It is my pleasure to welcome everyone back to a new school year. When school facilities were closed in mid-March, we went to work. We provided critical essential services for our students and their families. Our supplemental learning experiences and food distribution were second to none. You are to be commended for your work in a crisis situation.
Our eleven-month and twelve-month employees worked this summer on plans and to obtain the supplies and materials needed to reopen schools on August 17th. This has been a daunting task. There is no playbook for what we are doing. We have been guided by ever-changing regulations, our belief in public education, and our confidence in you. People are always your greatest asset. In Haywood County Schools, we have the best people to get the job done.
Since March 5th, our Board of Education has met twenty-one times. Other meetings with principals, assistant principals, Central Office Staff, state officials, local Public Health Officials, and colleagues from other school systems are too numerous to count. In March, a Board member sent me a podcast about leading during a crisis. The podcast said, “think long-term but act short-term.” That approach has guided us well. We provided summer childcare and food distribution without any known COVID-19 transmissions. We also began providing limited in-person learning for some elementary students and some students with specialized learning plans.
Our “act short-term” approach helped us make steady, safe progress while reducing confusion as conditions, state orders and regulations changed. Last week, we worked two days with principals and assistant principals to prepare for the return of ten-month staff. When ten-month staff return to work (August 11th for most), the first two days are dedicated to on-site and system level orientation. August 11th will be on-site orientation at schools. August 12th will be system level orientation on broader safety regulations and learning procedures.
The 2020-21 school year will be different from last spring. Instruction (remote or in-person) will be more like regular (pre-COVID-19) school days. Emergency sick leave and remote work provisions have changed. If you have medical or other reasons that might prevent you from working on-site, please contact your principal. He or she will ascertain the details of your situation and confer with us to determine accommodations available under current regulations.
Welcome back. We have led the way many times in the past. I am confident we have the people and ability do the same with reopening schools. Be kind, be smart, and be safe. There is little we cannot do, if we work together.
Contact: Dr. Bill Nolte, Superintendent