Letter to Parents

August 4, 2020

Dear Parent/Guardian,

I know many of you are wondering what school will look like this fall.  Our original hope was to begin school in the fall providing onsite education for all PreK-12 grade students.  However, based on updated guidance from the Oregon Department of Education, the Oregon Health Authority and the announcement of the Governor’s new COVID Metrics that must be met prior to any onsite education, Mapleton School District will be starting school in the fall under the Comprehensive Distance Learning Model.  For a school to return to in-person instruction through either onsite or hybrid instructional models, the metrics below, which consider local as well as statewide conditions, must be met:

  • Schools must be in a county that is no longer in baseline phase

County Metrics that must be met for three weeks in a row:

  • Case rate: <10 cases per 100,000 population in the preceding 7 days
  • Test positivity: <5% in the preceding 7 days

AND

                   State Metric that must be met for three weeks in a row:

  • Test positivity <5% in the preceding 7 days

The updated COVID Metrics for the State and each county can be found here:  https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Emerging%20Respitory%20Infections/Weekly-County-Metrics.pdf

What does this mean for the students in Mapleton School District?  This means we will be providing Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL) to all PreK-12 grade students at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.  The CDL this fall will have a very different structure and schedule than what we provided in the spring.  This fall, we will be taking attendance, giving grades and providing instruction in all areas as part of our Distance Learning.  We are currently developing the Blueprint for our CDL instructional model to send to the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority for approval.   Once the Blueprint is approved, we will post it on the School District Website.  If your child is unable to participate in the online portion of CDL, we will provide other options for instruction for your student.

What this does not mean for the students in Mapleton School District?  This does not mean that we will remain in Comprehensive Distance Learning for the entire school year.  As a district, we will reevaluate the State and County COVID Metrics regularly throughout the school year (approximately every 4-5 weeks).  If our School District meets the COVID Metrics to provide onsite or hybrid learning, we will transition into those instructional models as appropriate and allowed.  Please note that parents can choose to keep their child in the Comprehensive Distance Learning model for the remainder of the school year due to health concerns of either the student or immediate family members. 

What can you do if you have questions or concerns?  This year, we will be having onsite registration for ALL K-12 grade students.  It’s important that you attend onsite registration!  We will be providing more detailed information about the structure and schedule of CDL for your student.  During registration, we will be having all families sign up for an individual onsite orientation with their child’s teacher to go over the CDL schedule, provide support and training on new technology being provided to each student, provide supplies needed for online learning (technology, login information, etc.) and to answer any questions families have.  Also during registration, we will also be asking several questions that will allow us to support families and provide appropriate instruction to each and every student in our District.  The information we gather at registration will allow us to have a smooth and quick transition from the CDL model to a hybrid/onsite model, as well as provide nutritional support to all families during CDL and ensure that all families have access to the technology their student will need.  It’s important that you attend onsite registration! 

Inside this letter, is flyer with your assigned registration day and time.  If you are unable to attend your assigned time, please call Carly Duval, our new Elementary Administrative Assistant, at 541-268-4471, to schedule a different time.  Please note that anyone attending onsite registration MUST wear a mask/face covering/face shield.  Disposable masks will be provided at the door.  Registration will be held in the High School Gym, please enter through the door by the anchor.  Access to the other areas of the school is restricted.  Due to restrictions on the number of people who can be in the gym, it’s important that you come at your assigned time. 

In order for our staff to have appropriate training and planning time implement the CDL Model, we will be moving the first day of school out one week from Tuesday, September 8, 2020 to Monday, September 14, 2020.   This will allow for individual student/family onsite orientation meetings to be scheduled during the week of September 8, 2020. 

I realize this is a lot of information and I’m sure you have many questions.  Both Brenda Moyer and I will be available at onsite registration next week.  We are more than willing to answer any questions you have at that time, but please know that we may not have the answer.  The guidance we are receiving is changing weekly, and sometimes daily.  Our goal, as always, is to provide the best possible education we can to all of our students! 

I hope your family is safe and healthy.  See you all next week at registration.

Respectfully,

Jodi O’Mara, Superintendent

Mapleton School District

541-268-4471 ext. 202

jomara@mapleton.k12.or.us