Dear Springfield Elementary School Community,

The Springfield Elementary School Restart Committee has been in deep conversation about how best to reopen for the 2020-21 school year. Our primary goal is to provide the best education possible in the healthiest and safest way, while providing flexibility to students, families, and employees as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic as a community. Although we are moving forward with a  return to a full day, five days per week in-person learning schedule for all students choosing this option, we are prepared to pivot to an enhanced version of Virtual Springfield or offer a hybrid learning experience, as the ever-evolving situation requires. Please know that although circumstances may change throughout the 2020-21 school year, our commitment to the academic growth of children and their social-emotional health will remain our singular focus, no matter the context. 

In the face of COVID-19, there is unfortunately no approach that will guarantee safety at all times. Reopening school means there will be some level of inherent risk. Springfield Elementary is taking a layered approach to our planning, employing a number of strategies and tactics to reduce risk to children, adults, and families. There is no single solution to the challenges that lie ahead, but we have taken steps to create the healthiest classrooms, buildings, procedures, and policies possible so that students can focus on learning in a caring environment. We also rely on you!  No single person can greet this challenge alone. We rely on students, employees, and families to collaborate and cooperate with us, and we promise to communicate often with you as the situation evolves. We know you place great trust in our school district, and we place our trust in our community so that together we can navigate this pandemic.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The following principles will guide our leadership team as we make the best decisions possible for our school community.

• Our top priority is the collective health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and families. We will strive to make decisions that can be sustained by all school community members over the course of the school year.
• Clear and regular communication with our school community is critical for maintaining trust and ensuring the smoothest experience for all involved.
• Our values of community, equality, and stewardship will be core to how we make decisions. We are committed to maintaining a strong educational experience for our students through the pandemic and will make sound financial choices to ensure the long-term sustainability of the school district.
• The “power of small” – as a small school, we will adapt as needed to meet the changing situation and to reduce disruption for students.
• Remaining inclusive in our decision-making will help us best address the needs of our diverse student population.

There is little doubt that the 2020-21 school year will perhaps be the most challenging we have faced; however, I know that our school community will come together in the face of this challenge and continue to excel as we provide rigorous and engaging learning opportunities in a physically and emotionally safe environment for our amazing students.  I know we’ll do this because we are Springfield, and that means something.    

Sincerely,

Craig Vaughn

Superintendent/Principal