School Committee Update 12/11/20

On behalf of the Hanover School Committee, we hope this message finds you and your family in good health, and we wish you joy and peace this holiday season.  As you may be aware, the School Committee has been working on plans to bring more of our students back for in-person learning at the earliest opportunity.  Of course, this will require close evaluation of all health and safety protocols to move forward, and our health services staff is working on these daily.  To learn more about the current data regarding COVID-19 cases in Hanover, and the protocols we are presently using to monitor and manage positive cases and quarantines, please read this letter from HPS Director of Health Services, Patricia Smith: Health Services Update December 11, 2020.

During our School Committee meeting this past Wednesday (December 9th), the Committee read and released a statement about the process we use to make informed decisions about managing COVID-19 cases as a district, and information about our plans moving forward in order to bring more students back for in-person learning when it is safe to do so.  Many parents have been asking about our plans, and this statement is the most current information that the Committee has to share.  We encourage you to read the Committee’s message, and more information will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.  Please be assured that we will be carefully monitoring the local trends of COVID-19 cases, and working with our administration and health services staff as we evaluate and advance these plans.  The statement can be accessed at: School Committee Plans, December 9, 2020.

Prior to the holiday break, families can expect to receive a notice of intent form (via email) to provide notice to the District if you are planning for your child/children to participate in increased in-person learning when the plans are finalized, or if you are intending to enroll your child in the Virtual Academy at that time.  This notification process will be similar to the prior survey on this topic, but student information will be collected and we will use this data to inform student schedules, safety protocols, transportation issues, and resource needs for the Virtual Academy.  Additional information will follow next week.

Thank you very much for your time and attention to this message, and please have a safe and relaxing weekend.

Sincerely,

Leah Miller, Chairperson
Hanover School Committee

Matthew A. Ferron, Superintendent
Hanover Public Schools