July 29, 2020
Dear Staff and Families,
The safety of our students, staff and community is paramount when making decisions about how to educate our students. We prefer in-person instruction because we know it is the best way for students to learn, but only if it can be done safely. Since last spring, we have followed and will continue to follow the guidance of the Snohomish County Health District on issues of health and safety.
In our Zoom meeting last week and in our Friday communication, we let you know that we would be meeting on Tuesday, July 28, with the Snohomish County Health District and specifically Dr. Christopher Spitters, the Snohomish County Health Officer. District staff and several board members participated in a Zoom meeting yesterday with him. Today, Dr. Spitters sent a communication to superintendents. He specifically stated, “Given this current situation and being aware of your need to plan for the start of the academic year, I strongly recommend that you plan for distance learning at the start of the school year.” He provided the following rationale:
- The sustained case rate in Snohomish County is climbing;
- The current case rate is “... virtually identical to that rate which we experienced when schools were first closed in March;”
- “...cases and outbreaks in schools seem likely to occur at a level that poses substantial additional risk to the school and the surrounding community--especially its medically vulnerable members;”
- “...a level of school-based transmission also would impose considerable demands and instability on school operations and conceivably could outpace our collective efforts to control it;” and,
- The Health District will support exceptions to school plans to allow for in-person learning among small cohorts of high-needs children with proper prevention measures in place.
Dr. Spitters’ complete press release can be read in full here.
For these reasons, the Stanwood-Camano School District will provide Continuous Learning 2.0 for all families beginning September 3, 2020. Changes to Continuous Learning have been made since last spring. Families can expect the following:
- Teaching staff will provide students an overall plan for the week including learning targets, office hours, and how to contact the teacher if there are questions.
- All secondary teachers will use Google Classroom to manage assignments.
- Elementary teachers will either use Google Classroom or Seesaw depending on grade level.
- Teachers will produce recorded videos for instruction or use live Google Meets which will be recorded and published for students to view later. These videos/Google meets will accompany the weekly plan for instruction.
- Elementary teachers will provide regularly scheduled meets for classes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. This will provide an opportunity for teachers to play pre-recorded instructional videos or live instruction and have follow-up discussions with students.
- Secondary teachers will provide regularly scheduled Google Meets for odd periods (1, 3, and 5) on Mondays and Thursdays; even periods (2, 4, and 6) on Tuesdays and Fridays. This will provide an opportunity for teachers to play pre-recorded instructional videos or live instruction and have follow-up discussions with students.
- Office hour type Google Meets will be provided for families on Wednesdays.
- All assignments will be shared on Thursday mornings and will be due on Wednesday nights.
- Accommodations and supports will be provided for families without internet access (more information to follow).
The district will provide limited face-to-face services (following all safety guidelines) to the following populations in small cohorts per Dr. Spitters’ communication:
- Students enrolled in special education
- McKinny Vento Students
- English language learners
- Students without internet
- Kindergarten Students
Families who enrolled in an Alternative Learning Program (Lincoln Hill High School or Saratoga) will be contacted by those schools with further information.
We recognize that this change to a full distance model will create hardships on families needing daycare. We are working with community partners to support childcare needs. More information will be forthcoming. The Continuous Learning model will be re-evaluated with guidance from the Snohomish County Health District by November 1, or if conditions change.
The district is grateful that parents have completed the online “Intent to Enroll” forms. We will be prepared to transition to a Hybrid model should the health district inform schools that it is safe to do so. If we reopen for a Hybrid model, we will resurvey our families. Because of this new development, families who have not filled out the survey will not need to complete it at this time.
The district will be sending out an invitation to a Zoom meeting to all families by Friday, July 31.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate these challenging times. As always, our decisions will be based on assuring the safety of our students, staff, and community. We look forward to sharing additional detailed information with you soon.
Sincerely,
| Natalie Hagglund |
Jean Shumate, Ed.D. |
| President, Board of Directors |
Superintendent |