Superintendent’s Community Update, March 5, 2021
Dear Hastings Families, Faculty, Staff,
Yesterday, the School Reopening Committee reconvened to prepare for the return of all children to our schools on April 12th. After a brief preview, participants joined their school-based committee where building administrators organized them into Zoom breakout rooms to share recommendations, concerns, and solutions in the following areas: configuration of classrooms and other learning environments; effective use of barriers; personal protective equipment; ventilation and air exchange; outdoor learning; fresh air and mask breaks; remote instruction; surveillance testing; daily COVID health questionnaire; hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection protocols; use of the cafeteria; ingress and egress areas in schools; bus transportation and drop-offs; musical performances; theatrical performances; athletics; and extracurricular activities. This work will continue at the next meeting on March 10th from 3:20pm-4:20pm. After this feedback has been reviewed, the building administrators will prepare a pre-recorded presentation available on March 25th at 3pm to share changes or enhancements they are making in preparation for April 12th. Families may review the presentation at their leisure. After reviewing this presentation, questions may be emailed to Mr. Adipietro, Ms. Spirelli, or Ms. Cazes. Additionally, the Board of Education is holding a Board Work Session on March 15th from 5:30pm-7:30pm to review and discuss the recommendations, concerns, and proposed solutions shared by the school administrators. Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday. We appreciate your participation.
Unfortunately, hate-mongering has caused Asians and Asian Americans to become targets of verbal and physical attacks. Several community members have reached out to me to raise awareness about this issue. According to information from the Brookings Institution, “Since March of last year, there have been 3,000 self-reported incidents of anti-Asian violence from 47 states and the District of Columbia”. This is horrifying and must stop. We will not tolerate acts of hatred against any individual or group in our schools or on our school grounds. Every human being, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, culture, gender, or sexual identity, has a right to feel safe and be treated with respect and dignity. In our schools, we will review our current practices, raise awareness, and ensure Asians and Asian American students, faculty, and staff feel safe and supported.
As an ongoing reminder, we must continue to exercise caution and not let our guard down so our schools remain open. Please continue to complete the daily COVID health questionnaire and keep your child home if awaiting the result of a COVID test. Sending them to school will surely lead to further transmission and the quarantining of others.
Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this school year as various issues have emerged. The ebb and flow of this year, in particular, has tested our resolve, yet we’ve forged ahead.
I hope you have an enjoyable and safe weekend.
Sincerely,
Valerie Henning-Piedmonte, Ed.D.
