RSU 67

September 3, 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians:

The Maine Department of Education and the Maine Center for Disease Controls announced last Friday that they will re-evaluate the color advisory for the reopening of schools for Penobscot County on Friday, September 4.  I remain hopeful that the advisory color designation will continue to be green, indicating a low risk of COVID-19, as the number of cases continues to improve. 

The color designation by the state is "advisory," meaning that we may consider local conditions in the decision making and open in a different way.  I have confirmed with our school physician, Dr. House, that data regarding COVID-19 cases in our immediate area is excellent. 

We are very proximate to the Katahdin Region, and residents commute to Lincoln to work, shop, eat out, and attend school, etc. on a daily basis.  This factor has to be part of the decision making process.

Based on these facts, if the state advisory determination is yellow on Friday, we will start in a hybrid model next week.  If the color remains green, we will return to in-person instruction as planned. 

The schedule will be different from our normal hybrid schedule as Pk-9 students have no devices and Monday is a holiday.  If we need to go hybrid, the schedule will be as follows:

Tuesday, Sept. 8             PK-8       Blue Cohort In-Person/White Cohort No Remote as  

                                                                        students  have no device nor training

                                                     Gr. 9        Orientation Day In-Person

Wednesday, Sept.  9     PK-8       White Cohort In-Person/Blue Cohort Remote

                                                      9-12        In-Person Last Name M-Z/Remote Last Name A-L

Thursday, Sept. 10          PK-8      Blue Cohort In-Person/White Cohort Remote

                                                      9-12        In-Person Last Name M-Z/Remote Last Name A-L

Friday, Sept. 11                   PK-8      White Cohort In-Person/Blue Cohort Remote

                                                     9-12          In-Person Last Name A-L/Remote Last Name M-Z

 

Please remember, this will only occur if the state designation is yellow on Friday, September 4.  I understand that changing schedules very late is frustrating and difficult for everyone.  I will notify everyone immediately on Friday, September 4 when I receive the county designation.  Thank you for your understanding and flexibility.  Please reach out to your child’s school with questions about scheduling.

Sincerely,

Jean Skorapa, Superintendent of Schools