SCPS IMPACT
April 18, 2021 Edition
Message from the Superintendent
We completed our first week of expanded in-person learning successfully thanks to the collective efforts and teamwork of staff, students, and families! The excitement was contagious throughout the week.
Below are a few brief announcements and highlights:
Hybrid Student Four Day a Week In-Person Instruction
Return to Learn Addendum linked here.
Our COVID-19 Dashboard is updated daily and can be viewed in the Return to Learn section on each school’s website or by clicking this link: SCPS COVID-19 Dashboard. Also, on our webpage is a link to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Dashboard. This site provides data and statistics regarding COVID-19 positivity rates and cases per 100,000 by locality, region, and state.
Standardized Testing
It is important to note that our school board requested that a letter be sent to the Virginia Department of Education and the Federal Department of Education requesting standardized testing be waived for this school year. However at this time, Federal and State assessment testing will continue.
On March 23, 2021 Governor Northam updated Executive Order - 72 on preliminary guidance for safe in-person graduations and commencements. Over the past couple of weeks, our high school principals have met to review this guidance and discuss graduation options. After reviewing survey data regarding preferences in terms of an “in-person” or “individual” graduation ceremony we are pleased to offer the following options from the feedback received for students and families to select from:
- In-Person Graduation
- May 22, 2021
- In following social distancing protocols the senior class will be divided alphabetically. The first group of seniors will graduate at 8:00 a.m. with the second group graduating at 11:00 a.m.
- Should inclement weather be a factor in the morning we will move accordingly to a later time during the day. Either 2:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. If weather remains a factor for the entire day, we will then move our ceremonies to Sunday, May 23, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
- Individual Graduations
- May 24 - 28, 2021
- Students/Families who do not wish to participate in the in-person opportunity may select this option.
- Graduates will be able to choose their preferred time.
- Graduates may register through a Google Form that will be sent out from their specific high school.
- Questions relating to graduation ceremonies should be directed to your child’s high school administrator or counselor.
- This past Monday, April 12th, the school board held its monthly general meeting. At that meeting, we provided a number of special reports including updates on the Return to Learn Plan, Robert E. Lee renaming process and status, Food Service program, Local Career and Technical Education Plan, and Local Special Education Plan. The meeting agenda with attachments is linked here.
School Board meetings can be viewed online at https://www.regionalwebtv.com/spotsysb. Meetings are live-streamed. Recordings of each meeting may be accessed at the same link. Additionally, meetings may be viewed on cable channels: Comcast Channel 17, Cox Channel 18, and Verizon Channel 36.
On Tuesday, April 13th, the Board of Supervisors adopted their FY2022 budget. The School Board will meet on April 26th at 6:30 p.m. to hold a budget work session in preparation to adopt the school division FY2022 budget with the revenue limits that have now been set.
Please see the detailed calendar of additional dates critical to the process here: FY 2022 Approved Critical Budget Dates.
- We are offering various learning opportunities this summer for our students to participate in. Whether for enrichment or remediation, our Summer Institute is geared toward fostering connections and skill development. Information can be found by clicking on our division web page or by simply clicking the following link:
I hope that everyone is enjoying the beautiful and cool spring weather this weekend! As always, please let us know how we can provide assistance as we close out this school year. Thanks again for your continued support and partnership.
Sincerely,
Dr. S. Scott Baker
Superintendent of Schools
Spotsylvania County Public Schools
Email: webmaster@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Website: www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Location: 8020 River Stone Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Phone: 540-834-2500
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SpotsylvaniaCountyPublicSchools/
Twitter: @SpotsySchools