Superintendent's Letter

Dear Students, Staff, Families, and Community Members,

Since the decision was made to move back to the A/B model on Friday, I have received emails with questions and comments. Thank you for the feedback.

I would like to thank school administrators and staff members for all the hard work involved in shifting to the A/B model on Monday, and for their continued dedication to our students and families.

Since the beginning of the year, we have been monitoring community transmission, school transmission and its impact on staffing, and student absenteeism. At this time, the primary reason for moving to the A/B model is based on inconsistent staffing levels, the lack of substitutes to cover for staff, and the impact of quarantining. Staffing levels are influenced by three main factors.

The first is per New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), staff members with symptoms of COVID 19 are to remain at home to minimize the spread. Staff may also have to stay home to care for children who are exhibiting systems. DHHS states that individuals even with mild symptoms should not be allowed in the building. In November, we averaged 31 staff members per month who took sick or personal days.

The second factor is the lack of substitutes to fill vacant positions. Last year, we had 38 people on the substitute list. As of today, we have a total of 16. The majority of whom are college students currently on break and five substitutes are also on other school district substitute lists. Substitutes are not always available M-F and often cite a preference as to the grade level they would like to work in. One factor for the decreased rate is that the substitute pool previously contained many retirees who have decided not to work in schools this year. We are grateful for the substitutes that we have and are looking for ways to improve the situation.

The third factor is the impact of a staff member or student who tests positive on the staffing levels in our schools. If a person is within six feet for 10 minutes or more of the COVID-infected person within 48 hours of a positive test result or onset of symptoms, the person is asked to quarantine. This is regardless of whether or not the individual was wearing a mask.

In October, we were in the A/B model when we had two positive cases. One at LHS and one at LMS. At LHS, nine students were asked to quarantine. At LMS, four students and one staff member were asked to quarantine.

When we moved to the Five Days In-Person model, our school facilities are such that we could not consistently continue to maintain six feet of physical distancing.

The LHS positive case on December 4th led to eight students and eight staff members being asked to quarantine. The LMS positive case on December 11th led to 21 students and six staff members being asked to quarantine.

In November, there was a positive COVID case at HSS. The timing of the symptoms was such that no staff or students were asked to quarantine. If the symptoms had started one day earlier, it would have resulted in 15 students and six staff members being asked to quarantine.

For the past month, on a daily basis, we have been determining if we have the staffing levels needed to operate schools safely and efficiently and there have been many close calls. By moving to the A/B model, we are proactively decreasing the number of staff and students who could potentially become exposed; who are asked to quarantine, and with a smaller number of students in the building we can utilize staff more efficiently if substitutes are needed.

This decision should provide more stability because we should be able to keep our schools open more consistently over the next few weeks than having to open and close them like the recent LMS situation.

As members of our school community, you can help to keep our schools remain open. Wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands often, when children are playing together, ensure they are wearing masks and physically distancing. If your child is symptomatic even if it is mild, please keep them at home, and everyone should follow state guidance related to traveling.

Thank you and have a safe and happy holiday!

Dr. Joanne Roberts

If you are interested in being a substitute, or you may know an interested person, please contact Dianne Estes, Director of School and Community Relations at destes@sau88.net. The rate of pay is $105 per day. Lesson plans and schedules are prepared in advance by the teacher, the role of a substitute is to support, monitor, and provide a safe and nurturing learning environment for our children.

Important Links:

School Board Web Page

Previous Superintendent’s Letters

NH Guidance

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 13, 2021 LMS Gym and via Zoom

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