Hornet Nation,

Thank you for your continued partnership with us. Schools function best when staff, students, families, and the community work together, facing the same direction.

I am pleased to announce that Harrison Community Schools is launching a strategic planning process to run from December through approximately May, in consultation with Michigan Leadership Institute. The last time we did this important work was around 2008, and obviously a lot has changed in both the educational and community landscapes.

Throughout the process, we will be seeking input from all sections of our community, and we will continue to encourage the utmost of participation from you. Our goal is to determine 2-3 strategic goals for our district, to work on over the next 3-5 years, and determine the actions we will need to take to achieve success. We also will build in measurement tools and timelines to ensure we stay on track and adapt when we need to. The proposed strategic plan will be presented to the Board of Education for formal adoption in the spring of 2024.

If you have any questions before our first outreach occurs, please call me. In partnership and with Hornet Pride,

Judy

Judy Walton

juwalton@harrisonschools.com

989.539.7871

The staff of Harrison Community Schools, in the spirit of a growing and changing community, pledge to educate all students by teaching the District Curriculum and beyond, ensuring the development of responsible learners prepared to take an active role in a complex society.

If you pick your child up after school at Larson, please note that a new procedure will take effect on Monday. November 27. No traffic will be allowed to stack ahead of time on Spruce Street; it must stack on West Hornet Drive. See picture toward bottom of this newsletter.

Several times over the school year, the weather causes us to delay or cancel school. Have you ever wondered how the decision is made? The short answer is safety, and the long answer is all of the factors that go into the safety category.

Looking at weather forecasts and radar is always a bit tricky, because patterns can change so quickly. But that is usually our first step - knowing we may need to pay extra attention on certain days and at certain times. Typically, the conversation starts around 4-4:30 am, in two ways. Our area superintendents communicate via a group text, and each of us communicates with our transportation director. One or more of our bus drivers may take a trial run and report back regarding road conditions, and often we hear from law enforcement. Even when the main roads are in decent shape, secondary and "back" roads may be very different.

Our district covers 240 square miles, with a variety of different road types and conditions. Our bus drivers need to head out by 6:15 am to start their routes, so we have to decide before that time, using the best information on current conditions and forecasted conditions. When we chose a two-hour delay, it is because we believe the forecast will improve enough to have school. However, there are times when that decision turns into a full closure because not enough improvement happens by the next decision window of time.

Sometimes the decision across area districts is similar, and other times it is not. But our individual decisions do impact whether the CGRESD, and specifically the career/technical programs, delays or closes, so we want to maintain contact with our neighbors. All decisions are ultimately made based on whether, with the information we have on hand, our students can safely be at bus stops, and whether our buses can safely drive all routes. While it is vital that we have our students in school and learning, we will not jeopardize their safety in getting to or from school. Occasionally, the weather may dramatically improve after we have made a call to close, but we would rather err on the side of safety.

If we do change our schedule, you will be notified through our school information system (if you have signed up for alerts). We also post on our social media sites, and advise regional TV stations.

• With a positive COVID test, 5 days from either the onset of symptoms, or if no symptoms, from the test date. Onset of symptoms or test date = day zero, and student may return on day 6 with a mask assuming symptoms are improving. This is the same as employees.
• For 24 hours after fever, diarrhea, or vomiting ends, without medication.
• Contagious diseases such as chickenpox, measles, strep, pinkeye, flu, etc. Ask your doctor or health care provider when they can return to school. Generally, the following apply: chickenpox (no school until all spots /lesions are dried and crusted), lice (no school until after the first treatment), strep throat or other strep infections (can return if they do not have a fever and have been on antibiotics for at least 12 hours).

Allowed waiting area for afternoon pick-up at Larson is on West Hornet Drive, highlighted in orange

November 22-26: Thanksgiving Break

December 1: High school exhibition night

December 1-2: "The Odd Couple" performances at the high school

December 13: K-1 and 4-5 music performances at high school

December 19: Last day of school (holiday break begins December 20)

December 22: Community dinner at high school

• Early Childhood & Larson Elementary, 989.539.3259 (Principal Andrea Andera, aandera@harrisonschools.com, Assistant Principal Sandy Hargraves, shargraves@harrisonschools.com)
• Middle School, 989.539.7194 (Principal Jennifer Thrush, jthrush@harrisonschools.com, Assistant Principal Brad Carlstrom, bcarlstrom@harrisonschools.com)
• Hive, 989.539.7417 (Principal Stacey VanAntwerp, svanantwerp@harrisonschools.com)
• High School, 989.539.7417 (Principal Joe Ashcroft, jjashcroft@harrisonschools.com, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Brad Carlstrom, bcarlstrom@harrisonschools.com)

Superintendent, 989.539.7871 (Judy Walton, juwalton@harrisonschools.com)

Special Education (Stacey VanAntwerp, svanantwerp@harrisonschools.com)

Homeless Child/Youth Services (Andrea Andera, aandera@harrisonschools.com)

Bus Services, 989.539.7082 (Kelli Whitaker, kwhitaker@auxilioservices.net)