Dear Staff, Students, and Parents,
I hope this letter finds you all healthy and enjoying the warmer weather. I want to update you on several important topics.
In-Person Learning Update
I want to acknowledge that we are about to welcome students back to school on April 26, 2021, as we’ve never done before! There are many emotions surrounding this return, both ranging from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. As we return to in-person learning, we are focusing on continuing to build community and relationships, paying close attention to the academic needs as well as the social-emotional health of our students and staff.
Thank you to the approximate 2400+ parents for completing the transportation survey. This crucial information was an important first step in the reopening process. Due to the increased number of students returning to in-person instruction, the number of students requiring transportation, and the limits on bus capacity, it was necessary to alter the daily school schedules. The new daily schedule as of April 26 is:
BHS 8:15-12:15 (Classes)
12:15 - 2:00 (Academic Intervention and Clubs)
BJHS 7:30-1:15
HBS 9:00-2:45
KFS 9:45-3:30
This schedule adheres to our agreement that we will provide transportation for any student that needs it.
The plan also allows for transporting students efficiently using a 1 tier transportation system.
The plan keeps the earliest start time close to 8:00 a.m., and the final release time as close to 3:00 pm.
The plan allows for drivers to continue to be able to deliver lunches and allow for some support with cleaning buildings.
I will provide further details as they become available. The complete plan will be released on April 9, 2021.
Change in Close Contact Standard Operating Procedure
The Maine Center for Disease Control guidance regarding the identification of close contacts recently changed. The latest revision can be found here. Most changes do not impact Brunswick School Department’s response to COVID-19 cases in the schools. However, one significant change is that schools may now determine that individuals in a classroom or bus with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 are not close contacts under certain circumstances. As a result, there may be infrequent occasions when someone may have been considered a close contact under the previous SOP but is not considered a close contact now.
Travel Reminder
I want to remind everyone planning to travel out of state in April that Maine requires most travelers to or from other states to get a recent negative COVID-19 test or quarantine for 10 days upon returning to the state. Details and requirements can be found at this State of Maine website.
Sincerely,
Phillip J. Potenziano, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools