Superintendent's Letter

Dear Students, Staff, Families, and Community Members,

Return To Five Day In-Person/Remote

As planned, we are returning to Five Day In-Person/Remote on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.

Specific to Lebanon, the student and the staff cases we have experienced have been sporadic. We have not experienced clusters based on staff-to-staff: staff-to-student; or student-to-student transmission to date in the schools.

Presently, our staffing levels are normal. In addition, since December 18th, we have hired 15 new substitutes and we have seven applicants scheduled to meet for substitute orientation.

Every substitute counts when we are on the cusp of potentially closing a school due to lack of staffing, and I am grateful for their interest in subbing. This should stabilize operations.

Our student absenteeism is a blend of students who might be sick with something other than COVID, those who are remaining home due to COVID symptoms; have tested positive for COVID, or have been asked to quarantine.

Overall, our parents have been terrific. You have let us know if children have symptoms and kept them home; you have let us know if your child is being tested and the results; and you have provided information for contact tracing. Thank you.

We rely on our staff, parents and students to honestly complete the health check every day; to stay home and not travel; to quarantine when needed; to be tested or have their child tested if there is a possibility of being positive; to physical distance, to wash hands often, and to wear a mask. In addition, the many different safeguards to try to mitigate transmission since the beginning of the year are still in place.

It takes everybody doing their part to make this successful.

This being said, there is still anxiety and stress for some of our school staff members and students. This is a very trying time. We need to continue to partner together for the safety of our students, staff, and community.

Future Response to Confirmed COVID Cases

Moving forward, the plan is to respond by the individual school to a COVID situation whenever possible.

What this means is that if there is a low level of staffing in a school or other COVID-related situation, we may close that school for a period of time; or shift that school to A/B or remote if needed without having to shift the entire district.

It also means that parents should expect a phone call early in the morning if we are unable to open a school on a particular day. A School Messenger notice will be sent by 5:50 am for Lebanon High School and Middle School and 7:00 am for Hanover Street School and Mount Lebanon School families.

We will do our best to provide advance notice whenever possible, but sometimes information comes in at the last minute and we need to react quickly.

Five Day In-Person Bus Schedule

Specific to busing, we will keep the five-day busing schedule in place even if a particular school moves to A/B. This will alleviate the need for parents and students to wonder what schedule they need to follow and to provide consistency.

The Five Day Bus Routes Schedule will begin on Tuesday, January 19th.

If you have any questions, please contact Transportation Coordinator, Paula Harthan, at 603-298-0832.

In closing, I would like to thank you for your continued support. Everyone is working incredibly hard to provide a positive school experience, whether it is in-person or remote. Our focus is on safety as well as our commitment to supporting our students and families.

On Monday, as we celebrate Martin Luther King Day, I hope that as a community we take time to consider how we can partner together to promote equity, justice, and peace.

Dr. Joanne Roberts

Links to further information:

City of Lebanon https://lebanonnh.gov/1350/COVID-19

DHMC https://www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/patient-education/coronavirus.html

DHHS NH Department of Health and Human Services

CDC School Guidance

NHDOE K-12 Back to School Guidance

Upcoming School Board Meeting:

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 LMS Gym and via Zoom 6:30 pm

Deliberative Session Saturday, January 30, 2021 LMS Gym 9:00 am; Snow Date Monday, February 1, 2021 6:00 pm.

Note: The Deliberative Session will be streamed via Zoom. There will be no means of participation via Zoom. In order to participate in the meeting, community members must attend in person at LMS in the gym. Masks are required to be worn at all times.

Please visit the SAU #88 website for further information.

Link to Board Agendas and Minutes

The Lebanon School District, in partnership with the community, is committed to providing a challenging, positive and safe learning environment that CARES:

• Cultivates curiosity and collaboration
• Achieves academic excellence
• Respects and values diversity
• Encourages responsible citizenship
• Supports the needs of every learner

Website: www.sau88.net
Location: 20 Seminary Hill Road, West Lebanon, NH, USA
Phone: 603-795-8500