Dear Grandview Heights Schools Students, Staff, and Families,
As a result of our high rates of student and staff absenteeism and inability to provide consistency with teachers in our hybrid model, Grandview Heights Schools will be moving to distance learning starting on Monday, December 14th. We will remain in distance learning through Friday, January 8th, and return to our established hybrid model on Monday, January 11th. This extra time will allow us to hopefully intercept any students and staff who exhibit symptoms during and after winter break to help circumvent COVID-19 positive spread and corresponding quarantining.
Our staff and administrators have done a remarkable job of pulling on the rope, covering classes for one another, and being creative in how we are using technology to provide continuity of instruction. We want our students physically present in our buildings and believe that is what is best for them, socially-emotionally, behaviorally, and academically, but now we have reached a tipping point. Unfortunately, with the staff absences caused by quarantine, we are unable to provide a seamless educational experience for students. Because of this, we believe it is in the best interest of both our students and staff to offer remote learning at this time.
The recommendation to move to distance learning for this period of time is not because we believe classrooms are unsafe. This decision is due to the impact staff absences have had on the continuity of instruction during hybrid learning. This “break” will enable us to reset our dashboard so that we will be able to return to our hybrid learning model on January 11th fully staffed.
FCPH officials reported a positivity rate around 19.6% up from 14.4%. The average number of new cases for Franklin County is approximately 626 down from 674 last week. This number, 626 per 100,000, represents the total number of new cases per capita for the two-week time period, not a daily average. Our local CATS data for our district boundaries is higher than what FCPH is reporting. Grandview Heights Schools current percentage of COVID-19 positive cases and quarantines can be found on the Health Services page.
As a reminder, if you or your child has any of the potential COVID-19 symptoms, please stay home and follow the FCPH protocol located on the Health Services page. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact your building principal.
Building principals, grade level teams, and your son/daughter’s assigned teacher will also be providing updates specific to your child’s grade level and building.
Sincerely,
Andy Culp, Superintendent