FAQ’s about 2019-2020
Q: What is the last day of classes for students?
A: It will be as scheduled, May 29, 2020.
Q: When is graduation for the Class of 2020?
A: We do not have a recommendation yet. Mr. Kingsbury will be gathering input and ideas from the seniors and their families. Right now, there are two main ideas. OPTION 1: Graduation is held on May 24th as originally scheduled – but it would not include the traditional ceremony because of the number in attendance. This option would need to include other ways to recognize our students (car parade, outdoor grab-and-go, etc.). OPTION 2: Postpone graduation ceremonies until June. Again, there is no guarantee it would be a traditional ceremony and that decision could not be made until we see how our assigned state region, No. 6 is doing from a health standpoint. We do not anticipate recommending the date be pushed into July or later. At that point, our seniors will be transitioning to the next phase of their lives with the potential of many not being in the area.
Q: What day will be the seniors’ last day?
A: This depends on when graduation is scheduled. If graduation is held on May 24th, the last day for the senior class of 2020 would be earlier that week. If graduation isn’t held until June, we will have seniors continue their learning and finish with other high school students.
Q: When’s is the last day for offering classes and learning opportunities for grades PreK-11? When will high school grades be due?
A: The final decisions for these questions will be made in May but we anticipate learning opportunities will continue to be offered through the end of May just as we would during a “normal” school year. We understand we will need to have students turn in computers, textbooks, and library books; we also know that decisions can be finalized next month.
Q: When will we send students’ personal items home? How will that be coordinated?
A: This will vary by building. Most of the middle school and high school students were able to retrieve their items in March. We anticipate the elementary and remaining middle school and high school items can wait until May. This is not considered an “essential” service that we must provide right now. We anticipate giving parents some options for pick-up times and that would include handing them a bag versus having the buildings open to the public.
Q: What about prom?
A: We do not have a recommendation at this point. The prom and post-prom advisors are communicating with multiple vendors to determine if a different day in June is an option. We anticipate a decision to be announced soon.
Q: When will we end the grab and go meal program? Will we have the summer meal program?
A: Karen Ackman and her staff along with several bus drivers have worked hard over the last several weeks. Superintendent Hainstock will be working with them on the details but anticipate the school year program will end on May 29 and then we will start the summer program shortly thereafter (although it may need to continue as a grab-and-go program throughout the summer).
Q: Can we assume that every student who needed a hotspot/internet access has it?
A: No. We continue to work with families to determine need and whether we can fill in that gap. We are confident that our high school students have all been contacted and have what they need. Now we are working to finalize the needs of students within the middle school as well as work with some elementary families.
Q: Do we need to offer/provide paper-and-pencil options to students who ask for it?
A: Yes. Please work with your building principal.
Q: Do we need to offer/provide paper-and-pencil options to students who ask for it?
A: Yes. Please work with your building principal.
Q: What’s the plan for summer school?
A: We will not have summer school in June/July as we have in past years. The high school is currently offering credit recovery for first semester courses.
Q: What about Extended School Year (for some students with IEP’s)?
A: The state is working on providing us direction; if they say we can do it, we will; if they say we cannot do it, we won’t.
FAQ’s about 2020-2021
Q: Will we adjust the 2020-2021 school calendar?
A: Nothing is finalized. The Governor has announced schools may start before the August 23 date set in Iowa Code for the 2020-2021 school year. We are discussing two main options. OPTION 1: Should we offer an “A-Term” in August that could be a mini-summer school or “jump-start” session? It may not involve all students or all staff and would be for a few hours. It could help determine the learning gaps and help to reduce them. OPTION 2: Should we start with students earlier than August 24 (maybe the 17th)? This would put five more days in the calendar and allow for additional breaks later in the year; this would involve starting professional development work earlier.
Q: How will elementary rosters be finalized and shared? What about middle school/high school student and staff schedules?
A: The elementary principals will work on class lists as they have in the past and will communicate with teachers prior to sharing with families. High school student schedules are in the process of being finalized. Middle school schedules are a little more complicated as band/choir participation needs determining as well as the process of how to best transition our fifth graders (potentially – there will be a transition day for them in August).
Q: What’s our “Return to Learn” Plan?
A: This is something the Iowa Department of Education is requiring from every school district across the state and it is due on July 1, 2020. They have not released the items that we will need to address and we will be working on it over the next several weeks.
Please continue to monitor this page for additional updates and information. If you have additional questions, please call our central office at (319) 436-4728 or email Superintendent Mary Jo Hainstock at maryjo.hainstock@vscsd.org and we’ll do our best to assist you.