December 2, 2020

 

Dear Families of North Bend School District,

 

This holiday season, I am thankful for all of your support and for entrusting our district to care for and teach your children. I can’t wait to have everyone back in school, and with everyone’s cooperation I hope we’ll see that in the new year. I want to share four updates as we enter into the last few weeks of 2020.

 

1. Governor Brown’s message last week and its impact on schools
2. Latest Coos County Metrics and grades 4-5 Return to School
3. Statewide Testing
4. Student video contest

 

1. Governor Brown's Health & Safety Framework
Last week Governor Brown outlined a new health and safety framework for the state of Oregon that aligns to the metrics being used for K-12 schools. The framework goes into effect on December 3rd, following the two-week “freeze.” As of December 1, 2020 Coos County is considered “High Risk” which allows for continued K-3 instruction and other activities at reduced capacity, including K-12 indoor and outdoor sports/activities with no spectators.

 

These statewide health and safety metrics and framework will be similar to previously shared information and have no operational implications for schools and districts under the Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance. There are implications for the wider community as this takes the same metrics we've been working with the last several weeks and applies them in a broader way across Oregon. Please review the details of this new approach in the Governor's press release.

 

2. Coos County Return to School Metrics
Oregon public health officials have developed evidence-based metrics to help school boards and school districts make decisions about how they can safely reopen schools. For a school to return to in-person instruction through ODE's On-Site or Hybrid instructional models, the following county metrics below must be met:

• Case Rate: <50.0 per 100,000 population in the preceding 14 days.
• Test positivity: <5.0% in the preceding 14 days.

 

The state allows for prioritizing elementary schools with a careful phasing-in of hybrid instruction if we meet the following metics:

• Case Rate: 50.0 to <100.0 cases per 100,000 in the preceding 14 days.
• Test Positivity: 5.0% to <8.0% in the preceding 14 days.

 

The metrics as of 11/15/2020 - 11/28/2020 for Coos County:

• Case Rate: 139.0 per 100,000 - DOES NOT MEET
• Test Positivity: 3.3% - MEETS

 

For North Bend to bring additional elementary students back to school, we need to have the case count fall below 100.0 per 100,000 population. Given the upcoming 2-week winter break and the need to notify and prepare teachers, staff, parents, and students for a transition back-to school, our next POSSIBLE return to school date for Grades 4-5 is January 19, 2021(Assuming we meet the metrics posted on January 4, 2021). Our elementary principals will communicate to families in grades 4-5 on January 4th or 5th if we have met the metrics as well as provide information about the phase-in plan to bring students back.

 

We will continue to monitor data and hope to have students in Grades 6-12 return by February 8, 2021 (Case Rate will need to be below 50.0 by January 25, 2021).

 

I remain optimistic that our metrics will continue to trend in a positive direction; however, if we happen to have a consistent upward trend we are required to engage with our local health authorities to determine the school impact. If we exceed 200.0 cases per 100,000, we are required to implement district-wide Comprehensive Distance Learning with allowable Limited-In-Person instruction only. Please follow our state guidance guidelines... wear a mask, maintain social distance, and frequently wash your hands as we each do our part to get students back into the classroom.

 

3. State Testing
Every year in the spring, the U.S. Department of Education requires states to measure student learning by administering a set of tests in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science.
In 2020-21, traditional schooling has been significantly disrupted by events like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and an extreme wildfire season. Therefore, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) plans to ask for a temporary pause in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science testing.

 

Here is a brief view of ODE’s waiver request. You can access the Assessment Team’s Communication webpage to read the full version of ODE’s waiver request or watch a short video explaining the waiver request.

 

The public is welcome to comment on this planned waiver request between the dates of December 1-15, 2020. Please send your feedback, questions, or concerns to WaiverFeedback@ode.state.or.us.

 

4. Governor Brown’s Safe Holidays PSA Contest
Oregon students: create a video of how you plan to celebrate the holidays safely for my COVID-19 #SafeHolidaysOR PSA video contest. Submissions accepted until Dec. 18. Learn more here: https://t.co/PLS9xq7FwE?amp=1

 

Thank you,

 

Kevin Bogatin
Superintendent

 

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