District News & Announcements

Hello SOMSD Community,

The District has been involved in mediation discussions with our teacher’s union, SOMEA over the past several days.  As of yesterday, after a more than nine (9) hour mediation session with SOMEA representatives, we have come to an agreement that will allow for a subset of our most vulnerable students to return to in-person hybrid instruction beginning on Monday, March 1.

Cohort C, Special Services self-contained and English Language Learners (ELL students across all grade levels)  and Pre-K students who have chosen hybrid-instruction, will return to school buildings for in-person instruction (following their pre-assigned cohort schedules) on March 1.  At this time the District will continue to operate under our current instructional schedule (i.e., class times as shared in our February 22 communication – https://bit.ly/3au0Xfp). Teachers for these students will report to school buildings to teach in-person.

This subset of Special Services, ELL and PreK families/students will receive a corresponding communication with additional information from the Office of Special Services as well as their School Principals.

The District is continuing mediation with SOMEA in hopes of having all students and staff return to continue Phase 3 in-person instruction as soon as possible.  Once again, we thank you for your patience and continued support as we seek to resolve this issue.

Educationally yours,

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools

Download:  Parent/Guardian Return to School Updates:  Wed., 1/13 District-Wide Asynchronous Day

January 11, 2021

Hello SOMSD Families,

Next week students will begin returning to our schools and classrooms for in-person instruction.  Starting today and tomorrow, teachers have the option of voluntarily returning to their classrooms to teach and begin classroom preparation.  On Wednesday, January 13, teachers will be back in their school buildings to teach virtually from their classrooms and to prepare for students returning for hybrid instruction.

In preparation for the implementation of our hybrid model, this week’s instructional schedule will have some changes.  See below:

• Wednesday, 1/13 – District-wide Asynchronous Day: No live virtual instruction will take place, self-guided student instruction will be provided via Canvas and may include pre-recorded video lessons, independent game-based learning tasks, or pre-assigned work/assessments.  
• Thursday & Friday, 1/14 – 1/15:  No afternoon conferences will be held, your child’s teacher will provide more information on your child’s schedule for this time.  

These modifications will allow time for teachers to reacclimate to their classrooms, learn new procedures and protocols for entering their buildings, test their technology and to begin classroom set-up for returning students.   The school-level schedules below provide additional details on the re-entry schedule.

More than 98% of  SOMSD  families submitted their preference for return to school instruction.  At the elementary school level (PreK – 8) the breakdown is:  64% hybrid / 36% virtual; at CHS the breakdown is 61% hybrid / 39% virtual.  In the hybrid model, most class sizes will average 6 – 10 students per class (possibly lower for classes that have smaller class sizes).  

Students will wear face masks while in school with appropriate breaks depending on the age as outlined in our reopening plan (gaiters, bandanas, and masks with valves are not permitted). Please review the District’s Return to School FAQs for reminders on face masks and other important questions: [https://bit.ly/SOMSDFAQS]

As shared in previous communications, Phase 3 re-entry will begin with hybrid students in grades PreK – 2, 6th and 9th returning in small groups starting on January 19; the following week, our remaining elementary and HS students will begin their return to in-person instruction.  See below for a detailed re-entry schedule for elementary, middle, and high school students for the weeks of January 11 – 25.

• Cohort A:  *Students by last name A-L, 2 days in person (Mon/Tues)
• Cohort B: *Students by last name M – Z, 2 days in person (Wed/Thurs)
• Cohort C:  ELL/Special Services Students, 4 days a week (Mon. – Thurs.)