Start of School Information for 2020-2021  

We welcome students, parents, staff, and community to a new school year! We are looking forward to a safe and prosperous experience this year.

All middle school and high school students will begin instruction on August 17th virtually. With the high number of cases seen in middle and high school age students, we feel that a virtual start will be the best option at this point. The schedules at both of these levels involve classes that include different groups of students in each period or block, which can lead to a major school disruption when individual cases appear. 

Elementary students will begin on August 17th with a combination of virtual instruction and face to face instruction. There are several reasons that the system feels like face to face instruction with elementary students is a viable option at this point. First, the spread data supports that face to face instruction with younger children represents fewer risks of individual cases and spread in the school setting. Secondly, elementary school allows students to remain in their homeroom grouping for much of the school day, causing much less of a school disturbance when we experience individual cases. Lastly, younger students need more face to face instruction when they are learning to read, write, and master basic math concepts. Note, parents who signed their elementary child up for the virtual option will also begin virtual instruction on August 17th.

Moving forward, the school district will analyze health data every week to make determinations regarding face to face instruction at the middle and high school level. If a decision is made to begin face to face instruction at the middle and high school level, parents and staff will be given an additional week to prepare for this change in instruction. 

Children who signed up in the summer for the virtual option will remain on the virtual option for nine weeks at the elementary and middle school level while students who signed up for the virtual option at the high school will remain on the virtual option for the entire semester. 
We realize that moving to virtual instruction with many of our students presents an issue with regard to securing an electronic device and accessing wifi in homes and communities. Listed below are options that families can utilize to help support their child in our virtual option.        

Thank you for your support and for allowing us the opportunity to serve the children of Monroe County. We are working diligently to provide a safe learning environment for every child as well as providing learning options that fit the needs of each family during this trying time. Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns that you may have.