September 21, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are happy to be able to say that we are entering into our third week of school. Granted, the experience has not been without its challenges, but we are confident that we are heading in the right direction. As time goes on, we expect to find things running more smoothly each week.
Currently, our hybrid schedule is serving our 255 K-6 students who desired having face-to-face instruction at the earliest opportunity possible. We have another 95 elementary students who are receiving 100% virtual instruction. At this time, all of our secondary students are receiving Continuous Learning 2.0, with the exception of some of our special needs population.
The metric for Cowlitz County representing the number of new COVID-19 cases within the last 14 days per 100K population is currently at 38. That number continues to have us solidly in the lower half of the moderate at-risk category. We are hoping that the number dips into the low at-risk category (25 or less) so that we can bring more students into the buildings, and some more frequently than they are now. Unfortunately, our number is climbing a bit, as was somewhat expected following the Labor Day weekend. Time will tell when we can change course for the better.
On top of all of the COVID-19 concerns, we seem to be experiencing a higher frequency of internet and phone outages than we do normally. We had expected to host a zoom meeting tonight in order to have the public attend our monthly school board meeting. Unfortunately, that cannot happen without the internet functioning properly. Consequently, our school board meeting has been postponed until 7pm on Monday, September 28.
We hope you will consider attending via the zoom link. Until later, stay safe and healthy!
Sincerely,
Bob Garrett
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August 21, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are excited to announce that we have a board approved reopening plan! This plan will be posted to our website on August 25th, and will be subject to change as our circumstances related to COVID-19 change; but at least finally we have something that we can “sink our teeth into.”
Our school calendar has been revised, with the first day for students being Tuesday, September 8th. For those K-6 families who prefer their students attend in person, their children will attend on a hybrid model. Students will be in one of two groups, with one group attending on Mondays and Thursdays; the other group attending on Tuesdays and Fridays. The groups will rotate Wednesday instruction. All students in Grades 7-12 will begin 100% online, with the possible exception of some special needs students.
By now you have probably heard of and/or seen the “Decision Tree.” On August 5, 2020, the Department of Health, in consultation with OSPI, published a decision tree to assist local health officers and school administrators in making decisions around resuming in-person instruction for public and private K-12 schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The primary metric that is being tracked is how many new cases of COVID-19 have occurred per 100K in the last 14 days. Communities/counties are considered at high risk if their number is greater than 75; at moderate risk if their number is between 25 and 75; and at low risk if their number is lower than 25. The number for Cowlitz County has been declining steadily over the last few weeks, and as of close of day on August 19, was 43.1.
Upcoming important events include a TLSD Board meeting at 7pm on Tuesday, August 25; and a Toutle Lake Community Reopening Q&A at 6pm on Wednesday, August 26 (See info below).
You will be receiving some information related to scheduling your child in the program of your choice. Please review it at your earliest convenience. Shortly after that you will be emailed a survey link to complete the registration. We look forward to serving you and your students this coming year!
Sincerely,
Bob Garrett
Superintendent