Dear Dinwiddie School Community:

On September 28, we successfully implemented our Return to Learn Plan, allowing families to choose the method of instruction best suited for their situation and afforded flexible work options for teachers and staff members. Over the past four months, we have monitored the COVID-19 Pandemic Metrics provided by the CDC and secondary indicators (focused on staff and student safety/welfare; community needs; and attendance/exposure rates) equally crucial to our decision-making. I am proud to report that our staff and students have done a fantastic job implementing our Health Mitigation Plan. As a result, the 51 virtual and in-person positive cases reported since reopening were all connected to exposures outside our schools and offices.

To be clear, I know that I speak for all of our employees when I say that we want our schools to be fully open and all students to return.  However, we realize that it will not be possible until we can access the vaccine and see the risk minimized for our staff and students. The good news is that school employees are expected to receive the first vaccination by the end of this month.

Since reopening, our schools have been the safest places for our students to learn and our staff to work as we have seen no related cases. While that still is true, the most recent data suggests that this may not be the case for much longer. Currently, there is a widespread and increasing community spread, and we are now seeing an overwhelming number of students and staff members out for Covid-related illnesses and exposures.  These absences, normal seasonal illnesses, non-health-related leave requests, limited substitute pools, and worry about contracting and/or transmitting the virus, is straining and overwhelming our extremely dedicated but overstretched staff.

The School Board has entrusted me with the responsibility of our students’ and adults’ safety and welfare, and this charge is not something I take lightly. I have spent countless hours reviewing our trend data, meeting with stakeholders, listening to health specialists, and reading research to ensure that I have all the information I need to make the most informed recommendation possible.

On Tuesday, January 12, I will provide the School Board with an update relative to our current status and next steps.

If there is no improvement in our situation, I may recommend that all Dinwiddie County Public Schools temporarily return to virtual instruction. Should this be the case I wanted you to have as much notice as possible to make the necessary preparations to do so.

We all want in-person learning to remain an option for our families, but that can only happen if our staff and students’ safety and welfare is not compromised. You can assist in this endeavor by taking care of yourself, keeping all illnesses out of our schools and offices, and adhering to the restrictions outlined in Executive Order 72 to the greatest extent possible.

I am proud to learn, live, and serve alongside each one of you and thank you for your unwavering support of our beloved school community.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kari Weston