Superintendent's Letter

Dear Students, Staff, Families, and Community Members,

Newsletter Topics:

· No School Monday, October 11th

· Strategic Plan Survey Results and Equity Audit

· Voluntary COVID Testing Update

· Two-Hour School Delay or Full Day Closing Information

No School Monday, October 11th

All schools will be closed on Monday. Classes will resume Tuesday, October 12th

Strategic Plan Survey Results and Equity Audit

Thank you to those who took the time to complete the Strategic Plan Survey that was administered in June. Amanda Silver, a consultant, analyzed the responses and provided an overview to the School Board on September 22nd. Here is the link to the summary presentation and report analysis.

We will be working with Mr. Deo Mwano, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant, over the next two years to work with administrators, staff, students, and families. This year, his work will focus on administering and analysis of the equity audit; facilitation of administrative and committee meetings; suggestions for our website, and assisting with the development of goals for the 2022-2025 strategic plan emphasizing social-emotional learning.

The equity audit will consist of surveys for staff, students, and families and opportunities for small group reflections as well.

In year two, he will continue this work with a focus on the targeted goals and building district-wide capacity. We have applied to use ESSER III funds to support this important work.

If you are a parent who would like to share your thoughts with Mr. Mwano about Lebanon School District support of staff, students, and families directly please contact him at deo@deomwano.com and use the Subject- Lebanon School District Equity Audit.

Voluntary COVID Testing for Staff and Students

Thank you to our families and staff members who are participating in voluntary COVID testing.

We have been informed by Concentric that they have the staffing to restart voluntary COVID testing on Tuesday, October 12th.

To sign up your PreKindergarten-12th grade child, 17 years old or younger, for voluntary COVID testing, please use this link.

For staff and students who are 18 years or older please use this link to sign up for voluntary testing.

When prompted please use the following access codes:

· Hanover Street School: 532H6E

· Lebanon Middle School: 81ZM9C

· Mount Lebanon Elementary School: XHBBGP

· Lebanon High School: KLFZAN

Pre-Kindergarten through 12th-grade parents will need to complete a separate form for each child participating in voluntary COVID testing.

We will follow this process for unconfirmed or confirmed positive cases:

If by chance a pool comes back positive, we will notify the staff and the families of those students in the pool that there is an unconfirmed positive case.

Students/staff in the pool will be asked to monitor for symptoms and will be tested two days later.

After the follow-up testing, those in the pool will be notified of either the negative or positive result.

The person who tested positive will be asked to isolate and close contacts will be notified per the procedures we have been following since the start of the pandemic. I will also inform the larger community of the positive test result.

Staff and students need to stay home if they have any new symptoms suggestive of a viral infection. This means that coming to school when a person is not feeling well or might have symptoms even of a common cold is not acceptable-such symptoms can include any of the currently listed symptoms of COVID-19.

Two-Hour School Delay or Full Day School Closing Information

This year, we are returning to traditional 'no school' when there is a full day snow day rather than having a remote learning day.

Based on our school calendar, if we have two full snow days, we will consider moving to remote learning rather than adding days in June.

The primary focus in determining whether to alter the school day in response to weather conditions or other reasons is student safety. The day may be affected in two ways:

1. School delayed two hours

2. School closed

If students can get to school, we seldom close early due to inclement weather.

The following factors will be considered when deciding about the school day due to inclement weather:

1. Are the roads/highways safely passable? Both the Lebanon Police Department and Public Works Department are contacted.

2. Can pedestrians (on the way to and at school) move around safely?

3. Can the building exits be cleared in the event we need to evacuate? (Being able to get into a building does not necessarily mean we can rapidly evacuate a building.)

4. Can the buses travel safely?

There will be occasions when school remains open in less than ideal weather conditions. When this happens, we have a particular concern for the welfare of our teenage drivers. We know that icy and snow‐covered roads are a challenge for any driver. Please be very deliberate before allowing a young driver to leave for school in inclement weather. When school is in session, if you feel that road conditions are unsafe to send your child to school, you always have the freedom to keep your child home for the day.

When there is a change in the school day, an automated message will be delivered via email and/or telephone through the school District’s emergency notification system – SchoolMessenger. Information is also posted on local television channels WMUR and WNNE and many local radio stations as well as the District’s website at www.sau88.net. Before school closing or delayed openings will begin by 6:00 a.m.

Please note that Grantham and Plainfield may have different weather conditions and may close or have a two-hour delay when Lebanon is running on a normal schedule. In those instances, Grantham and Plainfield students are marked with an excused absence and are allowed to make up missed assignments. Parents can also drop their children off at school. Plainfield and Grantham administrators make the final decision regarding the running of their buses.

Parents should encourage their children to wear the type of clothing that will not only keep them warm and enable them to see where they are going, but also permit them to be seen. If a child cannot be seen by the bus driver, there could be a safety issue. For example, white clothing is difficult to see in snow but makes one visible at night. If the weather is inclement, your child should be dressed for the occasion and leave a few minutes earlier than their normal starting time to reach the school bus stop or school safely and on time.

In Closing

Please know that we are grateful for your patience, understanding, and support as we navigate through this school year. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

I hope you have a wonderful long weekend!

Dr. Joanne Roberts

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

Upcoming School Board Meeting:

Lebanon School Board Meeting Wednesday, October 13, 2021, 6:30 pm LMS Cafeteria

Please visit the SAU #88 website for further information.

Link to Board Agendas and Minutes

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