August 28, 2020
Dear Reynoldsburg City Schools’ Families and Staff,
We all want
to thank you immensely as we have begun this school year in very unorthodox
fashion. Our remote learning plan appears to be working well and our teachers
have done a wonderful job of engaging and connecting with our students. We have
been so happy to see them in their remote classrooms.
I am writing today with what I hope will be received as good news! After receiving guidance and recommendations from Governor Mike DeWine’s office, the Ohio Department of Health, Franklin County Public Health, and Columbus Public Health, we are excited to announce that beginning Monday, September 21, barring any additional spikes in numbers in Franklin County associated with COVID-19, we will launch our hybrid model for teaching and learning in Reynoldsburg City Schools.
We were strategic in deciding to start the year in a remote learning model so that we could master our digital learning practices and also to keep a close eye on the COVID-19 metrics to ensure we are indeed prepared to return to buildings. This announcement will allow for a few weeks’ notice of our transition to the hybrid model. You have no idea how excited we are to be able to see our students in person!
All of the information regarding the hybrid model can be found in our Parent and
Student Guide to Learning, which is attached to this letter and is located on reyn.org in three places:
- Latest News
- For Parents
- For Students
In addition, the Center for Deeper Learning will create a transition document that will help guide families, staff, and students through the move from our current digital learning model to the hybrid model. We will send that transition document in a separate communication.
Health and Safety considerations for face to face days:
- Individual
class sizes will not be cut in half when we move to a hybrid model, but rather,
class sizes will be reduced so that social distancing guidance can be met with
ease.
- All staff
and students will follow enhanced hygiene protocols including: face covering
protocols, frequent hand washing/sanitizing, six feet of social distancing when
possible, covering mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing, staying home when
ill for any reason, having a temperature at or above 100? F, or experiencing any symptoms of the COVID-19 virus.
- School practices such as meals, recess, related arts/electives, etc., will be altered to promote student health and safety. Parents should expect some changes to current food policies to protect students who have food allergies. Breakfast
will be grab and go.
- All schools
will work to facilitate the fullness of District programming, on a reduced
schedule and modified learning plan when appropriate, including elementary
specials, academic interventions, gifted programming, and instrumental music.
If you have questions regarding your specific student(s), please contact your child’s school Principal.
If you opted for your child(ren) not to return to school face-to-face and enrolled in the RCS Virtual Academy, you
will receive a separate communication and an invitation to a parent meeting about the Virtual Academy within the next week.
We thank you again for your patience and understanding as we navigate this unprecedented time in our nation’s history and how it impacts education. We are committed to doing the absolute best job for our kids that is possible.
Sincerely,
Melvin
J. Brown
Superintendent
Reynoldsburg City Schools
Click here to read a PDF of the letter
Click here to download the Parent and Student Guide to Learning