Meridian CUSD #15 - Notice of 4th Quarter Changes for the 2020-21 School Year
Parents and Guardians of Meridian School District Students:
The goal of the Meridian CUSD #15 Administrative Team and Board of Education is to provide students with the best possible educational environment while considering the numerous factors that play a part in this as a result of Covid-19. Ultimately, the district’s goal is returning our students, teachers and community to a more normal method of school operation that they have grown accustomed to. Paramount to this, then, is in person student attendance with an adherence to current guidance around safety precautions in place. With this in mind, the Meridian CUSD #15 in-person learning policy will be adjusted for the 4th quarter of the 2020-2021 school year beginning on Monday, March 15, 2021.
Given the fact that a large majority of students in our District are already attending school in-person, the COVID-19 vaccine is now available to teachers, and seeking to take the necessary incremental steps towards ensuring a normal school year in 2021-2022, along with providing the best learning outcomes for our students, remote learning will only be available during the 4th quarter of the 2020-2021 school year to those students in which any of the following scenarios are applicable:
Provide a Doctor's Note indicating that they have a medical condition that merits continued remote learning for a specified time period.
Produce documentation, or some acceptable verification otherwise, that they have contracted COVID-19 based on a positive COVID-19 test result from within the past 2 weeks.
Produce documentation, or some acceptable verification otherwise, that they have been contact traced and required to quarantine by their local Health Department for a specified time period.
Any student who meets one of the above criteria must have the necessary documentation on file, in the appropriate office, by the close of school on Friday, March 5, 2021. This will help our buildings to make the necessary preparations for those returning.
Any other scenario for remote learning in the 4th Quarter, outside of the above mentioned, will be addressed on a case-by-case basis by the Administrative Team. Please understand, it is the expectation of the Meridian School District that any student who does not meet one of the above will be an in-person learner. Remote learning will only be afforded, then, to a student who falls into one of these categories. Furthermore, remote learning will not be an ‘option’ where normal absences are concerned and buildings will begin to enforce more normal procedures and policies. While a student who is absent from school will be encouraged to utilize remote postings, they will still be held to the same standards and responsibilities as other in-person learners.
Adherence to any changes in daily school procedures, regulations around social distancing, masks, sanitizing, hygiene, and facility cleaning will continue in order to provide the safest in-person learning environment as possible. In addition, the district does not intend to have any remote learning days during the 4th quarter. 4th quarter dates, previously marked as “remote”, will now be altered. Specifically, March 17 will now be an in person attendance day and April 1 will be a regular day off of school.
The district will maintain its current building dismissal schedules with the following exception; during the 4th quarter, MES students enrolled in Kindergarten will begin attending full days to help prepare them for a normal 1st grade school day. Pre K schedule will remain the same as it has been.
Any further questions around these 4th Quarter adjustments should be directed to your building Principal or to Superintendent, Andy Pygott.