UPDATE: The issue with the Schooling Options Form link has been fixed.

Aug. 14, 2020

Dear KCSD families,

The district has been monitoring the state and county health metrics and holding out for favorable data to bring students back to school. If both state and county were to meet those metrics, we would be able to return to In-Person Instruction. If not, we would need to follow the Comprehensive Distance Learning Model. Unfortunately, both the state and county did not meet the required metrics for in-person instruction.

Klamath County School District will start the year under the state’s Comprehensive Distance Learning Model. This means some of our students will begin the school year learning at home, participating in online instruction with their classroom teachers. For families who have enrolled in Great Basin Homeschool Center or for KCSD Online, you will receive information from those programs. This message is for those wanting to return to school (the "Hybrid Model" option on our Schooling Options Form).

Comprehensive Distance Learning

This learning model has become complicated with new changes from the Oregon Department of Education. To best understand this model, let’s begin by stating that students will learn from home with their classroom teachers delivering instruction. However, there are exceptions based on a county’s health metrics. Klamath County’s health metrics at this time will allow us to bring back certain groups of students to school under strict conditions. Our county has met the “exception” metrics for two weeks in a row and likely will this week as well. Because of this, our current plan is not a one-size-fits-all.

The following student groups will start the school year with comprehensive distance learning at home with their classroom teachers:

• 4th-6th grade students at Henley, Ferguson, Shasta, Stearns, and Peterson elementaries

• 7th -12th grade students at Brixner Junior High, Henley Middle, Henley High, Mazama High, and Falcon Heights.

• K-12 students at Chiloquin Schools.

• Students with disabilities: These students will receive limited on-site specially designed instruction four days per week. District case managers/coordinators will contact families by Sept. 4.

The following student groups will start the school year attending school in person under the allowance for “exceptions.”

Exceptions (These allow certain groups of students to attend school in person)

Students who return to school will follow the hybrid AA-BB learning model.

• K-3 students: (All KCSD elementary schools, except Chiloquin Elementary.) These students will attend school two days a week and learn at home three days a week. (Chiloquin schools have selected to continue with distance learning at this time.)

• All rural schools with 250 students or less: (Keno, Lost River, Malin, Merrill, Bonanza, Gearhart, and Gilchrist.) These students will attend school two days a week and learn at home three days a week.

• Students with disabilities: These students will receive limited on-site specially designed instruction four days per week. District case managers/coordinators will contact families by Sept. 4.

The district will follow the Comprehensive Distance Learning Model and take advantage of the allowable exceptions until Oct. 9. We will monitor the metrics and announce our plans on how we will continue after Oct. 9 by Sept. 25.

Hybrid AA-BB Cohort Requests

Students will be assigned by their schools to AA and BB cohorts. AA cohorts attend school in-person Monday-Tuesday. BB cohorts attend in-person Wednesday-Thursday. If you want to request a specific cohort, please call your school. We cannot guarantee your requested cohort, but will do our best to accommodate you.

Back-to-School Dates

KCSD will implement a soft start to the school year Aug. 31, with instruction for students beginning on Sept. 8. Here’s how that will look:

• Back-to-School Week -- Aug. 31-Sept. 4: Schools will contact families to set up times to pick up Chromebooks and schedule parent training sessions on the devices and on Schoology, our distance learning platform. Note: The district has ordered enough Chromebooks for every student, but due to high demand across the world, some of the order will be delayed.

• First day of instruction – Tuesday, Sept. 8: Classes start on Tuesday, Sept. 8: This will be the first official student instruction day, whether distance learning or in-person hybrid. Students who are returning under the AA-BB hybrid schedule will be contacted by their school with details.

To enroll in a schooling option and update your registration:

• Online: Go to www.kcsd.k12.or.us or your school website to review your options. Click on the Schooling Options Form link and follow the directions. You will need to fill out a form for each of your students. Parents need to fill out this form even if they already took a survey through their school. You will receive an email confirmation letter when you are done. To review and update your registration, use your eSchool Home Access Center on our website.

• By phone or on-site by appointment: Starting Aug. 14, parents can review and update their student’s registration and fill out a schooling options form by calling their school.

Food Service

This fall, all students enrolled in the Klamath County School District (includes KCSD homeschool and online programs) will receive free meals at school and through our grab-and-go program.

Grab-and-go meal plan for distance learners:

• All KCSD schools will provide free meals (three breakfasts, three lunches) from 11 a.m. to noon every Tuesday and Friday starting Sept. 1. (Our current program continues through Aug. 31.)
• The district will continue to deliver grab-and-go meals on Tuesdays and Fridays to more than 40 sites around the county. Look for information about updated times and locations in late August.

• Grab-and-go meals for students attending school will be consumed at school. Breakfast will be picked up at the entry points of school buildings and be eaten in an area designated by the schools. Lunch will be in clear bags. Every item will be packaged. Students who eat meals at school will be in cafeterias with their cohorts (in groups of less than 50) following social distancing guidelines.

Thank you for your patience. We are excited to see our students in a few weeks, whether they enter our classrooms virtually or in person.

Sincerely,

Glen Szymoniak

Superintendent

Klamath County School District