August 20, 2020
Dear Westwood Community,
Yesterday evening, I attended a special meeting for Dallas County private school leaders held by Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. His team has put together a recommendation which will be made public today. You will find that recommendation attached.
As of yesterday, Judge Jenkins cannot mandate the closing of private schools. This summer, Judge Jenkins mandated that all Dallas County schools begin the school year online and not meet in person until after Labor Day, September 7th. This mandate was challenged, and a written statement was released by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that gave private schools the right to make their own decisions concerning opening dates and school closings. This statement was later supported by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
At that time and after much consideration, I decided that it would be best to move Westwood’s opening by one week and to move forward with giving Westwood families the option to return to school in-person or to use online learning according to what they felt was best for their family. In light of these changing circumstances, I want this letter to communicate as much information as possible to our Westwood community so that you feel confident to make the best possible decisions for your family regarding your student’s return to school.
I have communicated with many, many Westwood families addressing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Every single community member has varying points of view - all of which are valid. As the Head of School, I am committed to supporting whatever decision each person makes. In yesterday’s meeting, Judge Jenkins was also clear that his only mandate as the County Judge is to give health risk factors. While he empathizes with families and their struggles, he does not have any answers to other pressing issues many of our community members face such as single family homes, dual working parents, the social and emotional well being of children and the difficulty of online learning for some students especially young children.
I would like to address some of the points made in the attached statement by the School Public Health and Education Committee.
- Music classes will not involve singing.
- There will be no theater performances this fall.
- Physical education will be conducted outside or in small groups following recommended social distancing.
The Westwood Team has made huge efforts to provide or follow recommended guidelines including:
- Mask mandates
- Upgraded air filters and daily and weekly cleaning
- Increased hand washing hygiene
- Staggered entry and schedules and different entrances
- Temperature checks
- Limited number of additional people in the building
- Rearranging classroom furniture to encourage social distancing even further
As the attached statement says, “it is certain that no plan will provide complete protection from infection with a coronavirus.” On a daily basis we all make decisions that could affect our exposure to the coronavirus including visiting family, eating at a restaurant, shopping, playing team sports, and whether or not to send our children to school. My son left only two weeks ago for his third year of college and his second year as a UT Jester Hall Resident Assistant. While I am confident that he will follow all appropriate guidelines, I also know that many college students will not. As a family, we made a decision that he should return to school for as long as he is able.
It is important as the faculty are planning for the upcoming start of school, that we know what choice your family makes. If you have already notified the school and do not plan to change your decision, you do not need to notify us again.
If you change your current plan, please follow this link to the Change Request Form:
We will make sure that your student is properly identified on roll sheets.
No matter what decision your family makes, we are all looking forward to the start of school. Every staff member in this school wants the best for your child. Children and their innate curiosity, their zest for the little things in life, and their promise of a bright future are why we chose to be educators. It is our honor to work with your children.
With great hope for a new school year,
Heather Lourcey
Head of School
The Westwood School
