Amended School Start Date
On Tuesday, the school board approved my recommendation that we amend the school start date to August 19. This change in start date will allow additional time for employee training on new procedures, safety, health, sanitation, and new instructional platforms. This will also allow additional time to ensure all schools have an adequate of supply of cleaning products, and for additional student technology to arrive and be prepared for distribution.
Instructional Options for 2020-21
Holmes District Schools will offer three instructional options for 2020-21: Traditional, Holmes Virtual School, and Innovative Learning.
Students enrolled in traditional school do not need to complete any additional paperwork to notify us of your intent to return. Stay tuned to our district app and each school’s Facebook page for information about supply lists, open house, etc.
Students enrolled in Holmes Virtual School will access course work solely from online curriculum. These courses provide flexible scheduling during the student’s day while attending the brick and mortar school, OR can provide a full-time virtual program where the student receives all instruction online. These courses are offered at no cost to the student. Students enrolled in full-time Holmes Virtual School will be required to complete a full semester of course work before returning to traditional school.
Students who choose the Innovative Learning option will receive instruction online with a Holmes County teacher using web conferencing technology. The student will be able to interact with their teacher and their peers while being taught through the same curriculum as students who are in a traditional setting. The schedule will mirror a traditional school day. This option is currently scheduled to occur August through December and students will be able to return to their traditional schools when their families feel comfortable.
Detailed information about each of these options is available on our website at www.hdsb.org on the Back to School 2020-21 page. Look for the red box on the right side of the page.
If your family chooses to participate in Holmes Virtual or Innovative Learning, please use the following link to submit your choice by the end of the day on Friday, July 31. forms.gle/uT6gDWrgQM7oMvFA7
After completing the online form, wait to be contacted by your child’s school to make an appointment to complete the registration process. Schools will be contacting families next week.
Controlled Open Enrollment
Students who wish to attend a district school other than the one they are zoned for must complete a reassignment application each year. Most of these were completed in the spring. However, the application window has reopened for those who missed it in the spring, have moved, or had a change in circumstances. The online form is available on the Controlled Open Enrollment page on our website. The deadline to complete the form is August 14.
The District Office will be closed to the public on Tuesday, July 21 and Wednesday, July 22 for deep cleaning. Upon re-opening on Thursday, July 23, we respectfully ask that all visitors wear a mask for the safety of both the visitor and employees.
HDSB is providing an informational bulletin that explains some of the steps being taken to prepare for the 2020-21 school year and to help prevent the spread of illness, including COVID-19, once students return to school on August 12. Click below for the document.
We understand that there are many more questions to answer and topics to address. Stay tuned for additional updates coming soon over the next few weeks!
From the Superintendent
It has been a very challenging few months for everyone in our community. However, during every crisis some positives occur through the process. As we develop our Holmes District Reopening Plan, I feel that you should know what is being planned, the process of planning, and the circumstances surrounding the plan. I want to stress the importance of remembering that the process is fluid, and even after the plan is released to the public, it may change as conditions mandate.
I feel that a positive aspect that has been reinforced is that the connection between schools, families, and communities is stronger than ever. Our community must continue to work as a team and build upon the success that permeates our school campuses. I also feel that this has validated the positive progression in our schools and simultaneously offers us a chance to adopt new, innovative learning strategies that will lead to continued student achievement. Although the final plan will be very detailed and contain numerous guidelines as directed by our Governor and other agencies, I feel the need to reassure parents, students, employees, and community members about a few topics:
1. We plan to begin school on August 12, as previously scheduled.
2. We are committed to providing a safe, positive learning environment, while still following good common sense, as well as CDC and state-directed guidelines. These guidelines change often, and we will adapt as needed to ensure compliance.
3. We are working to revise our Instructional Continuity Plan using lessons we learned from the spring closure. We are planning for both in-person and remote learning so that we will be well-prepared to continue educating our students regardless of the circumstances. Our plan will allow for a smoother transition to remote learning, should the need arise. We are also working to have our own locally-directed virtual franchise to serve any families who choose to enroll their children in virtual school rather than returning to our brick and mortar schools. This will allow our Holmes County students to be taught by Holmes County teachers. Given the rapidly changing nature of this pandemic, we must be prepared for anything!
It is imperative that we show patience, trust, and confidence in each other as we navigate this journey. My staff, the reopening task force, and I are committed to improving upon the current progress that Holmes District Schools are experiencing. We can’t afford to digress. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to continue our investment in their futures.
To our employees, I would like to thank faculty, staff, and administrators for your efforts during this crisis. We all could have thrown our hands up when our schools closed. However, you stayed the course and went above and beyond what was required in order to be sure our students stayed safe, received meals, and continued engaging in learning activities to maintain their skills. To our 2020 graduates, much as been said of all the things that you were deprived of this spring. However, one thing I can say with certainty is that you never gave up. You set a new record for graduation rate in Holmes County with 94% of students graduating with a diploma. This community is proud of you, and America is a better place because of you.
Since we will not publish an update next week due to the Independence Day holiday, I want to wish all of you a safe and enjoyable 4th of July! May God bless you, and may God continue to bless the United States of America!
Terry L. Mears
Superintendent of Schools