September Family & Community Letter (9/29/20)
September 29, 2020
Dear CCSD Families and Community Members;
At the writing of this letter, CCSD is starting our 5th full week of school. Given all the new processes, procedures, and systems the district has developed and continually refines for our Smart Start to School Guidelines, things have gone remarkably well. The district recognizes that all of these adjustments have not been easy for our families or staff members and we understand that these shifts add additional layers we all have to manage. However, it’s important to note that CCSD does not take these new protocols lightly. CCSD has a responsibility to ensure that we are following all guidelines for schools that the Department of Education and Early Development and the Department of Health and Social Services recommends. CCSD’s Smart Start to School Guidelines has been submitted to the Department of Education and Early Development for their approval.
Despite the new processes, procedures and systems we all are learning, it is easy, at times, to forget how lucky we are that all of our students are attending school in person with full access to all of our academic programs. There are many school districts around the state who currently are not as fortunate as we are to have zero known active COVID-19 cases in their communities, and are starting off the school year in a Red/High Risk scenario with remote, distance delivery instructional program. CCSD understands how lucky we are to see every student, every day in every classroom and can’t thank our families enough for taking additional precautions at home to support our community’s efforts to minimize the number of COVID-19 cases on the island allowing us to remain in our current low-risk scenario and in-person for school.
Additionally, yesterday was the first day of the official student count period which runs from September 28 through Friday, October 23. Ultimately, our student enrollment during the official student count period determines the amount of state funding CCSD will receive this school year. As our enrollment currently stands, CCSD is anticipating a much higher student enrollment compared to last year. Although our enrollment is slightly down in our Craig based programs (we are currently anticipating a 13% decline in enrollment from last year) our PACE homeschool enrollment has grown substantially. Last year, PACE’s enrollment was calculated at 318. PACE could easily see a 100% growth, resulting in an overall enrollment of 600 students. This overall enrollment growth district wide is a testament to the quality of our K-12 programs and speaks highly to the viable educational options CCSD provides families on Prince of Wales Island as well as statewide. Thank you for choosing CCSD and allowing us to work with you and your student(s) as collaborative, educational partners.
These are trying times for our entire island community; it is only by proactively addressing issues as they arise that we can ensure we are moving forward collectively with our students’ and families’ well-being at the forefront of all of our decisions. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss any item noted in this letter in greater detail. Thank you for all that you do in support of CCSD’s goals and objectives.
Sincerely,
Chris Reitan, CCSD Superintendent