May 29 Closure Update: The Work to Develop What the 2020-2021 School Year Will Look, Graduations in Full Swing
May 29, 2020
Dear WCCUSD Families,
This week, we began honoring the Class of 2020 with drive thru graduations. After nearly three months of isolation and uncertainty, these public acknowledgements are a welcome sight. Not only are we celebrating the Class of 2020, but it looks like the state is slowly re-opening and allowing more public interaction as retail stores and restaurants begin welcoming customers.
This progress, of course, leads to additional questions about the next school year. There are too many unknowns for us to give you concrete plans. However, we have started the process of working through various scenarios for the start of school. Whether we return to our classrooms in the fall, distance learning continues or some hybrid of the two, there are a lot of challenges that must be addressed.
Even with uncertainty of what the 2020-21 school year will look like, internal and external stakeholders have begun collaborating to develop plans to meet the needs of WCCUSD students and community while observing health and safety guidelines and recommendations from the CDC and our county and state health officials. A brainstorming meeting occurred this week to categorize and prioritize the work and identify core members of the task force. The work will revolve around three focal areas:
- Health and Safety
- Logistics/Operations
- Teaching and Learning.
A representative from each of the following groups will sit on the task force: Board of Education, Executive Management, Budget and Finance, WCCAA, UTR, SSA, Teamsters, Adult Education, Preschool, Elementary Schools, Secondary Schools, Special Education, Community Engagement, Facilities, Communications, Health, Mental Health, Transportation, Technology, Students, Families/Parents, and Community.
During the upcoming weekly meetings, subcommittees will be formed and a communication protocol will be established in order to obtain feedback from members of the groups represented.
While there are many things still up in the air, we do know that students will need significant support in order to stay on track with their learning over the summer. To help students and families have access to quality instructional materials, district staff members are developing great content and curriculum that can be accessed online this summer. Students will keep their devices until August so that they can continue to access instructional materials. It is my hope that students will take advantage of the resources being provided so that they are prepared to begin the 2020-21 school year on the right track.
We will also continue offering technology support and meals this summer. We will have more details about those programs in the next few days.
Thank you for your continued trust and support. I look forward to seeing you in person soon.
In community,
Matthew Duffy
Superintendent