This past Wednesday, the GVA-DC Board of Trustees held a special board meeting to determine how in-person students would return to school following Thanksgiving Break. Several parents and teachers attended the meeting, many of whom spoke during public comment.
When asked for my recommendation about how to return to learning, I reiterated my belief that the best educational experience for kids is in-person in the classroom. I also shared that with all of the safety protocols we have put in place this fall, we have been able to provide a safe learning environment for students and staff. However, I also communicated concerns about the projected increase in community transmissions following the Thanksgiving holiday and the impact that could have on learning in-person. Ultimately, I recommended that we continue remote learning for all students through winter break.
The board voted unanimously to support the recommendation and extend remote learning for all through winter break. Additionally, the board agreed to meet during winter break to evaluate how we return to school in January.
I know this decision does not come as a surprise given the COVID-19 status in Douglas County., but for many remote learning for another few weeks will be challenging. Rest assured that teachers will continue to engage your student(s) in a rigorous and engaging remote learning experience. In addition, we are continuing to add to our pool of substitutes in the event that teachers are unable to provide live lessons. If your child struggles with remote learning, please reach out to his/her teacher for assistance!!
After the pandemic is over, I hope that our school community is able to say that safety was our #1 priority. That we provided a rich educational experience during our remote times and we were committed to providing in-person experiences for our students and staff when it was safe to do so!
Thank you for your flexibility and support during these ever-changing times!
Take good care and stay safe!
Stacy Bush, M.Ed.
Principal
Global Village Academy Douglas County