Blue Valley families,

The district has committed to regularly reviewing data as we work to provide a safe learning and working environment for staff and students. Today, I come to you with an update on the March learning modes.

March 1-12 learning mode
Using Kansas State Department of Education’s (“KSDE”) Navigating Change Criteria and the current data from the Kansas State Department of Health and Environment, the district is in the YELLOW. 

• Learning Mode: In YELLOW, all students will remain in their current mode of learning—early childhood and elementary students in full-time, in-person learning, while middle and high school students will remain in the hybrid learning mode through March 12. Students who registered for VirtualED will continue with their current schedule. Current learning supports in place for students with special needs will continue. Schools will share additional building-specific information later this week including a hybrid calendar.
  
  
• Activities & Athletics: Voluntary activities, including clubs and athletics, currently underway will continue with mitigation strategies in place.
  
  
• Meal Pick-Up: Drive-thru meal pick-up service for students in hybrid learning and VirtualED is available on Mondays and Wednesdays at four locations across the district. More information is available on the Drive-Thru Meal Pick-Up web page.
  
  

Fourth Quarter—March 23
In the fourth quarter, the Blue Valley Board of Education has voted to extend the in-person learning mode to the yellow gating category. This means on March 23:

• All middle and high school students who chose in-person learning during registration will come to school full-time, every day. 
  
  
• All elementary students who chose in-person learning will remain in full-time, in-person learning. 
  
  
• Students who registered for VirtualED will continue with their current schedule. 
  
  

The district will continue to watch and evaluate community transmission rates to ensure the gating criteria level remains in the yellow or green for the rest of the school year. This means additional learning mode announcements will only be made if transmission levels shift to the orange or red level.

Blue Valley needs your help to ensure we can move to full-time, in-person learning for all students. Please continue to be vigilant and follow best practices to keep our community safe.

Thank you for your support of Blue Valley staff and students!

Dr. Tonya Merrigan
Superintendent

Blue Valley families,

Throughout this pandemic, our priority has been to provide a safe learning and working environment for staff and students and to move to full-time, in-person learning when it is safe to do so. At Monday’s Board of Education meeting, the board took an important step forward to make this a reality.

Amendment to Gating Criteria for the fourth quarter
Due to the progress of vaccinations in our community and voluntary testing within Blue Valley Schools, the Blue Valley Board of Education voted to amend the current Navigating Change gating criteria as adopted on Aug. 18, 2020, to extend the in-person learning mode to the yellow gating category for the fourth academic quarter. This means when the gating criteria falls in the yellow or green level:

• All middle and high school students who chose in-person learning during registration will come to school full-time, every day beginning March 23. 
  
  
• All elementary students who chose in-person learning will remain in full-time, in-person learning. 
  
  
• Students who registered for VirtualED will continue with their current schedule. 

It’s important to note that the vote by the Board was not made lightly. The decision was made after an extensive review of declining COVID-19 numbers in our community, the active vaccination rollout which includes two doses, plans for voluntary testing opportunities for students and staff and successful mitigation strategies that have led to little or no spread of the virus within schools.

Though routines will look different when middle and high school students return full-time, please know that our commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of our school community remains steadfast. We will continue to follow sound protocols aligned with expert health guidance to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect the health of our students and staff. This includes:

• Wearing masks/face coverings
  
  
• Practicing good hand washing
  
  
• Social distancing and cohorting of students when possible
  
  
• Staying home when sick and COVID-19 symptoms are present
  
  
• Regularly reviewing COVID-19 community data to make decisions (The next review is scheduled for Feb. 15 that would determine the learning mode from March 1-12.)

We are optimistic about the opportunities the board-amended gating criteria provides. Returning to five days of in-person academic, social and emotional instruction will best help our middle and high school students move forward. Please note that a successful transition to full, in-person learning will be our focus during the fourth quarter. We ask that you partner with us as we continue to be responsible in minimizing special group events (in and out of the school day) and continue to direct our efforts on the safety and well-being of our entire community. We appreciate your support in helping us keep our focus on student learning.

Thank you for continuing to be vigilant and following best practices to keep our community safe!

Dr. Tonya Merrigan
Superintendent

Blue Valley families,

The district has committed to regularly reviewing data as we work to provide a safe learning and working environment for staff and students. Blue Valley’s Board of Education adopted the Kansas State Department of Education’s (“KSDE”) Navigating Change Criteria and remains dedicated to utilizing this criteria for learning mode decisions.

Using current data from the Kansas State Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the district is in the YELLOW. 

We know there are mixed feelings about the different learning modes. We have known from the beginning of the school year that the in-person mode would need to be responsive to the activity of the COVID-19 virus and could include the full in-person, hybrid or distance learning formats. 

• Learning Mode: In YELLOW, early childhood and elementary students will remain in full-time, in-person learning, while middle and high school students will remain in the hybrid learning mode through February. Students who registered for VirtualED will continue with their current schedule. Schools will provide building-specific information. Current learning supports in place for students with special needs will continue.
  
  
• Activities & Athletics: Voluntary activities, including clubs and athletics, currently underway will continue with mitigation strategies in place.
  
  
• Meal Pick-Up: Drive-thru meal pick-up service for students in hybrid learning and VirtualED is available on Mondays and Wednesdays at four locations across the district. More information is available on the Drive-Thru Meal Pick-Up web page.

The district will continue to watch and evaluate community transmission rates. Blue Valley needs your help to ensure we can maintain in-person learning. Our ability to expand in-person learning modes for our students truly rests with all of us. Please continue to be vigilant and follow best practices to keep our community safe.

Thank you for your support of Blue Valley staff and students!

Dr. Tonya Merrigan
Superintendent

Blue Valley families,

As you know, the district has committed to regularly reviewing data as we work to provide a safe learning and working environment for staff and students. Blue Valley’s Board of Education adopted the Kansas State Department of Education’s (“KSDE”) Navigating Change Criteria and remains committed to utilizing this criteria for learning mode decisions.

Using current data from the Kansas State Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the district is in the YELLOW. 

We know there are mixed feelings about the different learning modes. We have known from the beginning of the school year that the in-person mode would need to be responsive to the activity of the COVID-19 virus and could include the full in-person, hybrid or distance learning formats. 

• Learning Mode: In YELLOW, early childhood and elementary students will remain in full-time, in-person learning. Middle and high school students will remain remote until the end of the semester, from Jan. 4-15. This gives us the ability to maintain instructional continuity in the weeks leading up to final exams, time for teachers to enjoy the winter break with their families and prepare for the transition and adjust IEP’s when they return. Middle and high school will transition to hybrid learning at the start of the second semester on January 19, 2021. Students who registered for VirtualED will continue with their current schedule. Schools will provide building-specific information around distance learning. Current learning supports in place for students with special needs will continue.
  
  
• Activities & Athletics: Voluntary activities, including clubs and athletics, currently underway will continue with mitigation strategies in place.
  
  
• Meal Pick-Up: Drive-thru meal pick-up service for students in distance learning and VirtualED is available on Mondays and Wednesdays at four locations across the district. More information is available on the Drive-Thru Meal Pick-Up web page.
  
  
• Facility Rental: District facilities will be closed to rentals through Jan.3.

The district will continue to watch and evaluate community transmission rates. Blue Valley needs your help to ensure we can maintain in person learning. Our ability to expand in-person learning modes for our students truly rests with all of us. Please continue to be vigilant and follow best practices to keep our community safe.

Thank you for your support of Blue Valley staff and students!

Dr. Tonya Merrigan
Superintendent

Blue Valley families,

Blue Valley Schools remains committed to offering students the opportunity to participate in winter activities and athletics as long as it is safe to do so. To protect the health and safety of students and staff while participating in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, the district will be following the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Board of Directors approved recommendations for winter activities/athletics. 

The KSHSAA Board of Directors voted in favor to begin the winter activity competition season on Dec. 1 and continue through Dec. 22 before taking a winter moratorium (no practice and no competitions beginning Dec. 23). The board also took action to extend the moratorium on practice and competition through Jan. 3. Practices may resume on Jan. 4 and competitions may resume on Jan. 8. 

Other items resulting from the KSHSAA Board of Directors Meeting:

Middle school activities and athletics

• Mandatory universal masking with the exception of officials during live action. 
  
  
• No spectators at competitions from Nov. 30 through Jan. 28, 2021, to minimize the risk of exposure while still providing opportunities for students.
  
  
• Previously scheduled Performing Arts events may take place in person. However, they will be livestreamed as there will be no audiences beginning Nov. 30 to minimize the risk of exposure while still providing opportunities for students.
  
  
• Schools will communicate additional information as needed.

High school activities and athletics

• Activities and athletics will continue in December as scheduled.
  
  
• No spectators at competitions from Nov. 30 through Jan. 28, 2021, to minimize the risk of exposure while still providing opportunities for students.
  
  
• No winter activities and athletics practices, performances or competitions between Dec. 23 and Jan. 3. Activities and athletics resume on Jan. 4 with in-person competitions beginning on Jan. 8. 
  
  
• Blue Valley has partnered with the NFHS network to livestream events. Competitions from the main gymnasium will be livestreamed. Limited spectator attendance in February based on forthcoming KSHSAA guidance.
  
  
• Previously scheduled Performing Arts events may take place in person. However, they will be livestreamed as there will be no audiences beginning Nov. 30 to minimize the risk of exposure while still providing opportunities for students.
  
  
• Debate and scholars’ bowl competitions will be held virtually.
  
  
• Mandatory universal masking, with the exception of athletes during the time they are competing and officials during live action. When the presence of a mask poses a risk to the student athlete’s safety, during activities of physical exertion, the mask may be removed.
  
  
• Athletic competitions:
• Basketball may have a maximum of 20 games exclusive of the postseason.
  
  
• Swim/dive may have a maximum of 10 competitions exclusive of the state meet.
  
  
• Wrestling may have a maximum of 18 events and no more than 30 competition points exclusive of the postseason. 
  
  
• Bowling may have a maximum of 10 competitions exclusive of the postseason.
  
  
• Schools will communicate additional information as needed.

We know that these modifications to winter activities and athletics schedules will greatly disappoint some families while some families will feel relief. Keep in mind that even with these plans in place, the district will continue to review appropriate measures and adjust if necessary to ensure the health, safety and well-being of students, coaches and sponsors. 

Blue Valley Schools

Blue Valley families,

We know that families want to have as much information available as possible before making a second-semester learning mode selection. Over the last week, families have shared that it would be helpful for the district to make the next learning mode announcement ahead of the Nov. 16 second-semester learning mode selection deadline－we listened. 

Our goal this school year was to provide a safe learning and working environment for staff and students. Blue Valley’s Board of Education adopted the Kansas State Department of Education’s (“KSDE”) Navigating Change Criteria in August and remains committed to utilizing this criteria for learning mode decisions.

Using current data from the Kansas State Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the district is in the ORANGE. 

We know there are mixed feelings about the different learning modes. We have known from the beginning of the school year that the in-person mode would need to be responsive to the activity of the COVID-19 virus and could include the full in-person, hybrid or distance learning formats. The district will continue to watch and evaluate community transmission rates. The next review of gating criteria data is scheduled for the week of Dec. 21.

Learning Modes
In the ORANGE level, early childhood and elementary students will remain in full-time, in-person learning while our middle school and high school students will return to distance learning from Nov. 30-Dec. 22. Schools will provide building-specific information around distance learning.

Students and families who elected the district’s all-virtual option, VirtualED, will continue with the same schedule they have been following.

Activities
The Navigating Change Gating Criteria adopted by the district is included within Navigating Change: Kansas Guide to Learning and School Safety Operations, which encourages student involvement in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, but advises that modifications must be made with the increased potential of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Following this guidance, the district collaborated with its medical partners to develop contingency plans for both fall and winter activities that require stringent mitigation measures to protect the health and safety of students and staff while participating in co-curricular and extracurricular activities. Keep in mind that even with these contingency plans in place, we will continue to review appropriate measures and adjust if necessary to ensure the health, safety and well-being of students, coaches and sponsors. At this time:

• Voluntary activities, including clubs and athletics, currently underway will continue with mitigation strategies in place.
• Voluntary middle and high school winter activities, including clubs and athletics, will begin on Nov. 16 with enhanced mitigation strategies in place.  

Meal Pick-Up
Drive-thru meal pick-up service for students in distance learning and VirtualED is available on Mondays and Wednesdays at four locations across the district. More information is available on the Drive-Thru Meal Pick-Up web page.

Facility Rental
District facilities will be closed to rentals from Nov. 30-Jan. 3.

IMPACT OF COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION RATES ON SCHOOLS
Our staff and students have worked hard this year to implement mitigation strategies and modifications to the school day yet the impact of the community transmission is clearly felt. Staff and student absenteeism due to quarantines and positive COVID-19 cases have significantly increased in the last two weeks. As shared at Monday’s Board of Education meeting, the district is reaching a point where it is challenging to meet staffing needs.

• Availability of substitutes has been steadily dropping since the first week of school
• Unfilled substitute positions have dramatically increased over the last two weeks with 30-40 positions remaining unfilled each day
• Teachers are giving up plan periods to assist building and district-level administrators to cover unfilled positions

The change in learning modes from Nov. 30-Dec. 22 will allow us to focus limited resources, including substitutes, on the youngest students and students with disabilities who are least able to benefit from distance learning. Additional school closures are possible if the district can not staff buildings with qualified substitutes.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
This has been a year like no other for staff, students and families alike. Each of us has been called upon to adapt as the situation surrounding COVID-19 has evolved. It is not lost on me that our staff, students and families are feeling a range of emotions including stress, COVID fatigue, depression and apathy about the situation. As evidenced in our community survey, there are differing opinions on many things; however, I ask that we come together as a Blue Valley community and partner to:

• Check in with one another and reach out if you have concerns. Reach out to Blue Valley students and staff to see how they are doing and how you can help support them during this pandemic. If you have a concern about your child, please reach out to your school. Our mental health and students services teams are ready to support and provide help.
• Follow local health official guidance. As it gets colder, it is important to remain vigilant with wearing masks, physical distancing and avoiding large groups. We believe schools are essential and want our middle and high school students in school but the reality is that can not happen until our community transmission rates lower. 

Thank you for your support of Blue Valley staff and students!

Dr. Tonya Merrigan
Superintendent

Greetings, Blue Valley Families!

As we end the first quarter of the school year, Blue Valley is deep into planning for the second semester. As shared before the school year started, families and students will have the opportunity to switch learning modes for the second semester. This email provides information about the two learning modes, the process to make your selection(s) and adjustments to the VirtualED option.

Parents/guardians should make a selection for each student in their household, regardless of the choice to remain in a mode or to switch. Even if you have spoken with a staff member about making a change for the second semester, please go ahead and complete a form.

Quick Key Information in this Email

• There continue to be two choices of learning mode--in-person and all-virtual. How students attend school in the in-person mode depends on the activity of the COVID-19 virus and may include the full in-person, hybrid or distance learning formats.
  
  
• ALL kindergarten through 12th grade students will need to select a learning mode for the second semester, regardless of the desire to change modes.
  
  
• Families will have one window to make their second-semester selection. This window begins Thursday, Nov. 5 and ends Monday, Nov. 16.
  
  
• There will be some adjustments made to the all-virtual option, VirtualED.  These changes are based on feedback from various stakeholder groups from the first semester.
  
  
• For more detailed information, go to the Second Semester Learning Mode Selection web page.

Ready to Make Your Selection(s)?
Families will have until Nov. 16 to make a selection. If a selection is not made, the student(s) will be scheduled in the same learning mode as the first semester, meaning no change to learning mode will be made for these students. Click on the button below to go to the selection form or go online to make your selection. 

Two Learning Mode Options
Like this fall, families can choose one of two learning modes for their students. These two modes are described below. Students from the same household do not have to choose the same learning mode. Students in special education programs will continue to work with their case managers to determine the best programming choices for their specific needs. 

One Selection Window
The window in which families select their students’ learning mode for the second semester will be open from Nov. 5-16. This will be the only opportunity to switch learning modes for the remainder of the school year. In order to make these changes, significant lead time is necessary to ensure a good experience for students. The next district announcement for the format of the in-person learning mode experience is scheduled for Nov. 16. We understand that there is significant uncertainty surrounding the activity of the virus as the school year progresses and encourage families who have concerns for the safety of their student(s) for this reason to consider the all-virtual option.

Learning Mode Choice #1 - In-Person
Students who select this learning mode will participate in learning in-person at their home school as the gating criteria allows. This learning mode can include three types of experiences for students--full in-person learning, hybrid learning or distance learning depending on the activity of the COVID-19 virus.

	Distance Learning The student experience is fully online.
	Hybrid Learning (Limiting Capacity) The student experience is a mix of in-person and online.
	In-Person Learning The student experience is fully in-person and on-site.

Learning Mode Choice #2 - All-Virtual (VirtualED Program)
In this learning mode, students learn fully online. Students experience the full Blue Valley curriculum taught by licensed Blue Valley teachers. For detailed program information, you can visit the Blue Valley website and the pages dedicated to the VirtualED program.

During the second semester, students and families can expect the following adjustments to the VirtualED experience: 

Elementary School 

• Canvas pages will have an improved navigation experience making it easier for students and families to find what they need.

Middle School 

• Synchronous time for most electives will increase and no longer be limited to 20 minutes. 
• World language courses will continue to meet live daily.
• Physical education and virtual learning skills are fully asynchronous courses.
• Canvas pages will have an improved navigation experience making it easier for students and families to find what they need.

High School

• Student courses will be scheduled into seven blocks, eliminating students being double booked in blocks.
• Synchronous sessions will no longer be limited to 45 minutes and repeated within a block.
• Canvas pages will have an improved navigation experience making it easier for students and families to find what they need.

Enrollment Shifts
We anticipate a shift in student enrollment in both the in-person setting and VirtualED Program based on earlier surveys. While this shift could vary significantly from level to level, we do know that this movement will require us to realign resources and change schedules/class lists. While efforts will be made to provide consistency in teacher assignments, some students will experience teacher changes in both the in-person and virtual settings. These changes will be minimized to the greatest extent possible.

Want to Learn More or Have a Question?
The Blue Valley website has more information on both the options and the process to make a selection. Contact your student’s home school if you have any questions after reviewing the additional information on our website.

Blue Valley families,

Using the current data from the Kansas State Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas State Department of Education Navigating Change gating criteria, the district is in the YELLOW. This means the district will be continuing with the current modes of learning through Friday, Nov. 27.

• Building Gating (Absenteeism) = 2019 Average Daily Attendance 96.25% -->2020 Average Daily Attendance 91.83% for a difference of 4.42% YELLOW
• Community Gating (Percent positive tests / all tests performed) = 5.5% YELLOW
• Community Gating (# new cases / 100K over prior 2 weeks) = 227 RED
• Community Gating (Trend in county incidence rate) = 107, 132 and 95 decreasing GREEN
• Community Gating (Local referring/hospital capacity provided by MARC) = >30% GREEN

Elementary School Updates
Elementary students who registered for in-person learning will remain in full time, in-person learning.

Middle School Updates
Middle school in-person students will remain in a hybrid learning environment. Hybrid learning only applies to middle school families who chose in-person learning at registration. 

• Middle school students will remain in two groups: A (last name starting with letters A-L) or B (last name starting with M-Z).
• Middle school students will continue to follow an alternating AA/BB schedule. 
• Schools will provide building-specific calendars for November.
• Activities, athletics and clubs currently underway will continue with mitigation strategies in place.
• Girls’ basketball will begin in an intramural format with mitigation strategies in place.

High School Updates
High school in-person students will remain in a hybrid learning environment. Hybrid learning only applies to high school families who chose in-person learning at registration. 

• High school students will remain in two groups: A (last name starting with letters A-L) or B (last name starting with M-Z).
• High school students will continue to follow an alternating AA/BB schedule. 
• Schools will provide building-specific calendars for November.
• New! Tuesday, Nov. 3 will be asynchronous for all high students as high schools are being used as a Johnson County Election Office voting site. This means all high school students will be learning from home on Nov. 3, including students in the special education program. Coaches and sponsors will communicate about any changes to practices or events. 
• Activities, athletics and clubs currently underway will continue with mitigation strategies in place.
• Winter activities and athletics will begin on Nov. 16 with mitigation strategies in place.

VirtualED
Students and families who elected the district’s all-virtual option, VirtualED, will continue with the same schedule they have been following.

Providing the best quality educational experiences for our students, while balancing the safety and health of our staff, students and families, is a priority. We all want students back in school full time as soon as it is safe to do so. Here’s how you can help.

• Continue to follow public health guidance.
• Keep your child home if they are not feeling well.
• Ensure your child is engaged in at-home learning days. Attendance is an important aspect of the gating criteria that families can positively impact. At this time, attendance is running more than 4% lower than the same time last year.

The district will continue to watch and evaluate community transmission rates and will make every effort to provide families a two-week advance notice if the learning mode will change. The next review of gating criteria data is scheduled for the week of Nov. 16. 

Thank you to our staff, students and families for partnering together to create a safe learning and working environment for all.

Dr. Tonya Merrigan
Superintendent

Blue Valley families,

Throughout this pandemic, we have said multiple times we want to bring students back to school in-person in some form as soon as we can safely do so. I am pleased to share that based on current transmission rates in our community, that time is now, as we are in the YELLOW. This means that beginning Monday, Oct. 5 all students who registered for in-person learning will attend school in-person at least two days per week.

• Elementary School: With mitigation strategies in place, elementary students will begin full in-person learning five days a week on Oct. 5. 
  
  
• Middle School and High School: With mitigation strategies in place, middle and high school students will begin the hybrid (limiting capacity) model on Oct. 5. It is important that students are experiencing in-person instruction as often as possible. The middle and high school hybrid schedule will alternate in-person and at-home learning days on an AA/BB schedule, and will not include the distance learning day in the current elementary hybrid model. While this alternating pattern means the in-person and at-home days will look different each week, this schedule offers maximum in-person time which we know is a priority for our families. The assignment to an A or B attendance day is dependent on the last name of the oldest child in the family--Group A is last names A-L and Group B is last names M-Z. Principals will be sending more detailed hybrid schedules later this week.

It is important to note that at-home learning days will look different than Distance Learning days as teachers will be teaching in-person fulltime. At-home learning days will include a scheduled “check-in” once per day, asynchronous work equivalent to what would be done in class and could include Zoom sessions with the in-person class. 

• VirtualED: Students who registered for the all-virtual option, VirtualED, are not impacted by these changes in learning mode.

The district will continue to watch and evaluate community transmission rates as called for in the gating criteria and will make every effort to provide families a two-week advance notice if the learning mode will change.

Below are additional updates for families as we prepare to transition learning modes on Monday, Oct. 5.

Activities and Athletics
Our coaches and sponsors have worked hard to implement modifications that provide a safe experience for our students involved in athletics and activities. 

• High school: Activities and athletics currently underway will continue with mitigation strategies in place. Building principals will share more in the coming weeks about clubs and winter activities and athletics.
  • Winter activities and athletics coaches and sponsors are meeting to develop mitigation strategies for the 2020-21 season.
    
    
  • Clubs can meet using health and safety modifications.

Building principals will share more in the coming weeks about clubs and winter activities and athletics.

• Middle school: Activities and athletics are an important part of the total educational experience. While building principals will share more information in the coming weeks, across the district we are planning for:
• Intermural opportunities for middle school football, volleyball, cross country and cheerleading beginning in October. This means competitions can take place with other Blue Valley middle schools. By providing intermural seasons, athletes competing with club teams will still be able to participate.
  
  
• Updates on winter athletics schedules will be shared in the coming weeks.
  
  
• Clubs will begin meeting in October using health and safety modifications.
  
  
• Currently reviewing opportunities for middle school musicals and plays.

Transportation 
Durham School Services is adjusting bus routes, including pick-up and drop-off time to accommodate elementary full in-person five days a week and a hybrid schedule at the middle and high school level. Stay tuned for updated transportation information in the coming weeks.

Food Service
Blue Valley’s Food and Nutrition Services department will continue to offer a drive-thru meal pick-up service for remote learners. This includes Blue Valley students enrolled in Hybrid (limiting capacity) Learning and VirtualED modes of instruction. More information about pick-up dates, times and locations is available on the Drive-Thru Meal Pick-Up web page. 

Technology help
The Blue Valley ITS Department is committed to providing the best technology support possible to Blue Valley families and students. Please see important instructions below, by learning mode, to request technology assistance.

• In-Person Learning Days: Students should seek device support from their teachers or building leaders within their school building.
  
  
• At-Home Learning Days/VirtualED: Families/students can submit a BV Care “Technology Help” form online. The BV Care team will work to schedule remote assistance or an in-person appointment at the district’s designated BV Care support site. BV Care support is available from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Additional information regarding appointment date, time and location will be shared with you once your online help form is submitted.

Families can expect to receive additional information and updates from building principals as we near the Oct. 5 transition date. Thank you to our staff, students and families for partnering together to create a safe learning and working environment for all. 

Dr. Tonya Merrigan
Superintendent

Elementary families,

In spite of beginning the school year in the midst of a pandemic, we had a great start to the school year at the elementary level. While the start included a few bumps in the road along the way, I couldn’t be more proud of how our elementary staff, students and families have partnered together to make this school year happen.

• Thank you to our staff for preparing for in-person, at-home and distance learning experiences.
• Thank you to our students who have quickly adapted to the changes when learning in-person and who have learned new skills while learning outside of the school.
• Thank you to our families for their support and patience as we all work to provide a great learning experience for students.

While our staff and students continue to practice and implement mitigation strategies to keep everyone safe, I would like to ask for your help. Please reinforce the importance of the proper wearing of mask/face coverings and handwashing at home. We know that being vigilant with these strategies helps keep everyone safe and healthy. 

With mitigation strategies in place, the district is announcing full in-person learning for elementary students beginning Oct. 5, assuming we fall within the KSDE's YELLOW or ORANGE gating level criteria at that time. This means on Monday, Oct. 5 all elementary students who registered for in-person learning should be prepared to attend school in-person five days a week (this decision does not impact those who registered for the all-virtual option, VirtualED). Families will receive additional information as we near the transition date.

It is important to note that the week of Sept. 21 current data will be applied by district administration to determine the appropriate modes of learning under the KSDE gating criteria for Oct. 5-30. Elementary students will be full in-person as long as we are in the YELLOW or ORANGE level, which we anticipate being. As communicated previously, the week of Sept. 21 district administration will also review and determine the appropriate modes of learning for middle and high school.

Thank you to our staff, students and families for partnering together to create a safe learning and working environment for all.

Dr. Tonya Merrigan
Superintendent

Blue Valley middle and high school families,

As a former high school counselor and administrator, the value of our activities and athletics programs is not lost on me. I know these voluntary programs play an important role in the total educational experience for our middle and high school students. I have said many times over the last several months that I want nothing more than for these programs to continue as soon as it was safe to do so.

Last month we shared that we would evaluate voluntary activities and athletics against the Kansas State Department of Education’s (“KSDE”) Navigating Change Gating Criteria in two weeks (more information about how this calculation is made is available online). When applying current data (as of the end of day Sept. 3) to the criteria, the gating level Blue Valley will be in for activities and athletics through Friday, Oct. 2 is YELLOW. 

• All high school athletics and activities practices can resume on Saturday, Sept. 5, with modifications in place. This includes high-risk activities, like football and dance, as defined in Appendix C of the Kansas State Department of Education Navigating Change document.
  
  
• Blue Valley administrators and coaches will work with our local medical professionals to develop significant modifications for high-risk activities and athletics as called for in the Kansas State Department of Education’s Navigating Change guidance around the gating criteria.
  
  
• Competitions may begin for all high school activities and athletics. Any student representing a Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) sponsored activity or sport shall meet all eligibility requirements prior to the first scheduled day of competition.
  
  
• Competitions will be restricted to the Kansas City metro area.
  
  
• At this time, middle school activities and athletics are postponed until in-person learning begins. We remain committed to exploring options for these programs to continue including options for alternate seasons.
  
  
• Building administrators and coaches will share additional information about spectators/audience modifications, travel guidelines and live streaming of events.

LEARNING MODES
Our staff has been participating in robust professional learning to prepare for the return of middle and high school students when learning remotely. Teachers are preparing relevant, student-centered and personalized learning experiences that will include synchronous, direct instruction from their teacher in addition to asynchronous classwork.

We want nothing more than to have our students back learning in-person, but know a successful transition between learning modes will require advance notice. As communicated on Aug. 21, middle school and high school students will be in distance learning through at least Friday, Oct. 2. The district is committed to reviewing the criteria every two weeks and giving two-week advance notice when transitioning between learning modes whenever possible.

HOW FAMILIES CAN HELP
To give our students the best opportunity to return to in-person learning or a hybrid model and continue to participate in activities and athletics we need your help. Here are some ways families, and students can help:

• Adhere to evidence-based mitigation strategies including wearing masks/face coverings in public places, practicing good hand-washing hygiene and keeping social distance as much as possible.
  
  
• Encourage students to follow mitigation strategies in social situations.
  
  
• Stay home when sick and avoid contact with individuals who are sick.
  
  
• Do not travel to “hot spots.”
  
  
• Ensure your students are registering their attendance when they are learning from home. The fifth gating criteria, attendance, will begin to be included on Sept. 9. It will be increasingly important for all students to register their attendance regardless of their learning mode. Prior to the first day of school, building administrators will share more about how to register attendance.

As we head into the first week of school, I would remind families that while our community has varied opinions about returning to school and activities and athletics. I would ask that we come together as ONE TEAM to support each other, our school staff and most importantly our students. 

Dr. Tonya Merrigan
Superintendent of Schools

Blue Valley families,

Our guiding principles as we have developed our Back to School plans have been to provide in-person and virtual learning options for families and to keep student and employee health and safety at the forefront of our decision-making process. 

These are not easy decisions as we know that our community has varied opinions and feelings about a return to school. As I’ve said many times in the past few months, there is nothing I want more, nothing our Board of Education wants more and nothing our staff wants more than for students to be back in-person learning every day when it is safe to do so. 

2020-21 School Year Update
As Board of Education President Tom Mitchell shared in yesterday’s email, on Tuesday night the board:

• Voted to rescind the Johnson County gating criteria that was previously adopted during the regularly scheduled board meeting on August 10, 2020.
  
  
• Voted to adopt the Kansas State Department of Education’s Navigating Change Gating Criteria using the most localized data available.
  
  
• Requested that the Superintendent immediately consult with a Gating Committee including teacher, parent and local health official representation to implement the KSDE gating criteria utilizing the five data points and report the gating phase and modes of learning that will be applied on September 9, 2020.

Yesterday, district administration consulted with the Gating Criteria Committee to review the Kansas State Department of Education’s (“KSDE”) Navigating Change Criteria. After the discussion, equal weight was given to each data point as suggested by the Navigating Change document. Applying current data to the criteria, the gating level Blue Valley will be in for the start of school on Sept. 9, 2020, is ORANGE. While the Orange presents in-person or hybrid options, elementary students will begin the school year with the Hybrid (limiting capacity) model. It is our hope that conditions will improve in our community allowing us to transition to full in-person learning soon for elementary students. Middle school and high school students will begin in the Distance Learning model. Students who have elected to attend school through the all-virtual option, VirtualED, are not impacted by the gating criteria.

We will start the Hybrid model for our elementary students with a modified schedule to ensure that both group A and B are able to have an in-person experience the first week of school. We will return to the typical Hybrid schedule beginning, Monday, Sept. 14 (this schedule can be found online). The assignment to an A attendance day or a B attendance day is dependent upon the last name of the oldest child in the family. 

The Hybrid and Distance Learning modes of learning will be in place for the first four weeks of school, through Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. Current data will be applied to the gating criteria by district administration every two weeks to determine the appropriate modes of learning under the KSDE gating criteria for the following four weeks.  

This was not an easy decision and I know it is very disappointing news for the many members of our community who were hoping to have full-time in-person learning resume on Sept. 9. Please know that Blue Valley remains committed to a path that returns our students to full-time in-person instruction as soon as it is safe to do so.

Activities and Athletics
The safe return to activities and athletics are also determined by the KSDE gating criteria. In the ORANGE level, activities and athletics are remote only, meaning all activities and athletics are postponed while schools are in this level. At this time, in-person activities and athletics practices will conclude on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020. We will evaluate activities and athletics against the gating criteria in two weeks. 

The value that activities and athletics brings to the total educational experience is undeniable, as evidenced by our passionate students and families earlier this week. We know this will be extremely difficult news for our coaches, sponsors, students and families involved in activities and athletics and severely impacts the fall sports season. The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) is well aware of the challenges we are facing across Johnson County and is working with us to provide an alternative season option so our students can play should it not be possible to resume the fall season. Building principals and athletic directors will provide additional updates as we learn more.

Registration Update
With the gating criteria and modes of learning established for the first four weeks of school, Blue Valley will provide, in response to parent requests, an opportunity to change their In-Person or VirtualED registration selection from Monday, Aug. 24 through 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Families should plan to call their schools to make any changes to registration. During the first five days of school middle and high school students can also request a course change within the format they enrolled. 

I know that you may still have questions about what teaching and learning will look like this year. While building principals will be providing additional details in the coming days, here are some important items we would like to share today:

• As we have mentioned in the past, Distance Learning and VirtualED will be vastly different than the Continuous Learning Plan of last spring. Students will receive more direct instruction, greater accountability with daily interactions with staff, required attendance, assignments, feedback and grades.
  
  
• Orientation when beginning a new level remains important. In-Person kindergarten orientation will occur at each school. Orientation for sixth and ninth grade students will occur virtually. Building principals will provide students and families more information in the coming days as these plans are adjusted. 
  
  
• Schools will communicate with families about plans for distribution of technology devices. Please watch for communication from schools about device distribution as we get closer to the start of the school year.
• Information related to special education and early childhood will be communicated to families early next week.

Thank you for your understanding and input as we navigate what feels like an impossible situation. While we know that these plans will impact families in different ways, I am hoping we can come together in support of one another and, most importantly, in support of our students. 

Dr. Tonya Merrigan
Superintendent of Schools

Blue Valley Families and Patrons,

On Tuesday evening, the Blue Valley Board of Education held a special meeting to discuss the gating criteria and the opening of our schools for the 2020-21 school year. During the meeting, our Board of Education heard a presentation from our Administration Team, as well as two hours of public comments from our patrons, teachers and students.

The administrative presentation included information regarding the District’s ongoing work with Johnson County, an overview of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment’s gating criteria and an overview of the newly released Kansas State Department of Education’s (“KSDE”) Navigating Change Criteria that was accepted by the Kansas State Board of Education on Aug. 12, 2020. This KSDE gating criteria provides five data points instead of the two data points in Johnson County’s gating criteria.  Included within these five data points are the two data points utilized in Johnson County’s gating criteria.  The KSDE gating criteria was created through consultation and collaboration with the following organizations:

• Kansas Academy of Family Physicians
• Kansas Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics
• KU School of Medicine -- Wichita
• Kansas Department of Health and Environment
• Kansas State Department of Education
• Volunteer school leaders from around the State of Kansas

Following the presentation and public comments, the Blue Valley Board of Education engaged in board discussion which resulted in the following action:

1. The Board of Education voted to rescind the Johnson County gating criteria that was previously adopted during the regularly scheduled board meeting on August 10, 2020. 
   
   

2. The Board of Education voted to adopt the Kansas State Department of Education’s Navigating Change Gating Criteria using the most localized data available.

In addition, the Board requested that the Superintendent immediately form a Gating Committee with teacher, parent and local health official representation to implement the KSDE gating criteria utilizing the five data points.  The Gating Committee must report a gating determination by Friday, August 21, 2020.  Voluntary extra-curricular activities and athletics will continue to practice and condition this week pending the gating determination from the Gating Committee.

The Board will take no further action with regard to the gating criteria and it has no meetings planned at this time until the regularly scheduled board meeting in September. 

What to Expect

The Gating Committee was formed on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 and consists of an epidemiologist, three pediatricians, a representative of the Johnson County Health Department, the Teachers Association and school administration.  The Committee will meet on Thursday.

A gating decision will be announced on Friday, August 21, 2020, which shall include the gating phase and modes of learning that will be applied on September 9, 2020.  These modes of learning will be in place for the first four weeks of school.  The Gating Committee will reassess the gating criteria every two weeks to determine the appropriate modes of learning under the KSDE gating criteria for the following four weeks.

All modes of learning and activities, including athletics, will be determined in accordance with the KSDE gating criteria without exception.  Students who have elected to attend school through the virtual education only option are not impacted by the gating criteria.

We are grateful to our Blue Valley community for their input as we make these very difficult decisions that impact all students, staff and parents.  We understand the significance our decisions have on the entire Blue Valley community, and we take our responsibility to you very seriously. 

Sincerely,

Tom Mitchell
Blue Valley Board of Education President

Blue Valley families,

During the August Board of Education meeting, Blue Valley’s Board of Education reviewed the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) public health recommendations for K-12 schools to help districts make decisions about the safest learning mode to start the 2020-21 school year. These recommendations are based on currently available information, data and science and expert analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Children’s Mercy Hospital (CMH). They are intended to mitigate the risk of exposure.

Last night, the Board of Education voted to accept the learning mode recommendations from the JCDHE with a modification that creates a consistent learning mode across all levels, meaning that early childhood and elementary students will follow the same learning mode as middle/high school students.

What does this mean for Blue Valley?

The graphic included in this email describes the learning mode and recommendations for activities and athletics at each gating criteria level using a stoplight of sorts－green, yellow, red and black. Throughout the 2020-21 school year, we will work closely with JCDHE to monitor community and school conditions and make adjustments as needed. We acknowledge that as new evidence emerges, recommendations and gating criteria may change. Blue Valley is committed to providing staff, students and families as much advance notice as possible when moving from one mode of learning to another with an exception for situations requiring immediate action. The district’s goal is to provide two-week advance notice.

What’s next?

Next week JCDHE and district leaders will meet to review the data and the gating criteria, specifically looking at how case counts have trended in August. At this time, final recommendations will be made and the district will share the safest learning mode for our In-Person Learning students to start the year－In-Person Learning, Hybrid (limiting capacity) or Distance Learning. As a reminder, VirtualED students will not be impacted by JCDHE gating criteria.

The district is also working to understand how activities and athletics will be impacted by the gating criteria. Final determinations regarding the National Federation of State High School Associations defined high-risk activities and athletics are currently pending as the district awaits further guidance. This includes wrestling, football, dance, band and choir. We know these opportunities contribute to the overall school experience for our students.

More information about the JCDHE’s recommended learning modes and gating criteria is available on the district’s Back to School website. 

View Blue Valley's Recommended Learning Modes Based on COVID-19 Community Transmission online.

Blue Valley staff and families,

We know that families have an important decision in front of them for the 2020-21 school year—In-Person Learning or VirtualED. As the VirtualED Aug. 5 registration deadline nears, we want to provide families another way to learn more about the learning options for the upcoming school year.

Grab your earbuds and tune into Blue Valley’s new podcast, BV unmuted, at www.bluevalleyk12.org/podcast. Podcast episodes will feature authentic conversations with the people who make up Blue Valley Schools. We’ll take a deeper look into the hot topics, common questions and community conversations happening in Blue Valley. 

In the inaugural episode, Superintendent Tonya Merrigan visits with Deputy Superintendent Katie Collier, Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Innovation Kelly Ott and Director of Facilities and Operations Jake Slobodnik about learning options for the 2020-21 school year and how the district is working to create safe learning and working environments for staff and students. 

Want to learn even more about planning for the upcoming school year? Families can watch the free recording of Overland Park Chamber of Commerce’s Powerful Voices event which featured local superintendents, including Dr. Merrigan, discussing planning for the upcoming school year. 

Do you have questions about the 2020-21 school year, In-Person Learning and VirtualED?

• Check out the district’s Back to School website
• Call your child’s school with In-Person Learning questions
  
  
• Call the Back to School hotline with questions about VirtualED or more general questions, 913-239-4045, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

Regardless of the learning option your family chooses, Blue Valley is committed to ensuring your child feels they belong and they feel safe socially, emotionally, and physically when they are within our care. We look forward to welcoming students to a new school year on Sept. 9!

Blue Valley Schools

Blue Valley families,

We have a great responsibility in front of us to provide a safe learning and working environment for our students and staff during the 2020-21 school year. While our Back to School plans have been informed by local, state and national health and education officials, our plan prioritizes what is most important for Blue Valley--the health of our students and staff.

We know that this school year will be unlike any other school year we’ve encountered. While this year will certainly look different, what remains the same is the opportunity to welcome 23,000 students to a new year, a Return to Learn.

We encourage families to intentionally schedule a time to thoughtfully and thoroughly review 2020-21 school year information below including:

• 2020-21 school year calendar update
• Back to School plan featuring In-Person Learning and VirtualED options
• Online registration information for families
• Feedback opportunities 

As we know, this is a changing environment and our team is prepared to make adjustments to our plan as needed. Thank you for the patience and support you have shown this summer as our team worked tirelessly to develop a plan that prioritized the health and well-being of you and our students. Together, by taking steps to keep everyone healthy, we will get through this and provide a positive learning experience for the 23,000 students counting on us.

Dr. Tonya Merrigan
Superintendent

2020-21 School Year Calendar
We want to have the best possible start to this unprecedented school year. In order to do this, we need to delay the start of the school year until Wednesday, Sept. 9. The additional time will ensure our staff members have as much time as possible to prepare teachers and class schedules for VirtualEd and the many modifications to In-Person Learning, as well as to obtain essential products to keep students and staff safe while at school. We also know our families need time to thoughtfully consider the options available.

To accommodate this change to the first day of school, several adjustments were made to the 2020-21 calendar including:

• First day of school - Sept. 9
• Thanksgiving Break - Nov. 25-27
• Winter Break - Dec. 23 - Jan. 1
• Spring Break - March 18-19
• Last day of school - June 3 for grades EC-11 (1/2 day) 

An updated copy of the 2020-21 calendar can be found online.

Back to School Plan

A Back to School plan was developed so families can make informed decisions on options for the 2020-21 school year. On the district’s Back to School website you can find all the details about the two Return to Learn options:

• In-Person Learning with modifications
• All-virtual option, VirtualED, designed and taught by Blue Valley teachers

Families should note that high school students may take advantage of flexibility already in our high school program that allows students to take a la carte virtual courses and attend school in-person. In addition to these options, if state or local officials would provide closure or occupancy guidance, our team is developing distance learning and adjusted daily schedule models. 

While guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Johnson County Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas State Department of Education has informed Blue Valley’s Back to School plan, the development of the plan is rooted in our commitment to ensuring each child feels they belong and they feel safe socially, emotionally, and physically when they are within the care of the Blue Valley School District.

Online Registration
Online registration is now open including the selection of In-Person Learning or VirtualED. This is the time for families who have not registered to complete registration and make their selection for the 2020-21 school year. It is also the time for families who have already registered and would like to elect VirtualED to make that selection. Registration for VirtualED will close on Aug. 5 to give adequate time to determine staffing and prepare for the school year. 

Activities and Athletics
We realize activities and athletics are a significant part of the total educational experience available to students. We are waiting on additional guidance from the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) about activities and athletics for the 2020-21 school year. At this time, we will continue with voluntary outdoor summer conditioning. Any further updates about activities and athletics will come from school administrators.

Feedback
We value your thoughts and questions about the Back to School plan and the 2020-21 school year. After families have thoughtfully reviewed all the information, we encourage you to:

• Share thoughts or questions through a ThoughtExchange
• Regularly review Back to School FAQs as new questions and answers will be added
• Call the Back to School hotline from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday at 913-239-4045 with questions not addressed on the district’s Back to School website