikely that we can accomplish this goal at the start of the school year.
- Acknowledging that not all students will be able to attend all day, every day, the committee will brainstorm and investigate all models that would allow as many grade levels or identifiable student groups as possible to attend all day, every day, while following all safety guidelines as set forth by the OSPI and DOH.
- The committee knows that the distance-learning models need to be consistent across classrooms/schools and have clear learning expectations.
- The committee understands all educational opportunities must take into consideration family schedules.
- The committee wants to investigate ways the district can utilize or expand the Parent Partnership Program for families who are not yet ready to send their children for face-to-face instruction.
- The committee stressed the importance of increasing communication with the whole Snohomish community in this process and in communicating the decisions reached as soon as possible.
Below are important resources about the guidance from OSPI that likely provide answers to many questions:
Documents, agendas and minutes from the district’s ROC meetings are posted on our website at www.sno.wednet.edu/reopening. We encourage you to take a look through them and stay connected. We also have a dedicated email address (reopening@sno.wednet.edu) for those with questions or looking to provide input.
I look forward to providing you with additional updates as we move through this process. As always, I hope you and your families are taking time to relax and enjoy your summer break.
Thank you.
Kent Kultgen, Superintendent
