Fall Planning Update – July 20, 2020

Good Evening,

I wanted to update everyone now that we have more information from the Governor, Maine Department of Education (MDOE), and Maine Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding fall plans for schools.  The Bangor School Department (BSD) will be receiving information from MDOE and CDC on July 31, 2020 regarding red-yellow-green categorizations of different counties across the state based on health metrics.  Once we have this information, we will reach out to the community again about Bangor plans and options for students and families.

It is premature to finalize and recommend any one plan at this point.  Rather, the BSD has been following the MDOE’s recommendation of drafting three options including remote learning, a hybrid option of some days per week in person and some done remotely, and in person with all days of the week at school.  Until we know the color categorization of this region, we will continue to work on the three options and are committed to doing our very best for students under any and/or all options.

The BSD has been working with a planning committee and thinking through each of the options as well as cleaning buildings and ordering personal protection equipment and safety materials. We also have had months to review our remote learning from last spring to learn what needs improvement.  We have reviewed input from over 2,400 parents on the parent survey and have also made contact with nearly every family in the Bangor School Department. All of this will help us plan for the fall.  Although we worked hard to do a good job last spring, we are preparing to improve and do an even better job at any one of or all three of the options simultaneously this fall to meet the needs of all students.

Here is a link to the draft reopening plan as well as a current offerings of summer programs in the region.  The draft plan will be shared with the School Committee this Wednesday for conceptual approval and then principals will be holding parent meetings by school.  If you have questions or concerns, please contact your school principal. Please know we realize as parents and families have more information, different plans may be necessary for your situation.

Sincerely,

Betsy M. Webb, Ed.D.