Make sure you can view all important info and images:
Using standard Outlook? Click the "Download pictures" button in the yellow bar.
Using Outlook on the Web (Exchange)? Click the "Click here" link at the top of the email.
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Awesome SCS Colleagues,

In my more than 23 years as an educator and administrator in Shelby County Schools, the decisions I’ve had to grapple with during this pandemic have been some of the hardest to deliver to our student athletes, coaches, and staff. Despite collaborative efforts in the District and locally to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus, there is still far too much uncertainty to move forward with athletic practices and competitions at this time.

Our decision to postpone fall sports until further notice is yet another unimaginable consequence of an unprecedented time. We must lean on the guidance of health EXPERTS and not EMOTIONS. We want to play, our coaches want to coach, and we still hope for the opportunity to do both when conditions improve. 
My team and I have been working closely with the CDC, Health Department and National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), and all of them have warned us about the risks of spreading the virus through athletic participation at this time. Local infectious disease specialist Dr. Manoj Jain also recently cautioned that sports are not a wise idea "given the uncertainties around the novel coronavirus and the undiagnosed number of cases in our community."
As I’ve stated from the start, our mission forward is a stronger return to in-person instruction, and I will continue to weigh all options and consider every return to play proposal using science and health reports that are rapidly changing by the day. I have heard from many students and families who feel the current protocols and safety measures in place for athletic conditioning are adequate to fully resume activities this fall. If we are able to safely return to in-person this fall, we will indeed consider offering families an athletic option to return to play as well. 
In the meantime, we are asking coaches to continue providing physical conditioning according to the District's approved safety guidelines and ongoing social emotional support. Our Athletics and Student Support teams are also working closely with coaches and community partners to coordinate athletic showcases and experiences for our juniors and seniors who are interested in competing at the next level. Additionally, we will be providing assistance to families on how to be more proactive in the college recruitment process, including ACT Prep and NCAA workshops, to increase the chances of our student athletes qualifying for post-secondary opportunities.

Again, this was not an easy decision for us to make, but it is very much necessary to provide the required safety precautions and mitigation needed to combat this pandemic.
As always, I am grateful to the SCS family for their continued support and encouragement. We are STRONGER together. Coronavirus will NOT defeat us. We are 901! 
Sincerely,
 
Dr. Joris M. Ray,
Superintendent
#SCSis901