MVCSD News Letter from Doug Tuetken 4/17
Maquoketa Valley Parents,
As your aware of by the time you receive this update, the Governor has determined that Iowa schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year. In my update to you earlier in the week, I stated that I would reach out to share some of our next steps going forward after the Governor’s decision. Those now include at this time:
- The continuous learning plan for our early childhood, primary and elementary children will remain the same. There will be literacy, math, writing and emotional/social learning that will continue.
- At these levels we have already been in the initial planning stages regarding offering some form of summer school session(s). Our start date will obviously depend when it will be safe to bring groups larger than 10 together. The number of children and number of days will be predicated on the number of teachers that will be available this summer to provide instruction. We will also be receiving guidance from the Department of Education and the Education Task Force about what is feasible for our summer re-entry plans. I ask that you are patient but I will continue to update you as soon as we have information from the State and what we can officially offer to our students this summer.
- At the Secondary level we will be exploring additional learning options for all of our students to possibly improve their 3rd quarter grades if they desire to do so. Mr. Osterhaus will be meeting with our teachers next week to develop options for our students. Again, we have to follow State guidelines and with the closure, we will be receiving additional guidance.
- The Director of Education , Dr. Lebo, has suspended all spring activities and athletics. Dr. Lebo will work with the Athletic and Activity Associations to make a decision on our summer activities later this spring.
- Mr. Osterhaus and I have been developing possible options and dates for Graduation, Dollars for Scholars, Academic Excellence and Prom. We will be meeting next week to develop plans to solicit input from our seniors and their parents before we finalize our options. Please know this has not been lost in the shuffle and we will disseminate this information as soon as we possibly can.
- As you may be aware, our August 23rd start date has been waived by the Governor. Please know that additional guidance will also be coming from the Governor and Department of Education over the next month regarding possible options that we may be able to explore with our instructors. We will not finalize our 2020 – 2021 calendar until we receive this guidance.
- Those students involved in Drivers Education will be contacted in the very near future about the online classroom instruction and driving opportunities.
- I was recently contacted by Dr. Samantha Fitzgerald who is the University of Iowa Mobile Clinic Education Coordinator. Dr. Fitzgerald’s clinic is now offering free online/phone medical appointments. Their services do not require patients to need insurance. The clinic is able to offer general health education, medication refills, discuss COVID concerns, Social Work appointments, and connect people with mental health counseling. Examples of treatments we can provide include management of preexisting conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes and treatment of acute, minor illness. In order to sign up, patients just have to call or text (319) 535-2684 or at mobileclinic.ui@gmail.com.
- On Saturday April 18th, the Delaware County Pay It Forward group is hosting a Give What You Can or Take What you Need for those who are in need or for those that are willing to donate food and supplies. This event will be held at the First Lutheran Church at 313 East Fayette Street in Manchester.
- Also if your family or if you know of a family that may need food assistance, please contact Delaware County Pay it Forward at 563-447-0099.
