Dear Central Office Team Members,
This week marks one year since the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to leave our schools and buildings and quickly adapt and learn how to do our work of supporting our students, educators, and families in ways like never before. Throughout all of the uncertainty and difficulty of the pandemic, I have been so humbled to watch Team DPS come together and find innovative ways to make sure our community is well served and strongly supported. Thank you.
I recognize that our Central Office team members have been especially flexible and service-focused, as so many of you have stepped out of your typical work to support in classrooms or as mentors to our students. Thank you for going above and beyond to be there for our kids.
As an added thank-you -- and to provide an opportunity to support your self-care and well-being -- we are adding two paid days off March 29 and 30, to the week of spring break. This is in addition to the three days that we will already be off for break (March 31-April 2). I hope this full week away from work will give you time to recharge, reflect and reconnect with what matters to you most -- and enjoy a well-deserved break!
If you are not able to take non-duty days during the week of March 29, we are asking all supervisors to work with their exempt team members and identify alternative days for them to take off. Non-exempt team members who are being asked to work that week will receive pay consistent with our guidance for the extended break from normal operations.
Thank you again for all you are doing to support our students, educators, and families.
Sincerely,
Dwight Jones
Interim Superintendent
