Blue Devil eNews

Reading Community City School District | September 2020

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Dear Blue Devil Families:


We are so grateful to have all of our students back in the building and to have our online students engaged and ready to learn. Thank you to our families for your patience with the new schedule and drop off and pick up procedures. Your students have adapted so well to wearing masks, maintaining distancing, and following good handwashing/sanitizing practices. All of these healthy protocols are critical to minimizing our health risks and keeping our students in school.


Many thanks to our teachers, counselors, administrative assistants, technology team, kitchen staff, custodial crew, and administrative team for their above and beyond efforts to reopen our district for 2020-2021.


No school on Monday, September 7. Enjoy the long weekend!


Jason Enix

Superintendent

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All Reading Students To Receive FREE Meals


Reading School District participates in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, which allows families to apply for free or reduced-price meals. The district received notification from the USDA that ALL Reading students will be eligible for free lunch and breakfast meals starting on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 through December 2020. Students who are attending in person or remotely are eligible for one free breakfast and one free lunch daily.


The district provides breakfast and lunch packs for all students, both remote and AM/PM learners. All meals will be “grab and go” and consumed away from school. Menus for the month will be posted on our Food Service Department page.


AM Session

At meal pick up, AM students will bring home lunch for the day and breakfast food for the following day. Both hot and cold meal selections will be offered. Two sets of meals will be provided on Tuesdays.


PM Session

Our PM learners will be able to pick up breakfast and lunch for the following day. All PM meals will be cold and must be refrigerated as soon as possible. Hot meal options that can be warmed up at home will be offered. Two sets of meals will be provided on Tuesdays.


Remote Learners

Packs of five breakfasts and five lunches for remote learners will be distributed each Wednesday at Reading High School’s front circle parking lot from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.


If you are currently on free and reduced status, you must still fill out the application for 2020-2021 as soon as possible. Please fill out a 2020-2021 free and reduced form if you have not received a direct certification approval letter.

Governor’s Orders on Sharing Positive COVID-19 Cases

On September 4, Governor Mike DeWine issued an order on K-12 schools COVID data reporting. In response to this order, the district will be posting a COVID-19 dashboard on our website that will include the number of new positive cases each week in our schools. We will post our data from the first week of school by Wednesday of next week. Then, every Friday, the COVID data tracker will be updated with the number of new cases reported for that week. This dashboard will be posted on the district website at www.readingschools.org.


When the District is informed of a positive case, we take the following steps:

  • gather facts of the case, including the identifying information of those students and staff who have had close contact with the case (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more).

  • Work with our health services and administrative team in coordination with Hamilton County Public Health to identify any close contacts at school and notify those parents and students.

  • Once all students and families are contacted, all District families and staff will be notified of any positive case via email. This data will be reflected in the weekly COVID tracker.


The flow chart below shows the specific protocols for what happens if a student or teacher has a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.

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Board Work Session Update

At the Board of Education work session held on September 2, construction and maintenance planning were discussed. Superintendent Jason Enix also gave an update on the new building project and ongoing punch out list items that need to be completed. The Board also discussed the fenceline bordering Thurnridge. A virtual meeting hosted by the architects and the district with Thurnridge residents is scheduled for September 28 to review issues and gather feedback.


Mr. Enix also shared the district's strategic planning now that the district has come together in the new building. The Board will be interviewing two organizations to lead these efforts and select one at the regular September meeting. The timeline/goal for completion of the plan is December 2020.


Click on the link below to review the Superintendent's presentation and the additional topics discussed at the meeting. There is also a link to the Treasurer's presentation about the district's finances.


Superintendent's Report 9/2/20

Treasurer's Report 9/2/20

Traffic Improvements Working

Traffic Improvements Working

In order to alleviate the traffic backups during arrival and dismissal, the district made the following adjustments to drop off and pick up procedures for our drivers. We implemented the new model on September 4, and the changes have already improved the traffic flow. We will continue to monitor and look for additional improvements.


Change 1: Staff Parking
We are moving staff parking to free up the middle parking spaces of the Blue Lot across from MND.


Change 2: RHS/RMS Arrival
Slight change - due to the staggered arrival observed, we are going to shift all traffic to use the front circle only. This eliminates arrival traffic going through the Blue Lot.


Change 3: RES Arrival
Parents may use the Blue Lot to park and walk students to the entrance of RES. Doors still open at 8:05 a.m and 12:15 p.m. Access to the Blue Lot is from the entrance on Bolser. Bolser entrance is now OPEN.


Parents may also drop off students using the same traffic pattern we are currently using. Cars must pull all the way around the back and pull up to the RMS entrance if arriving early. Students may exit cars when the building opens at 8:05 a.m and 12:15 p.m.


Change 4: RES Dismissal
Grades 3-5 will be dismissed at the end of the day. Families will be asked to park in the Blue Lot for pick up and students will use the sidewalk to find their rides.
Grades PK-2 will be dismissed by number to families. Families should pick up at the elementary entrance.


Change 5: RHS/RMS Dismissal
Exit out of the Blue Lot at dismissal is to Columbia Avenue only. You cannot exit at Bolser. Bolser is now OPEN for entering only.


We will continue to have staff members located throughout the lot to help direct traffic. Thank you for your patience as we continue working to improve our arrival/dismissal process for our families and community.

Traffic Improvements Working
Reading Community City Schools

Reading Community City Schools

Reading Community City Schools

810 East Columbia Avenue, Reading, OH, USA kblair@readingschools.org 513-842-5109 readingschools.org