On May 8, Mercer Island School District (MISD) superintendent Donna Colosky shared a letter with the community updating families on graduation, summer school, the upcoming school year and more.
Like school districts across the country, MISD has adjusted its typical model in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
“I am so proud of how we as a public educational system have responded to the pandemic,” Colosky wrote. “All of our employees have embraced learning new skills and have moved forward with compassion.”
Summer school
In her letter, Colosky said that for summer school, the district is planning on remote learning and/or a “hybrid” learning environment that could potentially involve small groups meeting if health guidelines permit.
Colosky said that K-5 Keeping Pace services (summer school) wouldn’t be offered as a replacement for a third trimester for students. Instead, students who were “behind or deficient in skills” before COVID-19-related closures will be targeted.
“These students are the same ones we have always worked to support in previous years,” Colosky wrote, adding that families can expect Keeping Pace to be offered in July and to receive letters on July 8.
In recent years, Colosky said, a 6-8 middle-level summer option hasn’t been offered because of a lack of demand and interest. For 2020, Colosky said that Islander Middle School (IMS) and Learning Services are considering it, and that the services would resemble the K-5 model.
Summer school for students grades 9-12 will emphasize students who don’t have enough credits, students in need of credit retrieval and students who are on track to receive an “incomplete” for the spring 2020 semester.
Coloisky added that health and P.E. options are limited based on staff availability.
Graduation
Mercer Island High School (MIHS) families and students have been surveyed about preferred alternatives to graduation, which is still scheduled for June 9.
Colosky said that an MIHS committee has also been meeting weekly to talk about alternatives. Taking survey results into consideration, a decision has been made to offer a “hybrid of an in-person, drive-thru distribution of diplomas and a virtual ceremony.”
Colosky clarified that this decision is based on health and safety guidelines from both Gov. Jay Inslee and Public Health – Seattle and King County.
“I would like to thank our MIHS PTSA for taking the lead in planning a ‘Senior Send-Off’ for our 2020 graduates,” Colosky wrote. “This event would allow our graduates to get together as ‘physically’ as possible later in the summer when it is safe to do so.”
Upcoming school year
Colosky said the district does not know — as of May 8 — how schools will reopen in September in light of Inslee’s recent unveiling of a four-phase reopening of the state. But the district, Colosky said, is still planning for a number of scenarios.
The superintendent said the district has brought together a team that is working to identify larger considerations around essential services such as transportation, cleaning, health checks, classroom protocols, remote instruction and other areas.
This team will be identifying crucial district stakeholders to help further develop reopening plans and resolutions, Colosky said.
“We do not have all the answers yet, but we are committed to keeping our families informed as we make these decisions,” Colosky wrote, adding that families should watch for surveys through School Messenger requesting feedback.
Elementary families should be receiving a survey devised by teachers and coaches, with similar surveys for middle- and high-school families coming later on. The surveys circle around student experiences during the pandemic.
“Data gathered from these tools will shape both the way we engage with students and families this year as well as our preparation for 2020-2021,” Colosky wrote.
Other updates
Colosky highlighted that the district recently shared with the public its continuously updated District Continuity of Learning Plan, which covers online-learning plans.
The district hosted its first Fireside Chat on May 4. The recording can be found on YouTube. Colosky said the district is planning to use the platform for the rest of the school year as a way to communicate vital topics and relevant concerns to families.
To read the letter in full, go to the Mercer Island School District’s website.
