July 13, 2020
Dear Dunham Families,
I am writing to share an update on the efforts to reopen schools at the State, County, and District level. I know that the uncertainty presented by this pandemic is very challenging for parents, students, and staff. The team at Dunham is working hard to communicate the most current and accurate information to share with you. I want to personally thank you for your patience and understanding.
Our first priority is the health and well being of our students, staff, and families. We will reopen Dunham based on information and guidance from our State and local health partners, while also working to ensure a positive learning environment for all students.
Our goal is to return to school in August with students on campus. Information on State and local guidelines regarding COVID-19 have changed and can change rapidly. With this in mind, we are currently working on a hybrid model (a mix of on campus and distance learning) that would allow for 50% of students to be on campus at one time. This model would allow us to implement all the safeguards and safety standards outlined by the State and County. We are also working on our distance learning program to improve support and training for students, parents, and staff. We know that some families would prefer not to come on campus at all out of health concerns and some families would prefer their student(s) to be on campus for whatever amount of time that is available. We will do our best to serve all our students.
We appreciate you taking the time to fill out the survey we sent out on June 25. The information you provided has been very helpful in the planning process.
Though we are planning for multiple contingencies based on the most current guidelines, one thing is for sure, our traditional school model will look different at the start of this school year. We are making good headway on all of the many aspects of our plans and will be sharing more details in the near future.
You can view the guidelines that Sonoma County school districts are using to plan for school reopening, Roadmap to a Safe Reopening, at scoe.org/covid. The Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE) has created a guide for what families can expect when school reopens, based on the Roadmap to a Safe Reopening document. View the guide in English or Spanish.
County Superintendent Steve Herrington hosted a community update on school reopening issues via Facebook Live on Wednesday, July 8, at 12:00pm. It can be viewed in English or Spanish at Facebook.com/SCOESonoma.
All of these are great resources. If you only had time to read one, I would recommend the What Families Can Expect When School Reopens provided by SCOE. Again, I thank you for your patience and understanding in these unthinkable times.
Sincerely,
Daniel Hoffman
Superintendent / Principal
Attachments:
What Families Can Expect When School Reopens
