Communication: Family and Community Engagement

In late May, we formed our KL Reopening Steering Committee, comprised of four sub-committees focused on Academics, Health & Safety, Social Emotional Wellness, and Communication. More than 100 members of our staff joined these sub-committees to think about what would be necessary for an effective and healthy re-opening this fall. These subcommittees were comprised as follows:

While our sub-committees have continued meeting through the summer, we also formed an umbrella steering committee to study the State’s guidance and help us formulate the plan we will follow. We also met with a group of parents and students to gather feedback on our thinking as the plan was developing.

In July we invited our community to participate in a regional Thought Exchange to gather additional community input towards re-opening. The process brought together the thinking of staffs, communities, parents, and students from 14 local Districts. More than 14,000 people participated in the exchange in total. More than 1300 members of the KLSD community participated.

Additionally, in July, KLSD surveyed the community again to understand initial thinking and level of comfort with the idea of returning to in-person schooling and using school district transportation to travel to and from school. Families responded on behalf of more than 1900 students (there are approximately 3000 students in the District) to this most recent survey.

The Superintendent of Schools has sent weekly update to the community through the summer, to keep all apprised of the developing plans. The KLSD Board of Education engaged in a conversation about the plans on July 30, 2020.

All of our plans related to the health of students and staff have been reviewed by our District’s medical director: Dr. Louis Corsaro.

When school opens in September, significant time will be devoted to training staff and students about all the necessary health and safety protocols. The topics will include, but are not limited to the following:

• Social Distancing
• CDC and DOH guidance regarding Respiratory and Hand Hygiene
• CDC and DOH guidance regarding Face Coverings
• CDC and DOH guidance regarding use of other PPE when appropriate
• Travel about the school building
• Cleaning your personal space before and after use
• Spotting symptoms of COVID-19 in self and others
• Daily Health Screenings
• Arriving to and leaving from school

In addition to trainings, reminder signs on topics such as hand & respiratory hygiene and social distancing will be posted throughout our schools. Reminders will also be sent to students, staff, and families periodically and will be posted on our website in the KLSD Reopens section.

All website postings are available for translation into other languages. Targeted mailings home will be translated and at the start of the year, translated messages will inform families how to navigate and use our website in the preferred language.

Our Blackboard Connect messenger systems allows us to use email, text messaging, and phone calls to all of our families. In addition, our new Schoology learning management system will enhance and ease communication with students and families.