Tonight at 5:30 we held a virtual meeting for our K-3 Parents to inform them of our work today, and our plans going forward.  Thank you to the families that were able to participate in this informational opportunity.  We can feel the frustration that families students and staff are experiencing.  Our goal is to move towards a model that allows our youngest students to have in-person instruction as much as possible given the new county metrics and ODE guidelines.

You may be aware that the exception we were hoping to open under is no longer an option due to the 30.6 per 100,000 case rate in Lane County.  However, we ARE able to reopen for Limited in Person Instruction (LIPI) if we can meet very specific guidelines.  This includes no more than 10 students per cohort and students can be in no more than 2 cohorts including transportation.  The transportation piece is one of the most complex issues of our plan moving forward.  For any family that can transport their student, or carpool with another,  please know THIS IS A TREMENDOUS HELP!

While the parameters are restrictive, we feel that it is critical to offer in person instruction for our youngest learners.  Our teachers, instructional assistants and administrators are committed to this.  We are working with parents, teachers and transportation to ensure that this is possible.  Below is our plan:

• Beginning Thursday, September 24th, and continuing through Friday, October 9th:
  • Students will start on their A / B Day.
    • A Days = Tues/Thur & B Days = Wed/Fri
  • Students will be on site from 8:00-10:00 AM
    • 2 hours for LIPI
      • The 2 hours will focus primarily on Math and Reading
        • On days that students are in school:
          • Teachers will spend some time introducing instructing on other subjects (Social Studies, Science, Art, PE, etc.) that students will work on when they go home in the afternoon.
          • On days that students are NOT in school:
            • Students will bring home Applied Learning Packets for their off-days (will not exceed 2 hours, and be appropriate to each grade level-will focus on Math and Reading)
        • Teachers will have a system for daily communication
• TRANSPORTATION:  New pickup and drop off times will be communicated with families by tomorrow afternoon.

Over the next 2 1/2 weeks we will be looking into 3 different options of expansion, they are:

1. Continuing with how we are going.
2. Adding CDL in the afternoons and checking out chromebooks to our K-3 students for PM instruction with their teachers
3. Going to an AM/PM model that would have A day kids attending EVERY day from 8-10, and B Day kids attending every day from 12:30-2:30

Where we fall will depend on the following factors:

1. How well our model is working
2. County health/metric data
3. Information and availability of another 200-300 chromebooks
4. Family feedback and input!

All the staff are excited to see our K-3 students beginning this Thursday.

Meals are still available, and students will have an opportunity to eat breakfast when they arrive, and be sent home with a lunch if they would like one!

We will have another K-3 check-in virtual meeting, next Thursday at 5:30.

Thank you so much for your continued flexibility as we all navigate these challenges!  It is appreciated very much.

1.  Chromebook checkout for students continues today.  We will be set up at the District office, and operating 1-4.  If those times do not work for your family, please contact your building principal to help coordinate.
2. Meals DO START TODAY.  Meals are served out of the High School Cafeteria (North lot).  You do not need to get out of your car, just circle the parking lot loop in a counterclockwise direction, stop at the cafeteria, and you will be helped.  Meals are free for all students 0-18.  All you have to do is provide your last name.
3. Limited In-Person Instruction students (grades 4-8) that were scheduled to attend today from 9 AM-11AM IS CONTINUING! The OPTIONS program activities still begin today, and 4th-12th grade students that were to begin CDL today are STILL doing so!
4. The rise in COVID cases in Lane County (released late yesterday), combined with the fact that we had not yet started in-person instruction, prevented us from starting school today and the staff is crushed at these turn of events!  We are already working on a plan to get our K-3 students in school this week!  We will share information during a 5:30 ZOOM parent meeting tonight.  We need some time to confirm our plan follows ODE guidelines, and can work with our facilities, food service and transportation  If you cannot make that meeting, we will post all of the information immediately following.  Stay Tuned!  The login information for the meeting is below.

Gary Carpenter is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Parent Meeting for K-3 In-person instruction Options
Time: Sep 22, 2020 05:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://fernridge-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/95408108332?pwd=WXgvTHVGb0NvTms4MUh5ZnA4V2Zadz09

Meeting ID: 954 0810 8332
Passcode: 587979
One tap mobile
+16699009128,,95408108332# US (San Jose)
+12532158782,,95408108332# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 954 0810 8332
Find your local number: https://fernridge-k12-or-us.zoom.us/u/aEJTsBtr6

Attention EES and VES K-3 Families- We have an important message for you regarding K-3 in-person instruction:

FRSD was informed late this afternoon that Lane County COVID metrics will NOT allow us to open for K-3 in-person instruction beginning tomorrow, September 22. Based on State of Oregon guidelines, we must be under 30 cases per 100,000. Lane County’s latest metric is 30.6 cases per 100,000.  While this news is extremely frustrating, we are working on a plan in conjunction with LCPHA to move to “limited in person instruction” by Thursday, September 24 for our K-3 students. More details on this tomorrow.

Any students in grades 4-8 who were already scheduled to begin limited in person instruction will still begin tomorrow.  

EHS CDL students, still begin tomorrow.  OPTIONS students, still begin tomorrow.

Again, K-3rd graders WILL NOT be attending school until further notice.

We apologize for the short notice and realize the implications for our families. Please know this is beyond our control. Expect and look for more information on district and school websites soon. 

Thank you for your continued support and patience as we navigate through these challenging times.  Food service WILL still be operating out of the EHS North parking lot from 11:00-12:30!  Come down and pick up a lunch and a breakfast!

A phone dialer is going out with this message in a few minutes.  It will repeat again in the morning!

If you missed the chromebook checkout days/times over the last week, they will continue Tuesday through Friday (the 22nd-25th) at the District Office.  The District Office is located across from the Middle School at 88834 Territorial Road.

We will be moving the chromebooks over here, as well as the other technology needed for checkout, this evening and tomorrow morning.  The checkout will occur every afternoon for the rest of the week from 1PM – 4PM.  If you cannot make that timeframe, and still need a chromebook, please contact your building administrator.  They can work to get your chromebook and login-information for you, and meet  you early in the morning, or in the evening.

The weekly community Q and A sessions will continue for two more weeks.  They occur at 3:30 on Wednesday afternoons.  As a reminder, the direct link to these is https://meet.google.com/wro-ifnp-ans

In yesterday’s session there were two questions I was not 100% sure on, below are those questions, and the answers.  Thanks to everyone that attends these, and shares the information with the community.

1.  Q:  Can non-FRSD kids get free meals once food service begins?
   1. A:  Yes.  We have received Federal Waivers that allow any child/student ages 0-18 that shows up to get a meal (breakfast and lunch) free.  At our pick-up sites, all that will need to be given is the last name.  You many only access one pick-up site per day.
2. Q:  Can you confirm the Options start date:
   1. A:  Yes, it will be Tuesday, September 22nd, just like all other district programs (except limited in person instruction at EHS this is currently delayed one week due to a student positive COVID test).  The first week will certainly look different that it will in week 2, or week 3.  The focus will be less on curriculum and instruction, and more on showing care and connection with our students, practicing simple skills such as logging into zoom and other technology functions as well as “training” students on how to use their devices and engage with teachers daily.

GC

Good morning FRSD families.  Our vendor, Chartwells, and their staff have been working hard to prepare for the return of students.  Below are some notes regarding our plan for the beginning of the year, and how it will build and grow over the first few weeks this Fall.  In addition I have included some important information concerning Federal waivers the district has received in regards to providing meals.

1.  FREE MEALS:  Federal Waivers we have received allow the District to provide both breakfast and lunch meals FREE to ALL school age children through December 2020.

2.  FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH FORM:  Please, continue to fill these out now, DO NOT WAIT. The waivers will end eventually, and we don’t  want families to end up not being covered when they do.  In addition, the qualifying income amounts have been adjusted, allowing for more eligible families.  The easy online application process can be completed here: https://www.ode.state.or.us/apps/frlapp or you can go to this link and print a copy of the form and turn it in at a school:  https://www.fernridge.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1621_001.pdf

3. Beginning in week 1:  The first day of meals will be the first day students return, on September 22nd.  We will have 3 ways students can get meals:

a.  K-3 students that attend school will have an opportunity to have both breakfast and lunch, at their school, in the cafeteria.

b.  The High School North Parking lot will have a “drive-through” meal pick up service occurring each school day, from 11:00-12:30.  A lunch for that day and a breakfast for the next day will be available.  In order to pick up meals, parents/students will just need to provide their last name for ODE compliance. The meals are free of charge.

c.  Students in grades 4-12 that are on campus for 2 hours for LIPI (Limited In-Person Instruction) from 9-11 AM will have an opportunity to get a meal before they leave for the day, including a breakfast for the following morning.

4.  Beginning in week 2: In addition to the opportunities described above occurring in week 1, we will add:

a.  Service at the EHS drive through location from 11:00-12:30 on Monday the 28th, a no-school day.  This will continue every Monday.

b.  Drop off/pick up locations will be available at a few locations throughout the community.  The exact number and location of these meal pick-up sites is yet to be determined.

5.  Beginning in week 3: Everything from the first two weeks will continue.  We will be looking into the possibility of having all buses available to deliver meals to the community in food boxes, that would allow a family to get a box of meals (lunch and breakfasts) for the entire week so that they wouldn’t need to come to a site each day.  This will take additional logistical planning and we will keep families informed if this becomes a possibility.

The NEW chromebook checkout schedule/location/days/times have been finalized.  The checkout, for ALL SCHOOLS, will be in the North parking lot of Elmira High School.  To access that information, visit the link/page below.

CLICK HERE FOR CHROMEBOOK CHECKOUT SCHEDULE

IMPORTANT ADDITION:  AN FRSD CHROMEBOOK CHECK-OUT AGREEMENT MUST BE SIGNED BY THE STUDENT AND PARENT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A CHROMEBOOK.

These forms will be available in the front office of every school as well as the high school during check out.  The link below will take you to the form if you would like to print, sign, and bring with you to the checkout.

Chromebooks can not be issued without a form signed by both the student and parent. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE CHECKOUT PROGRAM INFO AND AGREEMENT

With many in the local community still without power, the District is preparing to offer the following resources.  These can be available immediately, beginning this morning.  To coordinate/communicate with the District you may call the District Office at 541-935-2253 ext 1203 during office hours, or email gcarpenter@fernridge.k12.or.us after hours. You may also text 541-600-7560

• Any trailers that need a spot to park, can do so in the EHS parking lot.  We can hook you up to power as well.
• The Wi-fi in the EHS parking lot is available for access.
• Showers
• Restrooms
• Filling up of water jugs with clean water
• A place to charge electronic devices

We can continue to expand what we are offering in the coming days if there is a need.

Do not hesitate to reach out or forward this information to anyone in our community that needs it.

Parents, Students and Community,

Due to the current emergency situation in Lane County, and its effect on our  community, staff and students, I regretfully must share that we are delaying the start of school by one week.  Instead of beginning September 15th, we will begin on Tuesday, September 22nd with all students K-12 and in the FRSD OPTIONS program.  As before K-3 will be in a hybrid A/B model, and 4th – 12th will be in Comprehensive Distance Learning.

While I am certainly disappointed with the turn of events that necessitate this shift, I am confident it is the best choice given our current circumstances.  While our staff have been working overtime to get ready for students, we now have too many uncertainties in order to roll out in 7 days.  Some of the circumstances that led to this decision include

• The periodic loss of power and potential loss of power makes our chromebook checkout, a CRITICAL component that needs to occur prior to students returning, too risky to begin. Chromebook checkout will be moved to next week.  A schedule will be posted prior to Saturday, September 12th.
• We may need to open some of our facilities in our community to support folks that need clean air to breath, a shower, or to simply charge a phone or have a meal.
• We have staff that live in areas that have had to evacuate, as well as many staff supporting close family members in need.
• The adjustment of our school air systems to utilize more outside air (to assist with COVID), has exacerbated the issue of smoke in some of our classrooms and buildings.
• A need to support some other Lane County Districts and communities that are in desperate need currently.

I thank you in advance for your continued resilience in the face of seemingly unending challenges.

Gary Carpenter, Superintendent, FRSD 28J

FRSD Families,

This letter is intended to provide information to our families that use district transportation, provided through First Student.  School buses are a critical part of our district operations, however, this year things will look different due to requirements as a result of COVID-19.  Below is information you should be aware of.  As a reminder, to begin the year, the only students on-site will be Kinder-3^rd graders and they will attend every other day.  There will be a few students in grades 4-12 that attend as a result of their specific needs.

• Up to date information regarding 20-21 bus routes will be posted here, when ready: https://www.fernridge.k12.or.us/?page_id=339. Our A Day and B day routes for K-3 students is currently posted, and can be found under the transportation section on the following page:  https://www.fernridge.k12.or.us/2020-school-year/
• Any family that is able to transport students themselves, is encouraged to do so. If you have the ability to carpool with another family as well, it would be greatly appreciated.  For those that need district transportation, it will be provided and numerous safety precautions will be in place.  Those will include:
  • All students must wear a face covering. Those not wearing one when they load the bus will be given one.
  • Students will fill the bus from the back to front and exit the bus in reverse order.
  • To begin the year, to assist with training, there will be two adults on each route.
  • Drivers will wear masks and face shields when loading and unloading the bus.
  • Students will be visually screened for symptoms of illness when they load the bus.
  • Those that exhibit symptoms will sit in the front of the bus, and the school will be notified that a student who may be sick is arriving.
  • If a parent is with the sick child at the bus stop, they will not be allowed on the bus, and sent home with the parent.
  • Students will fill the bus one student per seat, alternating sides of the bus. Students from the same household may sit together.
  • The bus driver will fill out a cohort log for each bus trip.
  • There is no eating or drinking on the bus.
• Cleaning protocols for the bus include:
  • Buses will be kept clean and sanitized between cohort routes
  • Drivers will clean high touch surfaces frequently (e.g., handrails)
• Students will be taught to maintain social distancing while at the bus stop. Please encourage this with your students.
• When loading the bus, after school, we will work to load the bus in reverse order, with the students getting off last, loading first.

Transportation protocols will be a work in progress the first few weeks of school.  If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact your individual school, or the transportation department at 541-935-1969

Professionally,

Gary E. Carpenter, Jr. Superintendent FRSD 28J