MURRAY

RETURN TO LEARN PLAN

This document is subject to change 8/5/2020

Good Afternoon Murray Community, I hope this finds everyone doing well!

The Murray School District intends to provide on-site learning for all students to begin the 2020-21 school year. There are a number of structure and routine changes that have been made to provide an engaging in-person learning experience for students, while also keeping health and safety at the forefront. The plan is based on the information that we have available now. It is likely that information will change over time. As conditions change, we will adapt our plan accordingly. With a little less than four weeks to go before the start of the school year, we need to make a decision. The challenge is making our final decision close enough to the start of the school year so we have the most current, up to date data available to us (and hopefully metrics that can guide our thinking). At the same time we need to be mindful of all of you, not too late in our decision making and thus catching everyone off guard.

The safety practices listed in this document were created utilizing the guidance provided by the Iowa Department of Education, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The main focus of this plan is to provide a safe learning environment for all students and staff of the Murray School District. The safety of our students, staff, and community is extremely important to the district.

Attached you will find four documents. The first is to help with evaluating sick students and staff and identifying close contacts for COVID-19. The second talks about community transmission and how with guidance we will move from one plan to another if necessary. Both of these documents have come from the Iowa Department of Public Health to provide guidance for our schools. The third document is our current version of our return to learn plan here at Murray. You will also find the 2020-2021 school calendar for your reference.

We appreciate the grace and understanding you have shown as we try and work through this process.

Ken

Click the Following Links for Details

Return to Learn Evaluating Sick Students/Staff Community Transmission

• 8/06 2020-21 Murray School Academic Calendar

• 8/03 Parent/Guardian Information for Preschool Round-up

-Preschool Round-up will be Monday, August 10th

-Parents/Guardians need to sign up for a time slot by emailing the preschool teachers. -Please include both teachers in your email.

-The time slots are:

• • • 10:00-11:00

    • 12:00-1:00

    • 3:00-4:00

    • 4:30-5:30

    • 6:00-7:00

-You will need to send your first and second choices of times to attend, as well as the names of all individuals attending.

-In an effort to be safety conscious, we are limiting it to 6 families in each time slot. Time slots are first come, first serve.

-Only the parent(s)/ guardian(s) and the preschool child will be able to attend (again, in an effort to limit the number of people in the building at one time).

-If you are not able to attend round-up on August 10th please contact the preschool teachers via email immediately.

-Parents/Guardians will be filling out paperwork while the children explore one of the preschool classrooms with the teachers. The preschool associates will be in the elementary library with parents/guardians to help with any paperwork questions.To complete the preschool registration paperwork, please bring:

• • Copy of birth certificate

  • Current physical exam (including lead test)

  • Current immunization record

  • Current dental exam

  • Please note, you still need to complete registration online or in person on August 11th for your child to be able to attend preschool this fall.

-Please park in the student lot of the south side of the building. You will enter through door #5 (enter through preschool playground gate, and walk up the ramp to find door #5).

• • Please wait in your vehicle until the door is open; this will help us monitor the number of people inside at one time.

-We understand that this is short notice, and we apologize for any inconvenience. We have been waiting for final state guidance, as well as district level decisions so that we can ensure this is done in the safest way possible for our children and families. We are excited to meet you and your child, and look forward to seeing you all on Monday, August 10th!

-To sign up for your preschool round up time, as well as any questions, please contact the preschool teachers via email: jrhoads@murraycsd.org AND afoertsch@murraycsd.org. Thank you!

• 7/29 Notice to parents of Kindergarten, 7^th and 12^th grade students. These 3 categories of students have required shots to attend school. Clarke County Public Health is doing weekly Wednesday clinics for immunizations. Appointments are required. They will be doing a late clinic open to 7 pm on August 19^th and one tonight for families who need a later clinic. They WILL NOT be doing any walk in shots on the first day of school. If needed, you will have to schedule for their Wednesday clinic that week.

• 7/22 Greetings! Murray CSD is asking for feedback from our families as we plan for the upcoming school year. The district’s leadership team is currently working on completing our plan for returning students to school for the start of the 2020-21 school year. Our team will use feedback collected in this survey as they put together the school reopening plan. As we continue to receive guidance from the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa Department of Health regarding returning to school this fall, it is imperative that we gather your input and feedback. We have been told the Iowa Department of Health will be coming out with further guidance on August 1st. This will enable us to prepare a series of plan options and contingencies. We fully expect plans to evolve and adapt over time as further guidance becomes available.

Your responses are critical in assisting us in planning to safely reopen schools in the age of COVID-19. Our number one priority is to ensure students and staff have healthy learning and working environments.

The survey is only open July 22-25. Please fill out one survey per household. Thank you in advance for your time and assistance!

Ken Kasper (Superintendent)

Jarrett Belden (PK-12 Principal)

Here is the Parent Survey Link https://forms.gle/9ibUTBPMsKsbjSGF8

• 5/19 JR High/ High School CLASS REGISTRATION

Now is the time to pick your classes for next year. You will have to sign in to JMC to select your classes for next year. Check out the video for instructions and the course list below. Then go to JMC and pick your classes.

Video tutorial click HERE

Course handbook click HERE

• 5/6 The Murray Community School District would like to take this opportunity to thank Alan Miller for his service to the district. As you have probably seen by now, Mr. Miller will be leaving us in June after 11 years of service to our school. Under his leadership, our district has made significant improvements in facilities, technology, and finances. We will miss him and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

With change comes new opportunity, and we are proud to introduce Ken Kasper as our new Superintendent. Ken has been at East Union for two years and will be shared 50/50 between the two districts starting July 1. Please watch for future announcements of a Meet & Greet to be held as we get closer to the new school year.

The Murray Mustang Family has a proud history and we are excited for our future!

• 4/20- The Murray Plant and Flower Sale will be done online this year with drive-through pick-up. The link to order and for additional details including pick up information can be found HERE.

• 4/14- Following the announcement earlier today from Governor Reynolds, Murray Community Schools will be closed for the remainder for the School year. Spring sports are also cancelled. Distance learning will continue per classroom teacher schedules. For more information on classroom teachers Office Hours please check the Distance Learning page.

• 4/15- REMINDER-Murray Lions Scholarships are to be in the school office by Friday, April 17, 2020, 3:30pm. These may be scanned & emailed to: dgray@murraycsd.org Any questions should be sent to Ms. Wood ewood@murraycsd.org

• 4/10- Lots of news this week for Murray Students and Parents

  • Chromebooks will be made available for all students pk-7th wanting them for distance learning, to get one come to the school with a parent or guardian beginning April 16th

  • Murray School is offering grab and go lunches for students and siblings until April 30th. Lunches can now be picked up on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30-10:30 AM beginning April 14th THIS IS A CHANGE IN PICK UP DAYS AND TIMES

  • We are in need of volunteers to help with student lunches if you are able please sign up HERE

  • Teachers are posting classwork and hosting class meetings for Distance learning. School work is also available through take-home packets. See the Distance Learning Page for more details

  • Pre-K Roundup originally scheduled for Friday the 17th has been postponed check back later for more details

• 4/3- Following the announcement yesterday from the Governor, Murray Community Schools will now be closed through April 30th, Garb and Go meals will be available from the school. In addition all teachers have assignments and work available on their class websites and Google classroom Sites. We will keep you informed as we work through the new state guidance.

3/21- On 3/19 The City, County, local officials, and medical professionals came together to discuss, in a Town Hall meeting, the impact the Coronavirus and COVID-19 is having on the community. Below is the link to the video of the Town hall. https://osceolaia.net/town-hall/

GreenHills AEA has opened some resources to students and families so learning can continue check out the resources HERE

3/16- Based on Governor Reynolds recommendation, Murray Community Schools will be closed Monday 3/16 through Friday 3/27. There will be no access to the building. Additional information about access and duration will be shared at a later date. Also, Iowa high school Unified Activities partners: the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, the Iowa High School Athletic Association, the Iowa High School Music Association, and the Iowa High School Speech Association. Has suspended a number of events and schedules have changed. More information and schedule updates will be provided as they become available from each of the activity organizations. Please see the link below for more details about events through the Iowa High School Unified Activities partners.

https://www.iahsaa.org/march-16-2020-school-closures-suspend-iowa-high-school-spring-activities/

Murray Elementary has received an Exceptional Rating for the State Educational Report Card, We are also being nominated for the Federal National Blue Ribbon Award that is given to the 336 Schools from the US Department of Education. All schools listed as Exceptional can be found here

The board has published new policies regarding public forum and comments during meetings. For more information click here