Ashland School District
Inspiring Learning for Life
October 22, 2020 News & Updates
Ashland School District
Email: Catherine.Carne@ashland.k12.or.us
Website: ashland.k12.or.us
Location: 885 Siskiyou Boulevard, Ashland, OR, USA
Phone: (541) 482-2811
Facebook: facebook.com/ashlandpublicschools/
In this newsletter
- Superintendent's Update
- School Calendar Change - Last Day June 18
- Continuation of Distance Learning through Second Quarter - January 28
- Andrea Townsend, Director of Equity and Inclusion
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Resources
- Zoom Precaution - remember, we can see you!
- Athletics and Activities
- Nutrition Services - Free Meals Continue Through June - All Students
Superintendent's Message
Ashland Families, Students and Community Members –
We are close to successfully completing our fifth week of the school year after an unexpectedly late start. Between COVID, distance learning and the fires, I hope each of you and your families are faring well and staying positive. Our students and staff continue to inspire me with their creativity, adaptability and resilience.
I want to acknowledge the magnitude of what comprehensive distance learning means to families, parents and students. It is an incredibly challenging set of circumstances for everyone, including administrators, teachers and staff. It can be an economic hardship for families and a social/emotional and learning hardship for many students. It is our great desire to have students return to campus and classrooms and to do so safely. It’s better for families, it’s better for kids and it’s better for learning and connecting.
Jackson County COVID metrics have exceeded state targets for a safe re-opening since August. Based on the metrics, we will be continuing distance learning into the second quarter of the school year. Additional details are below. I am encouraged to see so many in our community following social distance guidelines, wearing face coverings and washing hands. These tools will aide in decreasing active cases of COVID and meeting the health metrics required for a return to campus. Together, we can reduce the number of cases in our area and help get us back to in-person learning.
I want to share my deep appreciation for the Ashland community and the outreach to families affected by the fire. I have heard and seen the difference in people’s lives made by the support, care and compassion shown to one another. The needs are still great and I encourage folks to continue giving where you can. I also want to remind us that in addition to the residential and business losses in Talent and Phoenix, all of the homes in the Bear Creek Estates on the north end of Ashland were lost. Some of these Ashland residents are still looking for places to stay longer term. If you know of any options, please email Christine McCollom at Christine.McCollom@ashland.k12.or.us
Each day, distance learning gets a little smoother for teachers and students. Hopefully, for parents and guardians as well. It is exciting to see the learning and ‘zooming’ going on across the district.
Now that school is back in session, my regular communication and important district news is going to be consolidated into this monthly newsletter. Our hope is this will streamline communication and ensure you get timely information. Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in our schools and for the partnership in serving students well. You make Ashland an amazing place to live and learn together. We are building better times now.
To clear skies and fall weather,
Samuel
Samuel Bogdanove
Superintendent
Ashland Public Schools
Pronouns: He, Him, His
School Calendar Change - School Year Extended for Students through Friday, June 18, 2021
The School Board approved extending the school year for students through Friday, June 18, 2021. The change was made to make up days lost after the Almeda fire.
With the change, Ashland High School will have a new start date for second semester and spring conferences.
K-8 schools are closed January 29 for teacher in-service. Spring conferences will be February 16th and 17th.
Ashland High School is closed February 5 for teacher in-service. Semester 2 starts February 8. Spring conferences will be held March 1nd and 2nd.
June 1st was a planned snow day and is now a full instructional day at all sites.
Continuation of Comprehensive Distance Learning for Ashland Schools
County health metrics in Jackson County continue to exceed the Oregon Department of Education Ready Schools, Safe Learners limits for safe campus hybrid instruction.
Ashland Schools will continue Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL) through the second quarter of the school year (January 29).
Our COVID Safety Team meets regularly to review safety practices and to assess county metrics for opening under current state directions.
Last week, our District Covid team met to look at state and county metrics to determine if our district could move to a hybrid model for instruction.
Criteria for Opening K3
The Jackson county criteria for opening in a hybrid scenario for students in grades K-3 has four components:
- No confirmed cases of COVID-19 among school staff or students in the past 14 days.
- The Active Case Rate in the county must be 30 or fewer cases per 100,000 in the preceding 7 days for the past 3 weeks.
- Schools fully comply with sections 1-3 of the Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance.
- The Test Positivity Rate in the county is 5.0% or less in the preceding 7 days for the past 3 weeks.
Criteria for Opening Grades 4 - 12
Criteria for opening in grades 4-12 are the same with one exception-The Active Case Rate in the county must be 10 or fewer cases per 100,000 in the preceding 7 days for the past 3 weeks.
Unfortunately, Jackson County continues to exceed the required Active Case Rate and Test Positivity Rate since August.
This means that we will continue with the Comprehensive Distance Learning model for another term, which ends on January 28th.
Our next date for considering an instructional model shift to a hybrid model will be January 11th, which could result in a change on February 1, if state and county metrics are met.
Re-Opening Metrics
- For a parent friendly display of how Jackson County is doing with re-opening metrics, click here.
- For a daily update of Jackson County COVID metrics, click here.
- For Oregon Department of Education Ready Schools, Safe Learners, click here.
- For the Ashland RSSL Blueprint for a safe reopening, click here.
- New - For active cases in schools, click here. This list does not include known exposures or presumptive (unconfirmed but likely) cases, or schools that have delayed in-person because of active cases or exposures.
Ashland School District Director of Equity and Inclusion
Hello! My name is Andrea Townsend, and I am the new Director of Equity and Inclusion for the Ashland School District. I am very excited to join this fantastic team and to begin collaborating with all of you.
I was born and raised in Santiago, Chile. I started learning English in college in my teaching program. My professors and mentors’ support has been invaluable to complete my schooling successfully and advance in my career. My passion is to work hard as a district to support all students, so they, too, have the opportunity to succeed.
Please contact me if you have questions or suggestions about any of these areas:
· Black Student Success Plan (partnering with Ms. Laroi and Mr. Richardson)
· English Learner Program
· Indian Education Program - SB13 Tribal History/Shared History
· Latino/a/x Student Success Plan
· LGBTQ2SIA+ Success Plan
· Migrant Education Program
· All Students Belong Initial ODE Guidance
I am here as a resource and an advocate for our school community regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). If you have suffered any form of discrimination or racism within our system, I want to hear about your experience so we can improve.
Our strategic plan goals are to 1) improve student achievement, 2) increase the recruitment and retention of high quality and culturally diverse staff, and 3) create and maintain a safe, welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment for all students and staff. If you have suggestions for improving equity, diversity, and inclusion in the district that could help us meet any of these goals, or if you would like to become a partner in supporting that work, please contact me at my email address below.
There several links below that support our work.
Sincerely,
Director of Equity and Inclusion/ Directora de Equidad e Inclusión
Ashland Public Schools/ Escuelas Públicas de Ashland
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers/ Pronombres: Ella, De ella
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Links
Black Lives Matter
The Ashland School District is very excited to share that last Thursday, the Oregon Department of Education, along with the following organizations, released to the public two new documents, a Black Lives Matter Resolution and a Joint Letter of Support for Black Lives Matter. The collaborating entities are:
o Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA),
o Oregon Education Association (OEA),
o Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA),
o Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA),
o Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA),
o Oregon Association of Education Service Districts (OAESD),
o Oregon Association of Student Councils (OASC)
These new documents support our first goal in the Ashland School District Equity Policy to “affirm the identity of each student and acknowledge and honor differences to create a sense of belonging for each student”, and our belief that “an inclusive and welcoming environment plays a critical role in supporting a child’s educational goals, which may differ from student to student.”
We encourage you to read these documents, unpack the information, and reflect on the positive impact this resolution has, particularly for our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students, parents, and school community members, but also for all of the members of our community.
The Ashland School District Board will follow ODE’s request to craft our resolution supporting Black Lives Matter.
We See you! Remember - you're on Zoom
It might be fun to help your student select a virtual background to avoid any embarrassing appearances.
FAQ for Two Household Families
Separations and divorce can be challenging for all involved. As a school system, we have the same priority as you, to ensure the well-being of your child. The guidelines below are generally true, although a custody agreement would supersede anything included here. There are unique circumstances that may take some problem solving. Contact your building principal with any specific questions.
Who can attend the student’s conferences?
Both parents can attend unless there is a specific legal restriction in place. This is true even in cases where one parent has primary custody or sole educational decision-making rights. There are times when a phone or video conference for one of the parents may be necessary.
My child’s other parent and I do not want to meet together. Can we have separate conferences?
No. Due to staffing limitations we are only able to have one conference per student. It is our sincere hope that both parents are able to meet together for the student’s conference. The teacher should not be put in the position of mediator or coordinator between parents.
Who receives educational communications?
Whoever has their contact information listed under parent(s) will receive communications. Both parents are entitled to be included on the registration information.
Who has access to my students’ educational records?
Unless there is a legal order specifically stating that one parent does not have access, both parents have access to records. This includes access to grades and attendance information as well as the ability to share information and speak to school personnel as appropriate. This would include access to PowerSchool.
We are currently in custody negotiations. I would like our teacher to testify on my behalf.
If you would like to have your child’s teacher testify, it will require a subpoena. Teachers are only able to share information that they have direct knowledge of. This would include attendance information and school performance. They are not able to provide opinions regarding custody.
Athletics and Activities - Brought to you by the YAAL - Thank you, Ashland
Exciting News!
Athletics
AHS has successfully opened practice for Fall sports including football and soccer. Teammates and coaches have all been trained and are following COVID safety guidelines including health screening, social distancing, face coverings and sanitizing. All that while still working up some serious sweat.
Teams are supported by an additional adult present to monitor safe practices. While competition is postponed for now, students are getting to train together and connect in a safe team environment. Go Gizzlies!
Activities and Clubs
It was a challenge to move some of our most popular activities and clubs to a distance model, but are seeing great success and growing engagement.
At AHS, Speech & Debate and Robotics are moving ahead to prepare for virtual competition seasons. The drama and music departments are working on virtual performances. Math Team and Scavenger Hunt will be happening this year. Email Karl Kemper for more information.
Student clubs are being arranged based on student interest. Students that want to participate in an existing club or start a new club should email Karl Kemper.
Even during distance learning, the Ashland YAAL and our amazing staff, students and families are keeping students connected in ways that matter - now more than ever.
Great Things Cooking in Nutrition Services
GREAT NEWS! The USDA Free Meals for all students has been extended through June 30, 2021!!
All children ages 0-18 years will be served breakfast and lunches at no charge.
While feeding children is our priority, family members will also be fed by request. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
Sign Up for Federal Free and Reduced Mails here.
Why is signing up important? Click here for a letter from our Director of Nutrition Services, Christina Lehman.
Family Meals
Family meal preparation at Ashland Middle School. Nutrition Services is currently serving 9300 meals a month - yummy!
Need more information? Want to see what's cooking? Check us out on Facebook here.