Oakcliff Elementary

Dekalb County Schools

3/24/2020 Updates from Mrs. Ramona Tyson, Interim Superintendent

To:               All DCSD Employees and Families

From:          Mrs. Ramona Tyson, Interim Superintendent

Subject:      COVID-19 Update #24: Governor Kemp's Executive Order 

Date:           April 1, 2020

I am trusting that you and your families are safe and healthy.  As we continue to combat the COVID-19 health crisis, it is necessary to make tough decisions that are in the best interest of our students and staff.  One of those tough decisions was announced during Governor Kemp's 4:00 pm news conference.  The Governor presented a new executive order that includes the closure of Georgia K-12 schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.  

This is a major shift from all previous announcements.  However, the nature of our current public health crisis requires that we take extreme measures.  The health, safety, and well-being of our students and staff continues to be a top priority.

This executive order will have major implications on our school district.  In the coming weeks, I will share more information with you as to the specific impact on the DeKalb County School District.  I commit to you that we will continue working for our students and staff and will do right by them.  We will have our traditional spring break next week.  There will be no digital learning or meal service during spring break.  On Friday, April 3, 2020, students will receive five (5) days of meals in addition to their Friday meal. This will ensure that our students have food during the week of April 6-10, 2020.  Our teachers have planned for instruction this week and will be ready to resume with digital learning on April 13, 2020.  Again, more information will be provided in the very near future.

Thank you for your continued support of the DeKalb County School District! 

 
 
 
 ----------------------------------------------------

From:          Mrs. Ramona Tyson, Interim Superintendent 

Subject:      Governor Kemp's School Closure Announcement

Date:           March 26, 2020

Attached Document:  3/26/2020 Governors School Executive Order3.26.2020.pdf

Today, March 26, 2020, Governor Kemp issued an Executive Order closing ALL Georgia public schools until April 24, 2020. Therefore, DeKalb County Schools will be closed through April 24, 2020 and will await further direction from the Governor’s Office and the Georgia Department of Education.

We will continue utilizing our digital learning platforms and tools to serve our students instructionally.  Our meal service to students will continue per published schedule.  Our employees will continue to telework.  Other essential functions necessary for district to operate will continue as well.

The Governor’s Executive Order is attached. [3/26/2020 Governors School Executive Order3.26.2020.pdf]

Please continue to visit our website at www.dekalbschoolsga.org.

Governors School Executive Order3.26.2020.pdf 
 
----------------------------------

From:              Dr. Vasanne S.Tinsley, Deputy Superintendent of Student Support and Intervention

Through:         Mrs. Ramona Tyson, Interim Superintendent

Subject:          Georgia Department of Public Health Seeks Volunteers

Date:               March 24, 2020

Document:     DPH PDF 

 

---------------------------------- 
Date: 3/24/2020 Update #22 from the Interim Superintendent (3/24/2020 PDF)
Memorandum To:        DeKalb County School District Families 

To: DeKalb County School District Families
From:
Mrs. Ramona Tyson, Interim Superintendent
Subject:
Instructional and Related Services for Students with IEPs and 504 Plans
Date:
March 24, 2020

Due to the serious nature of the current COVID-19 outbreak, the DeKalb County School District
(DCSD) closed schools March 16, 2020 until further notice and instituted Digital Learning Days
(DLD) for all students. Teachers are providing students with virtual learning assignments that are
content-specific and relevant. It is important that we consider how technologies can be harnessed
to provide instructional services to all learners, including students with disabilities and 504 plans.
Assignments are aligned to the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE), what the students are
currently learning, and specific goals and objectives outlined in Individual Education Programs
(IEPs). All teachers will continue to implement the Section 504 accommodation plan when
applicable. Students may complete assignments virtually and/or be provided with a hard copy,
which can be submitted once schools re-open.

The District is not providing in-person instruction for students as a safety precaution. All teachers
and related service providers are working diligently to ensure that virtual learning activities are
accessible for students. In addition to the virtual learning assignments in VERGE, please see
below for examples of alternative instructional learning modes that may provide greater access for
students where appropriate:
  • Hard copy of virtual learning assignments provided to students and/or parents
  • Instructional telephone calls with students and/or parents to discuss, review, and
    clarify assignments/tasks
  • Instruction and tutoring by phone or the Internet
  • Daily checks via email or phone
  • Shortened assignments to ensure greater access to tasks
  • Extended time to complete assignments
 
Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the teacher/case manager via email for concerns
regarding individual student supports. In the event students are not able to access instructional
tasks through the varied learning modes to the greatest extent possible, IEP and 504 teams will
be prepared to convene when normal school activities resume to discuss individual student needs
and next steps.
 
Special Education and Section 504 meetings will continue. We are currently preparing, so staff
and parents/guardians can meaningfully participate via phone or video conferencing. Special
Education and 504 teams will collaborate to schedule meetings.
The Department of Exceptional Education will continue to review federal and state guidance as
updated to ensure that we continue to provide the required services consistent with the need to
protect the health and safety of students and staff. We will continue to provide additional
information as it becomes available.

Continue to check the DCSD website for updates. Again, we thank you for your continued
support of the DeKalb County School District. 
 
### 
----------------------------------

Date: 3/23/2020

Memorandum To:        DeKalb County School District Families 

From:           Mrs. Ramona Tyson, Interim Superintendent

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released updated tips for keeping our students healthy while out of school. This resource for parents and guardians can be accessed by clicking the link below.

CDC: Children and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Tips to Keep Children Healthy while School’s Out (March 23, 2020)

Please adhere to all protocols and guidance given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Public Health, and the DeKalb County Board of Health.  Remember to practice social distancing and healthy hand washing (a minimum of 20 seconds).

 
 
 
 
-----------------------------------
 
[text below] 
MEMORANDUM
To: DeKalb County School District Families
From: Ramona Tyson, Interim Superintendent
Date: March 20, 2020
Subject: COVID-19 Update
Thank you for your patience as we navigate these first-time experiences and this period of uncertainty for all Georgia school districts. Know that we do not take the opportunity and the responsibility to serve our families lightly. As we continue to collaborate with our neighboring school districts, local, state and national health partners, the Governor’s Office, and the Georgia Department of Education (GADOE), we want to provide updates for you. Detailed below is the most recent information we are able to provide on the re-opening of school, graduation ceremonies, graduation requirements, testing, digital learning, facilities, and meal service plans.
Re-opening of School: We will continue to collaborate with and follow the guidance of the Department of Public Health (DPH), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), and the DeKalb County Board of Health (DBOH) to inform our decision making in regards to the re-opening of school. The school district will remain closed until further notice. We anticipate that the District will continue digital learning and teleworking through at least March 31st given the announcement from Governor Kemp on March 16, 2020 and potentially through Spring Break (April 6-10, 2020). A final decision for a re-opening date has not been determined and will be fully communicated once decided.
Graduation Ceremonies: A final decision about graduation ceremonies is pending. Know that our team is being proactive and has already begun discussions about alternate plans. Again, a final decision has not been made. We will keep you updated as decisions are made.
 
Graduation Requirements: The GADOE will provide guidance soon as to local school district authority regarding required student credits for graduation.
GA Milestone Testing: The GADOE has cancelled Georgia Milestone testing for the 2019-2020 school year. This includes End of Grade Testing (EOG), Georgia Alternative Assessments (GAA) and End Of course Testing (EOC) for high school students. We are awaiting a final decision about waiver of 20% rule for EOC courses.
SAT/ACT Testing: Due to concern about people congregating in large groups due to COVID-19, the College Board and ACT have suspended all upcoming ACT and SAT testing dates indefinitely. To deal with this problem, the Chancellor of the University System of Georgia has approved a temporary adjustment to admissions criteria that allows institutions to approve students for admission if they do not have ACT or SAT scores. High School principals will be sending additional communication with more details on this matter.
Digital Learning Days: We will continue with our Digital Learning Days. Students, parents, and staff who need assistance may contact our Help Desk at 678-676-1188. Staff are able to help with questions about Verge and chrome book repair. Again, this service is available to students and staff. Parents are encouraged to reach out to the teacher/case manager for concerns regarding individual student support. In the event students are not able to access instructional tasks through the varied learning modes to the greatest extent possible, IEP and 504 teams will be prepared to convene when normal school activities resume to discuss individual student needs and next steps. We will continue to review federal and state guidance as it is updated to ensure that we continue providing the required services to the greatest extent possible to meet individualized needs - for students with an IEP or 504 plan. We will continue to provide additional information as it becomes available.
Building Facilities: The building custodians and staff within the Facilities and Operations Department have been working to ensure that all buildings are cleaned and sanitized. Cleaning supplies are being re-stocked in all facilities. Likewise, all buses have been cleaned and sanitized too. Buses used for meal delivery will be sanitized daily.
Meal Service Plan: We will continue to provide ‘grab and go’ meal service at our 21 school sites and nine DeKalb County Government Recreation Center sites. Beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, we will add bus delivery meal service to
 neighborhoods and communities. Additionally, the Atlanta Community Food Bank will begin on March 23rd providing staple food items for our families on a weekly basis at the following school sites:
• Sequoyah Middle School
• Jolly Elementary
• Idlewood Elementary
• Chapel Hill Middle
• Early Learning Center at Terry Mill
Continue to check the DCSD website, https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/ for updates. Again, we thank you for your continued support of the DeKalb County School District.
 
###