Dear Methow Valley Students, Parents, and Community Members,
I recently read an article about a school in Germany that safely reopened for in-person instruction last spring and is now fully open. When asked what they attributed their success to, the Director of Schools stated, “Schools don’t reopen schools, Communities reopen schools.” The Director went on to say that their success reflected the willingness of their entire community to socially distance themselves, wear masks, and participate in testing, and follow the established protocols designed to keep everyone safe.
Working in support of the safe reopening of our schools and the health and wellness of our students, parents, staff, and community, the Methow Valley School District has developed the MVSD 2020-21 “Safe” Return to Work/Learn Procedures. The procedures that have been established by the MVSD following current guidance from the Washington State Dept of Health (DOH), Center for Disease Control (CDC), and Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). All staff will receive training on the procedures in advance of the school year. We ask all parents to review and discuss the procedures with their student(s) in advance of returning to school.
MVSD 2020-21 “Safe” Return to Learn/Work Procedures – Full Text
MVSD 2020-21 “Safe” Return to Learn/Work Procedures – Highlights
The science of COVID-19 continues to evolve and the trajectory of disease in our state and nation may require changes to our community’s response, including within our schools. With guidance from the DOH and OSPI, Methow Valley School District will continue to update its policies surrounding COVID-19 and ensure MVSD staff and families are regularly informed of any changes.
A person’s race/ethnicity or nationality does not itself put them at greater risk of COVID-19. However, data are revealing that communities of color are being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. This is due to the effects of racism and, in particular, structural racism, which leaves some groups with fewer opportunities to protect themselves and their communities. Stigma will not help to fight this illness. Share accurate information with others to keep rumors and misinformation from spreading.
Questions?
If you have any questions or need assistance to ensure compliance with the requirements outlined in this document, please contact MVSD School Nurse, Adriana Vanbianchi at: avanbianchi@methow.org
For additional information about the safe reopening of MVSD schools, please visit our new COVID Updates page.
Sincerely,
Tom Venable
Superintendent, Methow Valley School District