Superintendent's Message - July 08, 2020

  • A Message from Dr. Chris Lowder, Superintendent 07/08/2020
     
    Superintendent Lowder
     
    Our return-to-school planning teams continue to develop and refine their plans as we anticipate Gov. Cooper’s announcement for the 2020-2021 academic year. Keeping the health and safety of our students and staff top-of-mind, our teams are planning for one of three possible scenarios as indicated by the governor:
     
    Plan A – Return to in-person learning
    Plan B – Return at 50% (or less) capacity in buildings with numerous guidelines to protect the health and safety of students and staff
    Plan C – Return to remote learning
     
    Our work teams are considering options that cover a variety of areas which include: curriculum and instruction, transportation, whole child supports, school nutrition, KIDS:PLUS, athletics/band, and building and human resources protocols.  We will share our options for returning to school with the Cabarrus County Board of Education at its meeting on July 13th and will share our final plan as soon as we have clear direction from the governor.
     
    As we continue to monitor the data related to COVID-19 in our area, we announced some important changes and new opportunities that I would like to highlight:
     
    • Summer workouts for high school fall sports and bands have been postponed until July 20, 2020.
    • Wolf Meadow Elementary School will follow the traditional academic calendar for the 2020-2021 school year.
    • Our new Virtual Academy is a Program Choice option for the 2020-21 school year. The Academy will provide flexibility, personalized learning and enrichment for students. Students enrolled in the Virtual Academy will participate in blended coursework, mixing online courses with face-to-face sessions guided by certified K-12 teachers. We also named Ken Simeone as principal of the school. Applications will be available on July 14th .
     
    We are eager to welcome students, staff and the community back to our campuses. In order for that to happen, it is imperative that we adhere to health guidelines to protect everyone’s health and safety. Please make sure you are following guidance from health officials and following the 3 Ws:
     
    • Wear a cloth face covering.
    • Wait 6 feet apart and practice social distancing.
    • Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.
     
    Sincerely,
     
    Chris
    Chris Lowder, Ed.D.
    Superintendent