On July 28, the Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1 Board of Education approved our school reopening plan for the 2020-2021 school year.
In the design, there are plans for the start of school to allow parental preference of in-person instruction or online instruction. Online enrollment is now open and the registration link is on the district and school websites.
I want to thank the multiple teams from health care professionals, kindergarten through high school teachers, and departments that have worked throughout the summer. They have done an amazing job putting our plans together to create a district plan. The teams created blended learning and most importantly, the safety of staff and students.
The plan is a starting point to open school. The blended learning your student will be receiving will allow for when there will be a need to convert to distance learning. Every Montezuma-Cortez School District student will be receiving a Chromebook or IPad to support the blended learning model.
Many aspects to education will look different this year, and many processes may change when it comes to managing our responses to this virus.
Transportation, mealtimes, clubs, athletics, extracurricular activities and basic in-building behavior will all need to follow necessary safety protocols.
Through a combination of personal protective equipment, social distancing, health screenings, enhanced cleaning, ventilation improvements, facilities modifications, and occasional online learning, we will work to maintain health for all, while supporting our students in reaching their personal and academic goals. A complete Citizen’s Guide to Reopening Schools Safely is posted to our website.
On Aug. 4, The Colorado High School Activities Association, CHSAA, announced its 2020-21 interscholastic athletics and activities calendar which will be our guideline in conducting our sports program. The 2020-21 season will be played with a modified sport schedule which creates four separate sports seasons during the school year. The seasons will conclude in late June, 2021. Each season is approximately seven weeks from start to finish. Sports will have their regular season competition limits reduced. The postseason for each sport will also be shortened, including the number of state qualifiers.
For the complete ruling and sports calendar, I invite you to go to the official CHSAA website. This schedule is subject to change based upon any changes to national, state or local guidelines regarding the COVID pandemic.
We are asking parents/guardians to be ready for change. We have built into our plans the ability to transition to remote learning. It is important to do the same with your family plan. We may have to shut down a class or a school due to positive COVID19 cases. How will you handle daycare or supervision?
The governor could make a decision for the entire state which could affect our whole educational system. We promise to have clear communication out to families but be ready for change and have a continuance plan in place.
It will take a community effort to have and keep in-person instruction, but be prepared for change. This year will be about flexibility and adaptability, which is challenging on all fronts – so have a plan.
Many of our employees worked throughout the summer to accommodate the changes during this unprecedented year brought about by the COVID pandemic. Our cafeteria staff, with the help of transportation employees, served to-go breakfasts and lunches from March through June to provide meals to children from birth to 18 years of age. They served an average of 400 breakfast meals and 608 lunches daily for a total of 67,781 meals to Montezuma County children during a 13-and-a-half-week period.
We are all part of the solution and this year will be about flexibility and adaptability. I realize communication is a two-way process. My commitment to parents and staff this year is to be available to hear their suggestions, comments and concerns. It is my goal to be hosting a town hall the first Wednesday of every month to hear from parents/staff.
Lori Haukeness is superintendent of Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1. Reach her at lhaukeness@cortez.k12.co.us.