‘Tiger Talk’, Loveland Schools Newsletter sent out to LCSD parents today offers some insight into plans for reopening schools
By Chuck Gibson
LOVEAND, OH (July 10, 2020) – A Tiger Talk sent to Loveland City School District families today included a letter from School Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse outlining a timetable for finalization plans to reopen schools.
Dr. Amy Crouse, Superintendent, Loveland City School District (Provided)
There are several key points in the letter from Crouse along with a parent survey with three distinct scenario models for reopening Loveland Schools which parents should complete and return by Tuesday, July 14. That is key date and key point number one. She expressed gratitude for the outstanding response and feedback from the first survey while emphasizing the importance of feedback to the second survey which closes at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
That falls in line with the next key date which is Wednesday, July 15. It is the date of the next Board of Education meeting where plans for reopening will be discussed, decisions made and finalized.
Click Here to see the three distinct models for reopening Loveland Schools in the current parent feedback survey.
Other important noteworthy information includes the staff work teams from each school building were back together during the past week to update plans to meet the most recent guidlines from the state and from feedback from the last survey. They will continue to work throughout the month of July to ensure al guideline and protocols for health and safety will be implemented in each individual building. Multiple sources are being utilized for guidance on reopening including: American Academy of Pediatrics, the Ohio and Hamilton County Departments of Health, the Ohio Department of Education, and the Centers for Disease Control.
After all the updates have been completed and approved, a final selection survey will be sent to families during the week of July 27, to select their choice for the approved in-person model, or the online model for the 2020-2021 school year. Those selection forms will be due the week of August 3, with first day of school scheduled for August 26.
Here is the full text of the “Tiger Talk” letter from Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse:
Good afternoon, Tiger Family –
I want to start by acknowledging how challenging it is as a parent when you don’t know how school will look next month. It’s even more frustrating when you know that there isn’t a “right” answer. We received a great response from district families on our first survey for school reopening plans for 2020-2021 and I am extremely grateful for your feedback and suggestions. We worked hard to try to incorporate it into our planning.
We are sharing a second survey today for additional parent feedback to help finalize our reopening plans. Please complete the following survey by Tuesday, July 14. The survey will close at 9:00 a.m.
Survey Link: Parent Feedback Regarding Models for Reopening School in August 2020
Our team is looking at multiple sources of guidance about returning to school including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Ohio and Hamilton County Departments of Health, the Ohio Department of Education, and the Centers for Disease Control.
The staff work teams for each of our buildings reconvened this week to update their plans to include the most recent guidance from the state as well as the feedback you provided on the last survey. We will be working throughout the month of July to ensure that all health and safety guidelines, including protocols for dealing with illness, are implemented within the individual reopening models.
Decisions about the reopening of school will be discussed and finalized at the Board Special Meeting on Wednesday, July 15 at 6:00 p.m. Once all the updates have been completed and approved by the Board of Education, families will receive a selection survey the week of July 27 to indicate their choice of either the approved in-person model or the online model for the 2020-2021 school year. The selection forms will be due the week of August 3. Our first day of school is scheduled for August 26.
This is a challenging time for our families and our educators. We are working diligently to best meet your child’s educational and social-emotional needs while protecting the health and safety of our staff and students. I appreciate your continued support and patience.
In service to our Tigers,
Dr. Amy Crouse, Superintendent
Loveland City School District Board of Education will discuss plans to reopen schools this Wednesday, July 15 (FILE)
Crouse says they are taking everything day to day as the guidelines and guidance comes from the Governor and from Hamilton County Department of Health. Loveland and all the Hamilton County School districts are meeting at least once a week with the Hamilton County Department of Health officials for the latest updates on restrictions and guidelines for reopening.
“The health department is super-collaborative with us,” said Crouse. “I would say: there’s an order and then we collaboratively work with the Hamilton County Public Health Department to interpret them and then implement those.”
Crouse says the questions are endless reagading how each and every scenario will be implemented to best ensure the health and safety of every student and staff member of the Loveland Schools. At the same time, that does not mean the school administration and staff are not trying to address every possible situation and answer every question on how to reopen schools and accomplish the mission and vision of LCSD during the 2020-2021 school year.
“We have lots of brains working on it and teachers and staff weighing in on it,” Crouse said. “We’re thinking it through. You can’t solve the problems until you’ve identified all of them. People have been very generous with their time and questions trying to figure it out. I have full confidence that we’ll work through them.”
