All district employees are invited to learn about fall 2020 school reopening plans and ask questions during staff-only virtual Town Halls scheduled next week for OSD employees.

Attendance is voluntary, and employees may choose to attend one or both of the staff Town Halls scheduled on:

• Wednesday, August 5, 1:15 p.m. (Elementary Focus, but employees at all schools and support buildings are welcome)
• Thursday, August 6, 1:15 p.m. (Middle and High School Focus, but employees at all schools and support buildings are welcome)

Over the past few months hundreds of district staff have been involved in the district’s plans for reopening schools this fall. Many have served on planning committees and workgroups, in partnership with students, families and community members. Some have attended multiple planning meetings to collaborate on how to safely reopen schools based on guidance from local and state health and education officials. Hundreds more employees have attended one or more of five virtual community Town Halls held over the past two weeks to invite feedback on committee recommendations. Video recordings of those community Town Hall meetings are posted on the Fall 2020 School Reopening Plans webpage on the OSD website. The webpage also contains other information and resources including reopening guidance for school districts shared by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Frequently Asked Questions, agendas and minutes from planning committees and workgroups, survey results, and the OSD Board of Directors Fall Planning Feedback.

We appreciate everyone’s time, including those who emailed their ideas and/or questions to reopeningschools@osd.wednet.edu. The two Town Halls next week are more opportunities for staff to hear about plans for fall and ask questions about a proposed reopening plan scheduled to be considered by the school board during a special meeting on August 3. The proposed plan is designed to be flexible in the event the district must transition to a different learning model due to changing COVID-19 data and guidance. The special board meeting on Monday, August 3 begins at 6:30 p.m. Board meeting Zoom links will be shared on the district website, Google Calendar and social media later this week.

The Zoom links and other information to access the OSD staff Town Halls are included in an email sent to all OSD staff on July 28.