KFCS News Flash
INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW! 10/9/2020
What it Takes for Regular In-Person Learning
There is some confusion about what it takes to have students in schools for regular in-person learning, here is an explanation:
To start grades K-3 in person we must have 21 or fewer new COVID-19 cases per week for 3 consecutive weeks in Klamath County. We also must have a 5% or less positivity rate on COVID-19 tests in the county for those weeks to qualify. For grades 4-12 to start in person we must have 7 or fewer new cases per week for three consecutive weeks along with a 5% or less positivity rate in the county and the state for those weeks.
The four main reasons the KFCS did not start K-3 immediately were:
The district does not have liability immunity for COVID-related lawsuits and we have no liability insurance to cover COVID lawsuit damages. We had hoped the state was going to grant this immunity in a special session; therefore, we were waiting for that to happen before having students back in school. Unfortunately, this still has not been addressed at the state level.
The district did not want elementary schools to have to plan two different start-up plans, one for K-3 and one for 4-5; therefore we chose to have all students start with CDL to give teachers time to learn and implement the Canvas system before dealing with in-person learning and logistics.
The district felt it would be beneficial to have more time to finalize all our safety protocols in our COVID blueprints at each school.
- The district had no idea it was going to be so hard getting these county COVID numbers down to an acceptable level. We were going well at the time of the decision. Since then our Klamath numbers have skyrocketed.
The district does have some students coming in now for some limited in-person learning for special purposes. This does not, however, replace their comprehensive distance learning instruction.
The Klamath County schools have K-3 in-person learning happening two days per week per student since they chose to do this from the start of the school year. Despite the unfavorable metrics in Klamath County, It is easier to keep students in school once they have resumed in-person learning than it is to qualify to get them in school if they are not currently doing in-person classes (as long as the local health department approves, they can continue in-person learning despite the metrics). Additionally, some of their rural and remote schools have fallen under a lower metrics exception issued by ODE that allows them more flexibility to have in-person instruction for grades 4-12.
We are hopeful that this information is helpful to our families and wish to reiterate that our students and staff continue to be at the top of our priorities, just as they were when our original decisions were made.
10/12/20 Board of Education Meeting
MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020 6:00 PM
MEETING HELD VIA ZOOM
IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO REGISTER.
FOLLOWING YOUR REGISTRATION YOU WILL RECEIVE AND LOGIN & PASSWORD
If you do not register, you will be unable to join the meeting
If you wish to make public comment, please submit your remarks using the link below. All public comment submissions must be received no later than 12:00 PM (noon) on the day of the board meeting. Comments received after that time will be moved to the following month's agenda.
In-Person Learning Start Date Delayed
Due to higher than allowed COVID new case numbers in Klamath County last week, the district must delay in-person learning in our schools for at least three more weeks. Should there be three consecutive weeks of lower new COVID infections, the earliest students would return back to half-day in-person learning would be the week of October 26th. At this time, looking ahead, we plan to have students return to school on Wednesday, October 28th. Families would be contacted late Monday, the 26th or Tuesday the 27th, with definitive information as to whether or not in-person learning will begin on Wednesday, October 28th. Thank you for your patience.
Battle of the Books
The Klamath County Library is jumping in on the fun for the 2020-2021 Battle of the Books! This year will look a little different because the state organization is not able to hold official state or regional battles. They are networking with other students and librarians in the state to carry on the Oregon Battle of the Books tradition. The deadline to register is October 31st.
They are organizing teams for the 3rd-5th grade division and will be hosting online battles between local teams and other teams around the state. You don't need to create your own team to register. We are going to build the teams and we'll let you know what team you're on before we start. Anyone who attends school in person, virtually or at a home school in Klamath County and is in grades 3-5 can participate.
Click here to register: Klamath County Library's Battle of the Books Registration
Transferring from Comprehensive Learning to River Academy Homeschool or Vice Versa
Parents and Guardians, students may transfer to and from our district homeschool program, River Academy, at the end of the first six week period, which ends on Friday, October 16. Please contact your children's school if interested in this option.
Klamath Falls City Schools
Email: leepertaylort@kfalls.k12.or.us
Website: www.kfalls.k12.or.us
Location: 1336 Avalon Street, Klamath Falls, OR, USA
Phone: 541-883-4700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Klamath.Falls.City.Schools
Twitter: @kfcs_supt