September 2020 - Superintendents_update

Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 27 Sep '20

27 Sep '20

Dear Needham Public Schools Families: As we begin the third week of this most unusual of school years and anticipate our students' return to school buildings on Tuesday, allow me to share three brief updates: *• Returning to School * The district's website contains all the information you will need to plan for a safe and healthy return to the school buildings: Plans for Reopening Our Schools <http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/departments/superintendent_s_office/plans_for_…> Included in this information are the preliminary ventilation reports for our schools: School Ventilation Reports and Information <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NDsQ8vHJ7ZibvcNSa9hrrJovGiRx0XER/view>. The website is updated regularly with additional information. *• Facilities Master Plan Public Hearing* Last year the School Committee launched an ambitious study of all school facilities based on projected enrollment patterns to determine which schools may need to be replaced or renovated. Recently, Dore and Whittier, the architects who designed the high school addition and Sunita L. Williams Elementary School, shared the preliminary Needham Public Schools Facilities Master Plan Presentation <https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1p3NDw4SGEJxpx71jMK6WquiP8uEC1AsH4pt…> to the School Committee. At their October 6th meeting, the School Committee will briefly review the plan again and hold a public hearing to understand the parent and community perspective around the plan. They also will vote on an option to move forward as part of the Town's annual Capital Improvement Program. Details and the specific agenda for the meeting will be available later in the week. The full facilities study is available here: School Committee Packet with Facilities Master Plan Executive Summary <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1na_YaShsfenHyOjV21h4Twf4b0ZXuyhG/view?usp=…> . *• Superintendent's Blog* My recent post includes my remarks shared with the staff as we reflect on a new school year: Superintendent's Blog <http://npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/>. *• Stay in Touch with the Superintendent! *Please sign up for Twitter to receive regular updates, information, and news about the schools, students, and staff of the Needham Public Schools: Superintendent's Twitter <https://twitter.com/NPS_Supt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimelin…>. Also, please email me with questions, comments, and ideas: dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us Best wishes to our students, families and staff as we continue to launch a new year of learning, achievement, and growth! Respectfully, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools Needham Public Schools 1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 781-455-0400 x11203 dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services are available to you free of charge. Contact your child’s school for assistance. Chinese (Simplified): 请注意：如果您的母语不是英语，我们将免费提供您语言辅助服务。如需协助，请与您孩子的学校联系。 Spanish: ATENCION: Si usted habla un idioma que no sea el inglés, hay servicios de asistencia lingüística disponibles gratis. Contacte la escuela de su hijo para asistencia. Russian: ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы не говорите на английском языке, для вас доступны бесплатные языковые сервисы на вашем языке. Обратитесь за помощью в школу, в которой учится ваш ребенок.

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 22 Sep '20

22 Sep '20

Dear Needham Public Schools Families: I am writing to inform you that in the last two days an unknown person or persons managed to get into several Zoom sessions and disrupt classrooms at Pollard with racist, ugly, and hurtful language and taunts. While the vile language was not directed at any person in particular, it most certainly was offensive to any student, particularly a Black student or staff member who experienced it. Separately, a student at Sunita L. Williams directed a racial slur toward another student during an online class. In this particular circumstance, we are emphasizing the importance of teaching our youngest students about the impact of words and behaviors and how actions that are racist are hurtful and are not tolerated. I am extremely sorry students and staff were witnesses to, or in the case at Sunita Williams a victim of, this hate-filled language and that an individual(s) expressed this language in Needham classrooms where we strive to ensure an inclusive, welcoming, and anti-racist environment. These were cowardly, contemptible, and despicable acts that caused a significant disruption but will not detract from our learning or undermine our values of respect, equity, and community. As a result of these incidents we have: • Spoken to impacted students, staff, and families and planned necessary next steps to bring about appropriate dialogue, conversations, and healing • Followed our protocols for responding to an incident of bias or hate: Responding to Acts of Bias or Hate in the NPS <http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/UserFiles/Servers/Server_64429/File/District/S…> • Notified the police so that they may investigate as appropriate; any individual found responsible will be subject to legal action • Provided additional directions to Pollard staff in regards to various controls and permissions on the Zoom platform; we are working with our IT team and Zoom to determine additional steps I wish I was not contacting you to share this disturbing information, but I want you to know that we take this behavior seriously and will address it without delay and in a way that will support our students, staff, and families. Respectfully, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools Needham Public Schools 1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 781-455-0400 x11203 dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services are available to you free of charge. Contact your child’s school for assistance. Chinese (Simplified): 请注意：如果您的母语不是英语，我们将免费提供您语言辅助服务。如需协助，请与您孩子的学校联系。 Spanish: ATENCION: Si usted habla un idioma que no sea el inglés, hay servicios de asistencia lingüística disponibles gratis. Contacte la escuela de su hijo para asistencia. Russian: ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы не говорите на английском языке, для вас доступны бесплатные языковые сервисы на вашем языке. Обратитесь за помощью в школу, в которой учится ваш ребенок.

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 11 Sep '20

11 Sep '20

Dear Needham Public Schools Families: Welcome to the start of the 2020-2021 school year! Even though we are meeting remotely for the first two weeks of school, there is excitement and joy in bringing our students and staff back together. I’m proud that our staff is able to pivot to a fully remote learning model for the short term. I am writing to provide you with important updates regarding the remote start of school on Monday, September 14 for students in Preschool through grade 12 and to explain the plan for reopening our school buildings on Tuesday, September 29. I know that the two-week delay in reopening the school buildings has placed another burden on some of our families, and I thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate the uncertainties in the midst of a pandemic. I encourage you to watch this 10-minute video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99oFlVwq3Mw> addressing school reopening plans and our commitment to the health, safety, and wellbeing of all our students and staff. I am joined by School Committee Chair Andrea Longo Carter and Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick. *• Maintenance and Health & Safety *As I’ve said many times over the past six months, the health and safety of the Needham community is paramount, and we’ve dedicated a section of the district website for important health and safety <http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/departments/superintendent_s_office/plans_for_…> information and protocols for families to review. To read more about our efforts to ensure safe and healthy school environments, click here: NPS School Maintenance Information <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bIAF771ehnIacPmZ7jEyLnt6jI_U4eCU02cmzAh…> . *• Revised School Calendar. *Our first day of school is Monday, September 14th with all students engaged remotely. Please see the updated school calendar <http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/UserFiles/Servers/Server_64429/File/Calendars/…> . We made a slight adjustment in the schedule: September 29 and 30 will be full days for the students in the Gold cohort; October 1 and 2 will be full days for students in the Blue cohort. The following weeks will continue with the planned calendar already approved by the School Committee. *• Schedule for the First Two Weeks *As we begin the school year across the district, we are focused on building relationships and building capacity for learning, particularly in a remote learning environment. Teachers will take the time to get to know students, outline plans for success, and establish norms and expectations—all in an effort to nurture a strong academic experience for each student. Your child’s principal has already or will communicate specific information about learning from home and share details about the first week of school that are important to know for a successful start. In the Remote Learning Academy <http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/departments/superintendent_s_office/plans_for_…>, the schedule will proceed as planned. Starting on day 1, the students will be building capacity for learning in a fully remote environment. There will be virtual meet-and-greet sessions, materials will be distributed, smaller live meetings will be held, and asynchronous work will begin. *• Technology *The NPS is committed to providing the technology tools necessary to support all students in the upcoming school year. To learn more about our plans and programs to support all learners, click here: NPS School Technology Information <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xbj7pcRu9zJ-XAGnRecUInS87zswvbgUKONMtm9…> . *• Nutrition Services *School Nutrition Services staff will be preparing hot and fresh lunches every day for all Needham students beginning Monday, September 14th. In accordance with a recent USDA waiver, school meals will be* free for all children and teens, *regardless of family income, for the first few months of this unique school year. Review the Nutrition Services information here <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xkmxUyMIfvg-Y01mYf_e8jB9ZKJS_9wqG0Ws5XT…> to order a lunch to pick up and go; pick up will be at designated times at your child's school. *• Transportation *Bus passes have been mailed to our families who are registered for Transportation, including our Boston-resident families. If you have any questions or are interested in transportation, please check out information on the district's website: School Transportation <http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/departments/business__operations/transportation> Please also check our FAQs <http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/departments/superintendent_s_office/plans_for_…> on topics including building safety, health protocols, and the remote start to the school year. Our faculty and staff have worked together tirelessly and creatively to prepare for the start of school. We are ready to welcome and teach our students! We are knowledgeable of the new safety protocols; we’ve moved forward with the Needham Education Association negotiating team in prioritizing student and staff needs; we’ve hired qualified staff to fill open positions; and we have enough supplies to begin the school year. We can't wait to see our students! On behalf of the dedicated faculty and staff of the Needham Public Schools, thank you for your continued partnership and welcome to the 2020-21 academic year. Respectfully, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools Needham Public Schools 1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 781-455-0400 x11203 dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services are available to you free of charge. Contact your child’s school for assistance. Chinese (Simplified): 请注意：如果您的母语不是英语，我们将免费提供您语言辅助服务。如需协助，请与您孩子的学校联系。 Spanish: ATENCION: Si usted habla un idioma que no sea el inglés, hay servicios de asistencia lingüística disponibles gratis. Contacte la escuela de su hijo para asistencia. Russian: ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы не говорите на английском языке, для вас доступны бесплатные языковые сервисы на вашем языке. Обратитесь за помощью в школу, в которой учится ваш ребенок.

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 04 Sep '20

04 Sep '20

Dear Needham Public Schools Families: I am writing to you to inform you that school will start as scheduled on Monday, September 14th *but we will begin with remote learning only until Tuesday, September 29th when in person learning will begin for all students in grades Preschool to 12.* After receiving an update around the maintenance plans and ongoing work taking place in all of the schools related to ventilation upgrades, it is my conclusion that the maintenance staff needs more time to complete necessary repairs so that we can open all schools and classrooms within a safe and healthy environment. I regret sending this information to you with only ten or so days to go with that start of the school year, but my number one priority has been - and will remain - the health, safety, and wellbeing of each student and staff member. Nothing else is more important to me, and I thought I should make this decision now so that families have at least some time to plan for their children to be learning at home remotely for the first two weeks of the school year. I will send out an additional communication over the next two or three days that will include more information. *In the meantime, please do not email or contact building principals, administrators, teachers, or staff requesting information about what this means to your child or inquiring about specific plans.* That information and additional details will be forthcoming. For now, rest assured that our teachers and staff will be ready to connect with your children remotely on what remains the first day of school, Monday, September 14th. With appreciation for your patience and continued partnership, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools Needham Public Schools 1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 781-455-0400 x11203 dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services are available to you free of charge. Contact your child’s school for assistance. Chinese (Simplified): 请注意：如果您的母语不是英语，我们将免费提供您语言辅助服务。如需协助，请与您孩子的学校联系。 Spanish: ATENCION: Si usted habla un idioma que no sea el inglés, hay servicios de asistencia lingüística disponibles gratis. Contacte la escuela de su hijo para asistencia. Russian: ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы не говорите на английском языке, для вас доступны бесплатные языковые сервисы на вашем языке. Обратитесь за помощью в школу, в которой учится ваш ребенок.

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