Superintendent Andy Culp Details Next Steps in Community Letter, View the August 1, 2020, Special Meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ib-Rr-r5dk

Dear Students, Staff, and Families,

On Saturday morning, August 1, 2020, the Grandview Heights Schools Board of Education met and approved my recommendation to start the 2020-2021 school year in full-time distance learning beginning Monday, August 17.

For now, Grandview Heights Schools has moved to “Phase 1” of the OHSAA guidelines for all sports, which focuses on skills training in groups numbering 10 or fewer.  We will look to be creative and continue to offer extracurricular and band using technology and other strategies.  This area is rapidly changing and new guidance and recommendations seem to be released hourly.  We will continue to monitor these updates and communicate with our students, athletes, coaches, and families.  

These decisions are based upon the recommendations of the Franklin County Public Health (FCPH). A copy of those guidelines are attached.

Like you, I am deeply saddened that we will begin the school year in this way. But I also take into account that we must listen to our health experts to ensure our community remains healthy and safe. We are still hopeful that in person learning will happen this year, but that decision will be based on what the public health data tells us. 

We are not recommending a specific date in which to return to in person school.  Rather, we will continually reassess our ability to return to school in person based on the FCPH recommendations. 

I will be meeting with FCPH weekly, on Tuesdays, to gather updates regarding the most current data and will also be providing weekly updates to our school community.  It is our collective goal to have students physically back in school as soon as possible based on FCPH recommendations.  If students and staff are able to safely and physically return to school based on any new recommendations or criteria issued by FCPH, then I will communicate this information on a Tuesday and we will return physically to our hybrid model on the following Monday. 

Remote learning for the upcoming school year will look very different from last year when our schools had to close abruptly with little notice. Grandview Heights Schools has created an enhanced remote learning environment based on feedback from staff and families.  Each building principal will be sending out their updated schedule today or tomorrow for your review.  

We will follow up with all the families who have registered for Florida Virtual School (FLVS) to assess whether they want to remain in the FLVS pathway.  Families will have the choice of continuing to participate in FLVS or switching to our distance learning option.  Should we pivot to a hybrid model, we WOULD switch those families back to FLVS and/or a distance learning cohort by grade level if available.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. 

Sincerely,

Andy Culp, Superintendent