Dear Canutillo Community,
We know that there is one question on the minds of our district’s parents, students, employees, and community members: What will school look like in the fall?
Thank you for your patience and your understanding as we have been working collaboratively for the last several months to answer that question.
Due to upward trends in infection rates, the district is adopting a conservative approach in the interest of safety. The Canutillo Independent School District will deliver instruction through remote platforms until Labor Day. By Monday, September 7, 2020, the district will have communicated to parents whether to keep with 100% remote learning or continue with our reopening plans.
Week 1
The first week of school will be 100% remote learning. During this time, campuses will offer small groups of students the opportunity to come to school, meet their teacher, practice social distancing and review the safety protocols. Campuses will be contacting parents to set up dates and times. Parents and students can OPT OUT of this activity.
Weeks 2 - 5
Weeks 2 - 5 will remain 100% remote learning. This will give the district the opportunity to monitor the health situation in the region, continue safety preparations, and allow teachers and students the opportunity to get accustomed to remote learning in case of a school-wide COVID-19 shutdown.
Week 6 and Beyond
After September 7, 2020, parents will have the following choices:
- At the elementary level, parents can elect to send their children to school for 100% face-to-face instruction or they can select the 100% remote learning option. Elementary schools do not have the capacity to implement a hybrid model alongside in person instruction and remote learning.
- Middle schools and CHS High School students may choose 100% remote learning or hybrid. The hybrid model will allow students to come into schools on certain days and remain at home on other days. Due to the large number of students in secondary schools, 100% face to face is not possible.
From an instructional perspective, this plan is sensitive to the fact that secondary students are better able to navigate remote platforms, while elementary children benefit from the guidance of teachers who are physically present.
- NWECHS parents will receive information about their schedule from the campus.
Campuses will disseminate further information regarding learning models and the opening week activity. This information will be placed on the campus and district websites next week along with other health and safety information.
Reopening plans were developed with survey information from parents, faculty and staff. Safety was the first consideration in the district’s deliberations. Please note that this plan is subject to change depending on future guidance from health officials.
Guiding Principles
As we move forward, we are keeping our strategic plan top of mind.
We are committed to:
- The health and safety of our students and employees
- Academic success for all students
- Ensuring that students are at the center of all decision making
- Engaging with our school communities
- Utilizing data
Health and Safety Protocols
Canutillo ISD is actively planning for the reopening of schools with the health and safety of our students, families, employees, and community at the forefront. The following safety protocols for students, staff and visitors follow guidance provided by the Center for Disease Control and are under consideration:
- General Health
- Daily health assessments for all staff and students
- Visitors will be limited to conducting business pertaining to enrollment or resolving emergency situations by appointment preferably
- Face coverings required for all staff, students and visitors
- Reducing shared materials in the classroom
- Meals served in classroom
- Social distancing
- Classroom configuration to allow for social distancing
- Staggered arrival and departure to allow for social distancing
- Social distancing on school buses
- Cleaning and Sanitation
- Increased disinfecting procedures
- Encouraging students to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer more frequently
- Procedures for student or staff illness reporting/tracking and designating an isolation area
- Procedures for closing a building during an outbreak, disinfecting, and re-opening (in conjunction with local health department)
- Procedures for staff leave and student excused absences
- Training on safety precautions for all staff and students
We know that the 2020–2021 academic year will be unlike any we've experienced before. This also means it is an opportunity to be adaptable, flexible and innovative. I am confident that we will come out the other side of this experience stronger, with best practices around technology and learning that will change education forever. And our district will be better for it. The future is now.
Thank you for your partnership and support.
Pedro Galaviz
Superintendent of School