Dear Croswell-Lexington Community Schools Families:
First and foremost, on behalf of all the Cros-Lex District Staff members, we hope you are in good health and staying safe during this unprecedented time period resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic.
As a reminder, with Governor Whitmer’s executive order closing all public school buildings for the 2019-2020 school year, school districts are required to submit a Continuity of Learning and COVID-19 Response Plan, in order to continue to receive state aid funding for operations and compensation to our employees and contracted workers.
Although schools are closed and we are not permitted to provide traditional face to face in-person instruction, we are required to make every effort possible to provide remote learning instruction to students. To that end, the professional staff of Croswell-Lexington Community Schools has been collaborating with the District leadership to complete the Continuity of Learning Plan in accordance with EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-35. Districts are now allowed to begin submitting their plans for approval from their individual Intermediate School Districts (ISD).
The Governor has required each district in the state of Michigan to submit their instructional plan to the local ISD and then the plan is submitted to the Department of Treasury for final approval. In support of the Governor’s Executive Order 2020-35, the professional staff in Croswell-Lexington have put together what we believe to be a thoroughly drafted plan to support our children’s continued learning for the remainder of this school year. Although face to face in person instruction has ended, and we are required by the Executive Order to continue remote learning to our students, our dedicated professionals and support staff remain committed to make every effort possible to support our students throughout this COVID-19 Pandemic crisis.
Early next week, building principals and individual teachers will be communicating the next phase of the digital learning activity plan with families. I would also like to thank everyone for filling out the technology survey. Our Technology team has reviewed the results and the Middle School is now prepared to issue computers to 5th and 6th grade students who have no device option at home, or have special circumstances requiring they get a device.
Our Continuity of Learning Plan draft is for all students to access the digital learning platform. Students will need a device and internet access to participate in the Continuity of Learning Plan. At the elementary level, principals will be communicating with families who are in need of a device next week. If you find yourself in a different situation than you were when the survey closed and your child needs a device or internet access, please email your building principal. Alternative instructional plans will be available for those who do not have access to technology.
As part of our Continuity of Learning Plan, in addition to emails, phone calls, and Google Classroom, teachers will be using Zoom.com to connect with students. Providing a safe learning environment is always our top priority and after contacting the Zoom representatives they have confirmed our version is secure.
All Cros-Lex teachers will be participating in Zoom training so that they are familiar with the platform and the security requirements set by the district to ensure a safe and secure learning space.
All guests including students are placed into a waiting room before entering a meeting. The host (teacher) must admit each guest before they are able to interact in the Zoom meeting.
By default, only the hosts (teachers) can screenshare during the meeting. The host (teacher) must manually change this setting during the meeting to enable screen sharing.
Disruptive guests (students) can be removed from the meeting by the host (teacher). They will not be able to reenter that meeting.
Finally, I want to acknowledge with a genuine sense of thankfulness all our food service employees and staff members who are working tirelessly providing meals to our students and families. I also want to thank our custodial, maintenance, and ground(s) staff for their commitment to supporting the food service program, as well as keeping up with the maintenance of our facilities and grounds. No words can adequately express my thankfulness to each of these wonderful Cros-Lex staff members, who truly serve as a model of service to others, especially in these times of need. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Daniel Gilbertson
Superintendent