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August 2020
Dear Greendale Schools Community:
Thank you to all of you who have shared your thoughts, opinions, and expertise with us over the summer. We appreciate your patience as Greendale Schools' team members have been carefully preparing this plan for reopening our schools this fall. Our top priority is returning students and staff to a SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
To do so, the district is taking cautious, strategic steps forward to make decisions around safety, learning,and social and emotional needs of students and families. We have considered both staff and family survey data, phased reopening criteria from the Greendale Health Department, and regional, state and federal recommendations. Since May, there have been significant changes in each of these areas, and things are expected to change during this school year as health authorities are predicting an up to 18 month impact of COVID 19.
The Greendale Health Department adopted a phased plan for reopening public services and businesses in May 2020 based on five indicators/ criteria. And based on this public health guidance, Greendale Schools has developed three frameworks to deliver student instruction (learning) based on those phases of reopening in the community. The three phases of school reopening mirror the community reopening plan.
Greendale Schools is offering families a choice to attend fully virtually or in person when learning resumes on September 1, based on the current phase B/C in the Greendale Health Department’s reopening phases. The options available during phase B and C of reopening are outlined in this document.
The week of August 3, school families received a link to an enrollment form and were asked to make their choice using this form. We are now working on staffing and planning for social distancing within our school buildings. The decisions made by families regarding enrollment will be binding for the first grading period of the school year (trimester one for elementary school students ending November 24, 2020, and first semester for middle and high school students ending January 15, 2021).
We will continue to work with public health officials to consider conditions that may require moving forward through phases or backing up to previous phases. I know that the public health conditions may make it very difficult for families to plan, and we appreciate your continued support and patience as we work together to Re-Open Greendale Schools.
Sincerely,
Kim Amidzich, Superintendent
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