July 17, 2020
Dear Parents/Guardians
Wednesday, July 15th, my leadership team and I met to put the final touches on our plan for the 20/21 school year. All of us feel that it is critically important that we resume in-person learning, open up our school and get back to doing what we all miss, which is teaching your children in-person. By coming together as a community, staff, students and parents, we can do this. With all of us doing our part, we can ensure that our students are here, on-campus, receiving all that the Mancos School District has to offer. It will take flexibility, cooperation and patience throughout the school year by everyone to make this the best year possible. As I have stated before, we are all in a "new normal" and we are all learning to deal with these parameters. So please be patient, we Will get through this!!
Please see the attached document for our 20/21 back to school plans. Please note: These plans are contingent on approval by the Board of Education. My team will be presenting this plan to the board on Monday, June 20th beginning at 7:00 pm. We will again be live streaming the board meeting and encourage you to send any questions/comments you may have to leadership@mancosre6.edu. Emails will be monitored during the meeting and the board and/or I personally will address any comments, questions or concerns you may have at that time.
As of yesterday, Governor Polis issued a state-wide mandatory mask order. Any Coloradoan over the age of 10 is required to wear a mask when entering a public building. This order is in effect for at least 30 days, and is expected to be kept in place longer. Given that we are a public entity, all students over the age of 10 will be required to wear a mask while at school. During the board meeting we will be discussing whether or not to expand the order to include all students PK - 12, which is something I will be recommending to them. Since we are one campus, and we all come into contact with each other on a daily basis, I feel that it is prudent for us to do this. If and when the Governor's order is lifted, we will re-evaluate whether we will continue to make the wearing of masks required or move to a recommended status.
I also want to state again that as a parent, if you are uncomfortable sending your child to school during this pandemic, please reach out to your building principal to find outabout the online curriculum, Colorado Digital Learning Solutions (CDLS), that we have in place. It is a great program and I know if you are looking for an on-line option you will be pleased with the scope and quality of CDLS.
I would also like to state that our plan will be an evolving plan throughout the year, and therefore subject to change when circumstances within our state and/or region dictate such change. On a personal note, I realize there are many emotions regarding the returning to school and specifically, the wearing of masks. I am a firm believer that we need to be back in school, with in-person learning. I want to start school in August and end in May with as few interruptions or transitions back to on-line learning as possible. If wearing a mask increases our likelihood of staying open to in-person learning, then the rational thing to do is wear a mask, even if and when the mandatory mask wearing order is lifted. We are doing everything possible to create a safe learning environment for your child during this pandemic. We have ordered masks and face shields for all students and staff, altered our custodial schedule to have someone on staff during the day to continuously disinfect, and we have ordered hand washing stations for all buildings. We are doing everything possible to social distance within the constraints of a public school. Most importantly, I again ask for everyone, and by everyone I mean parents, students and staff to do their part in order for us to remain open.
I look forward to seeing each and every one of our students on August 17 and look forward to a phenomenal year.
Sincerely,
Brian Hanson Superintendent of School
Instructional and Operating Procedures for the 20 21 School year
Letter to Parents
