Planning for Fall

Community Update

June 22, 2020

This is the first of a series of regular community updates pertaining to the reopening of school in September for the 2020-2021 school year.  All of us at South Bend School District have missed our students, and we cannot wait to see them again in our schools and classrooms.  We are working very hard to ensure our reopening plan is safe, efficient, and meets the needs of all families, students, and staff, while complying with health requirements.

Principals are meeting with teachers this week to begin formulating our plan of face-to-face instruction for next school year.  In addition, they will plan for distance learning should we be forced to close school at some point during the year.

Last week, building administrators and I met to study the recently released rules and guidance for the reopening of school.  We discussed essentially three areas to plan around, with the understanding that some areas can overlap and expand, and potentially change as the summer progresses.  These areas include:  health & safety, instruction, and communication. 

Health & Safety

In conjunction with health department staff, we will be developing health and safety protocols to be followed on campus.  These will align with the required Health Department, Labor & Industries, and other regulations, all of which will be approved locally by our county jurisdiction.  I have a meeting June 29 with Pacific County Health Department and other county school district superintendents to begin work on developing some of these protocols.  The protocols will cover everything from transportation, school building/classroom processes, food service, and other related school logistics.  

Instruction

We have to assume the state will require adherence to strict health guidelines and safety measures for Fall.  Principals are working with teachers to develop a face-to-face, blended instructional program that conforms to health and safety protocols, as well as a distance learning plan should we be forced to again close our buildings. Another part of this work includes identifying core learning standards that depend most on face-to-face instruction, as well as the essential standards to be taught within next school year.  

Communication

We desire parent input as we plan, and communication is key as we keep parents, students and community members informed.  Parents will have a voice as we develop our reopening plan, and we will be very transparent with parents and our community as planning unfolds.  Part of this includes a survey on parent perception of school during these last several months, as well as an opportunity for parents to express input on school reopening this fall.  

As our first week of planning begins and as we continue to plan during these next several weeks, I will provide regular updates.  Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate these times.  If at any time you have questions, concerns, or ideas, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at: 360-875-6041 or at jtienhaa@southbendschools.org.

Thank you,

Jon Tienhaara

Superintendent