Dear Family Partners,

I hope this letter finds you well and that you are staying safe. As we complete our fifth week of distance learning, it’s hard to believe the transformation that has taken place in just a couple of months. It certainly has been a time of great change due to the unprecedented circumstances associated with the Coronavirus pandemic—school closures, virtual meetings, distance learning. Our school system looks far different today than it did just eight weeks ago. Thank you for your patience with us as we learn new ways to provide instruction to your students. It is certainly not perfect yet, but we’re getting better every day, and I am confident that by working together we will come out of this crisis better than we went into it.

As we celebrate Teacher (and Certificated support staff) Appreciation Week (May 4–8), Law Enforcement Appreciation Week (May 11–15), and Classified Employee Appreciation Week (May 18–22), please join me in expressing a resounding THANK YOU to all the members of our team who give so much each and every day. In big, obvious ways and in little, sometimes unnoticed ways, they care for your children day in and day out. Please share your gratitude with them when you have the chance.

Your partnership is critical, not only to the success of your child(ren) but to the achievement of our mission as a school district that every student graduates college and career ready. We are offering a variety of services to help you do this: parent training workshops, support services for mental health and physical needs, and the availability of instructional materials to assist your children with their academics.  Please take advantage of these services.

Finally, as we prepare to eventually reopen our schools some time in the future, we want to gather feedback around this issue. To this end, we will be calling a random sampling of our families for a phone interview. We ask for your cooperation if your family is called.  Please know that no official decisions have been made at this point. We are still exploring options, gathering information, and waiting for guidance from our State and County. As we consider reopening, please be assured that the safety of students and families, as well as our staff, will be our primary consideration.

Thank you again for your partnership. Here’s to a terrific remainder of the school year!  

With respect and gratitude,

Harold J. Vollkommer, Ed. D.

Interim Superintendent