To our Leon County Schools families—



The safety and well-being of every student will always be our number one priority. We have been working around the clock for the past months to provide you options to best return your child(ren) to school. As we move forward to the 2020-2021 school year, I want to share important information about the Re-Open Leon Schools Plan (see the plan here: https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2f%2f%2fwww.leonschools.net%2freopenleon&c=E,1,Aj0UqNPpDYIbadSrO5CTEkyPlcyns2Z37lEr-msk3M8bOA2qkwhGAX3UwCBLcP5eO6KT7KrqmxgoE7nGSMT3KEhqWlyUwFtXAWLJPcLIwJOZm307f3su_w,,&typo=1<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.leonschools.net%2freopenleon&c=E,1,aHFQCSRz-P9lQ9Qpr1n9w-9hE7KIGrs1qijsy_VwH5ES6rdVgIEk0oJ3NVDdkHlovZH8St28TOPLZ6_fBpnlJdr7y9Sc6QZ5lzbbcOIPKlbjn0i74g,,&typo=1>.)



Over the course of the past several weeks, District Leadership sought input from a variety of sources: the Re-Open Leon Schools Task Force, the Leon County School Board, the Leon County Department of Health, other healthcare professionals as well as considerations from students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members. From that feedback, we created the Re-Open Leon Schools Plan and the Health and Safety Guidelines.



Re-Open Leon Schools Health and Safety Guidelines

The Re-Open Leon Schools Health and Safety Guidelines were created in coordination with the Leon County Health department. The guidelines will remain fluid in order to adapt to any changes or mandates issued by the State, or to better adhere to any CDC updates. Any changes to the LCS guidelines will be communicated to schools and families and will be reflected on the Re-Open Leon Schools website (https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2f%2f%2fwww.leonschools.net%2freopenleon&c=E,1,kR-4xI-gKA2TjgtOXurOqFj9xrex3DanNl1EBSpH6pXLcylMZ85f11DsDxxp8oWjcaR7UAuEvftWXpnYKE4bx42JnJtv-vCqr1r2bIZIxmBzU80,&typo=1<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.leonschools.net%2freopenleon&c=E,1,p9ejLzPwo4mMtf-5A8epukvcuhgq6LJ0bLuKGE3HZfxOVDeVr3DKdMEv3gJgv9pGOGVAfU12uMI0VHLg7m-7vu2FOR6ly41cGo_0GTb18IU17x6tBQ,,&typo=1>).



The Timeline

We are requiring our families to commit to one of the three educational options for their children/students for the fall semester of the 2020-2021 school year by July 13.<x-apple-data-detectors://2> After that, schools will be reaching out to the families that have not indicated their commitment. Our goal is to have confirmed feedback from all families in order to begin the staffing and scheduling process. To access and complete the Educational Commitment form, parents/guardians will need to sign-in to their FOCUS parent portal account and complete a form for each student in their household.Directions for that process are on the Re-Open Leon Schools website: https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2f%2f%2fwww.leonschools.net%2freopenleon&c=E,1,xXPjiyoMwIEQ46vv6Hd5D6zXSPV0pninc9NIjXYj3qcBCJrfGLVL6SyTJln9zO7AdWOgepmDQJ1STuErKg2v-A1MfsIA4wgAv04UxWcvGUJy&typo=1<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.leonschools.net%2freopenleon&c=E,1,apPx2qRzG_yjobikjLDv-WqjKdFkReKkdPOoWelm9NTd1L-GGIWPDiGdLh5OwsekJrj2zhzAhzT8qhCTmOKVNXkX-N_EaJ-JuvFh_gxMKNPZyZFO1oHbsQ,,&typo=1>



This will be a semester-by-semester commitment. Please note that ALL of our students, regardless of which option you choose, will be assigned a digital device—a Google Chromebook—for the school year.



Traditional (Face-to-Face Classroom Instruction)

At this time, based on the information I have today, we are requesting School Board approval that August 19<x-apple-data-detectors://5> will be the first day of school for students, with the Re-Open Leon Schools Health and Safety Guidelines mentioned above in place. Schools will be implementing physical and social distancing measures to best fit the needs and spaces of their school. Masks will be required during transportation and transitions, and when social distancing is not possible.







School Based Digital Academy

Each LCS student will have an option of attending their enrolled school as a digital academy.

▪ Every Leon County School will have their own Digital Academy that is unique to that school community.

▪ A student’s learning and instruction takes place online with teachers from their school.

▪ The student maintains school site enrollment and pacing.

▪ A Digital Academy Parent Resource website with information and answers to frequently asked questions: https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2f%2f%2fwww.leonschools.net%2fDigitalAcad&c=E,1,O8x7SCqAVRjQy3lkTOBCZT023DCCi72r5mgepnaScJxJ_DKOeY7lxx7W2PE0uQMttu7OHS2SdEvh4b78FDe-vUg566ommjRL0IS5YzinjR2odUxF4yKcqVgz8A,,&typo=1<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.leonschools.net%2fDigitalAcad&c=E,1,vU5BI1F8VeJX1wicLjfngV276_kFS8j5fVZHe0vgKXSD-owCdDqiHordjDq_6S1pT5gRkdbwbJz_h0lL5Ay9T22jXv4l8mKAlZMJnJR67ymp2FlTHzTDEQ,,&typo=1> will be available starting July 2 at 6 p.m.<x-apple-data-detectors://7>

▪ For more information about your individual school’s Digital Academy, visit the school’s website and click on the “Digital Academy,” tab (available July 6<x-apple-data-detectors://8>) or contact your student’s school with questions starting July 6.<x-apple-data-detectors://9>



Leon County Virtual School

Leon County Virtual School is a franchise of the Florida Virtual School system and is considered a separate school in Leon County for middle and high school students. It is staffed by Leon County Schools’ teachers, but adheres to a curriculum developed by the Florida Virtual School system. For more information about Leon County Virtual School visit https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2f%2f%2fwww.leonschools.net%2fvirtualschool&c=E,1,kjcNbww1h61NwFmtrfEXlH5Xp0pJfacRBEXUjju_YB6V3y0a3RIA_xCWgt6cWa_7_nhL6uZBAxvivzy1baWZddYMSl4_j77Mm7YSWxpCMwYWHy2LsQfbA1K3T8k5&typo=1<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.leonschools.net%2fvirtualschool&c=E,1,r_kjxZmrmlq0btGWb1GzbxJ5zrHtTnCGr9NXqbEqtsLLv3K5DTizovGMk5C1I2qM20W_Dpi5tT8HoHZhERu6hvVxhtbHsnAWB1R-bwHCmRXJyaA,&typo=1>.



These are unprecedented times for all of us. Never have we faced a new school year with all the different variables as this one presents. However, I have every confidence in my Leadership team, principals, teachers and staff to do their very best to provide a safe and successful school re-opening. Thank you for your continued compassion, flexibility, patience and grace as we move forward together into the 2020-2021 school year.



Sincerely,

Superintendent Rocky Hanna





Sent from my iPad

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*SUNSHINE LAW AND PUBLIC RECORDS CAUTION: Florida has a very broad Public Records Law. Virtually all written communications to or from School Board of Leon County, Florida Personnel are public records available to the public and media upon request. E-mail sent or received on the LCSB system will be considered public and will only be withheld from disclosure if deemed confidential pursuant to State Law. Individual student records are deemed confidential.