COVID-19 Closure for Remainder of Year

DCSD Closed for In-Person Learning for Remainder of Year
Posted on 04/03/2020
Coronavirus School ClosedToday marks the completion of our first full week of remote learning. I hope you and your family are finding a bit of a routine and normalcy during this time.

I want to share with you that I, along with 13 other school district superintendents across the Front Range, have collectively made the difficult decision to keep our schools closed to in-person learning for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Click here to view the collective letter from myself and these 13 additional superintendents.

This closure includes all in-person instruction, athletics/activities, BASE (before and after school care), preschool, outdoor education, DCSD sponsored field trips/camps, and facility rentals.

A significant consideration in making this decision today is that many models currently show that the impact of COVID-19 is likely to peak in the last week of April. Even once COVID-19 reaches its peak in Colorado, we know that there will be an equivalent amount of time after the peak in which the virus continues to pose a significant threat. The continued safety and public health risk this presents for our students, staff, and families moves us to take the step of extended closure to in-person learning through the balance of the school year.

I participated on a call this morning with Governor Jared Polis, Colorado Commissioner of Education Katy Anthes, and many area school district superintendents. During that call, Governor Polis acknowledged that having students continue with remote learning for the remainder of the school year eliminates yet another transition for our students.

Please know this was not an easy decision and we recognize the impact this has on our families. However, I feel this is the best step for us to take as a school district and a community. With this extended closure, Monday, April 6 will be a teacher planning day with no student assignments or classes. If your child attends a DCSD charter school, please check in with your child’s school.

DCSD will continue with remote learning through the end of the school year. As I shared with you yesterday, the DCSD Remote Learning Plan (printer-friendly version download here) is now available and I believe it will answer many of the questions you may have. This plan includes details on grading, attendance, hours students should spend learning online each day, and more. Additionally, there is a Remote Learning Frequently Asked Questions page on the DCSD website. We will continue to update this page as needed.

My communication earlier this week included details on continuing our free breakfast and lunch for anyone 18 years and younger, the waiver of community service hours for 2020 graduates, technology access during remote learning, special education services, mental health resources, prom, and more. If needed, please reference my April 1 communication, or visit our website at www.dcsdk12.org/coronavirus for updates and resources.

Our Class of 2020, and other milestone student celebrations are of utmost importance and we are looking into options for high school graduations, as well as other K-12 student celebrations. I will share more information on our plan as soon as it is available.

This is an unprecedented situation we find ourselves in and I encourage you and your loved ones to continue following the advice and guidance of our healthcare professionals. As I mentioned above, COVID-19 is expected to peak in our area during the last week of April. Please remember to avoid playgrounds, athletic fields, ballparks, tracks, etc. located on DCSD property, and follow the Stay-At-Home executive order issued by Governor Polis.

Most importantly, please remember to take care of one another during this time. We are in this together and we appreciate the strength of our DCSD family. For the latest information, resources, and more, visit www.dcsdk12.org/coronavirus.

Thomas S. Tucker, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Douglas County School District
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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).