Learning Community Update

As spring recess approaches amidst the whirlwind of achieving our learning outcomes, striving to meet the developmental needs of our students, preparing to participate in required testing and celebrating our students’ performances and activities, I pause to say thank you, ask for your continued due diligence and support, and provide an update on planning for our next school year. The remaining days of our current school year will pass quickly to reach our finish line in June upon return from spring recess.

Regardless of your active participation in the rollercoaster ride that adjusted our journey from remote, to hybrid, to all-in or the steady ride of electing to participate full-time in the Virtual Learning Program (VLP), we did so together. Thanks to the relentless efforts of administrators, faculty, staff, Board members, parents, and most importantly, our students, we have navigated the twists and turns of our pandemic rollercoaster ride exceedingly well. While frustrations and emotions were sometimes challenging during our ride, we have owned our R’s (responses) to do what is best to meet the academic and developmental needs of our students, while protecting the safety and welfare of all to the best of our abilities. Each of you contribute daily to our success by adhering to the required health and safety protocols and mitigation strategies. I ask for your continued support in doing so to ensure that our learning campus and community remains safe to keep our students in school daily.

A few families have already contacted me to inquire about school attendance options for the 2021-22 school year. We are planning to welcome all students back to our school campus in August and remain optimistic that most of the COVID-19 protocols may no longer be necessary as more persons become vaccinated. Our school campus is safe and our data continues to illustrate very low levels of any transmission at school. With continued due diligence outside of school, I remain confident that our schools will remain safe and open daily for our students.

Of course, all of our planning is dependent on the state of public health at the time and is subject to local, state and federal guidelines, as well as recommendations from our own experts. Unless required to meet future health needs, I do not expect the General Assembly to enact legislation to continue virtual programming for future school years in the same manner as required this school year to be responsive to changing pandemic conditions. For now, everyone should anticipate the joyful return of ALL students, faculty, and staff, including our current VLP students and staff, to our schools for the 2021-22 school year beginning in August.

I hope you are as excited to hear this news as I am to deliver it. Thank you, once again, for your resilience, flexibility and commitment to our school district over the past 12 months. This has been a challenging, stressful, often exhausting time for everyone, but one in which our students, faculty and staff have demonstrated the Eagle Pride necessary to achieve, serve, grow and lead. While we may have months ahead of continued vigilance in following required safety protocols, testing, contact tracing and quarantine requirements of health officials, we can also look forward to fully returning to the full teaching, learning and working environment we have always known and loved in the New Albany-Plain Local Schools. We continue to prove we are stronger together.

If traveling during spring recess, please check the CDC Travel Planner to verify what health guidance may be required when traveling to or from your destination. May your spring recess be filled with sunshine, laughter and wonderful memories as you act safely and responsibly to allow us to finish our school year strong.

Michael Sawyers

Superintendent

The New Albany-Plain Local School District is committed to creating a culture of accountability that achieves the best academic and developmental outcomes for each student.

Email: news@napls.us
Website: https://www.napls.us
Location: 55 North High Street, New Albany, Ohio 43054
Phone: 614-855-2040
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewAlbanySchools
Twitter: @napls