Important Update from Ledyard Public Schools
July 25, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians:
I hope this email finds you healthy and safe and enjoying the summer season.
Our district team continues to work through the development of our LPS 2020 Return to School Plan following the guidelines outlined by the CT Department of Education (CSDE) in their document titled “Adapt, Advance, Achieve: Connecticut’s Plan to Learn and Grow Together.” Our process, led by our district leaders and principals, has brought together eleven (11) committees to address school, curricular and student needs as we plan for the upcoming school year.
CSDE has required that each district in CT develop a comprehensive return to school plan that requires three distinct models; we submitted our draft plan on Friday, July 24. It is important to note that school districts are all awaiting further guidance from the State on which of the three models the State will direct districts to utilize for school opening this fall.
The three required models are:
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A model that allows for 100% occupancy, but also allows for parents to opt out of traditional attendance and have their student/s participate in distance learning. Those students who are opted out will receive a modified program virtually, while their peers attend school in person;
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A hybrid model that has 50% of students reporting at a time. Ledyard and many other districts in the State have adopted a common schedule rotation. This plan has students separated into two (2) cohorts based on their last names. Each cohort will have two (2) in-person days and three (3) full virtual days;
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A full virtual model where all students are receiving instruction online 100% of the time.
The process of developing this multifaceted plan is a massive undertaking and would not be possible without the tireless efforts and collaboration of the entire LPS team. In this time of rapid change and constantly updated guidance, LPS views the creation of our plan as an iterative process. We expect to continually refine and improve our plan based on feedback, State guidance and public health information. This past Thursday we held virtual meetings with each school team to discuss, answer questions, and to take additional feedback on our draft return to school plan. Based on faculty and staff feedback, school-based teams and principals are working to make appropriate adjustments to our plan for the next stage of the process: community and parent feedback.
Parent and community feedback is a crucial part of our planning process and we welcome your participation:
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Parent and Community Forums will be hosted at our schools and virtually. (Due to the current restrictions, in-person attendance is limited to 25 at each event and will require advance online RSVP.) Please note, these forums are not intended as a discussion of which model we follow, as of now that is a State decision.
Click here to RSVP for in-person attendance at the LPS Superintendent’s Return to School Forum
(limited space/masks required)
Click here to attend the LPS Superintendent’s Return to School Forum virtually
Or dial in at: +1-415-655-0001 Access code: 126 413 2303
(Notice of school based forum and details will be sent by principals early next week.)
Our work is not done, feedback from our team and parents/community members will continue to be incorporated into the draft plan. The final draft version of the LPS Reopening Plan will be presented for approval to the Ledyard Board of Education in early August.
We all share a desire for a safe and effective community plan for educating our students. Your feedback, questions and concerns are important to us and will only strengthen our plan as we approach the new school year.
Thank you for your continued support and participation.
Sincerely,
Jason Hartling
Superintendent of Schools