A letter from our Superintendent, Dr. Troy Loeffelholz:
Over the past three weeks, over 90 Columbus Public School staff members have been engaged in committee work to determine the best plan “blueprint” to open school for the 2020-2021 school year. The purpose of this blueprint is to provide a framework for how Columbus Public Schools will respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the educational programs at CPS for the 2020-2021 school year. The framework is structured using tenets and tiers in order to allow the district to be nimble and responsive to changing public health circumstances. The presence of a formal plan will also support the district in articulating its plan for next fall in a clear, comprehensive, and transparent manner.
The first step in this plan is to develop an amended calendar to meet the needs of teaching staff and students as we prepare for the upcoming school year. Columbus Public Schools will begin school for all students on August 24th. This is a change from the original start date of August 12th. This new calendar will allow our staff time to prepare for the unknown consequences of COVID-19 and the potential of another shutdown by state and local health officials under their regular contractual agreement.
Like previous calendars, students will have different starting dates and times. Kindergarten students will be split in half and each half will attend either August 17th or August 18th. Their first day together will be August 24th. High School students will begin their orientation on August 21st. Middle School students will begin their orientation on August 24th, and Grades 1-4 will begin on the 24th. Please be reminded that if the Directed Health Measures (DHM) changes, this blueprint may change. You may access the calendar through this link and on our social media outlets.
More information regarding this framework, protocols, prom, and graduation will be provided on or before July 17th. With so much information changing daily it is hard to predict the future. If school would start next week, masks, temperature checks, and precautionary measures would be in place. Please understand that for the health and safety of all students and staff these requirements may be in place for students to attend school in the fall.
-- Dr. L