March 19, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Due to the extended closure of schools, as directed by Governor Kate Brown on Tuesday, I’m sure you all have questions like, “What now?” and “How this impacts my child’s education?”. As a parent of an MHS junior, I have many of the same questions. It is a frustrating time as educators because we are in the business of sharing information and answering questions. Unfortunately, the information changes rapidly and the answers are not always available. What I can share with you is that we are working closely with the Oregon Department of Education as well as the Oregon Health Authority. They have received many questions from districts around the State, and they are working around the clock to provide answers to those questions. During the next two weeks, they are placing a priority on our High School seniors and what it will take to get them across the finish line. Then, they are going to tackle how we ensure our 9th -11th grade students enter next year on track to graduate. This will be followed by how we keep our K-8 students from falling behind and preparing them for next year. Like every Superintendent around the State, I expect to begin hearing some of those answers later this week and on into next week. Many people are asking the question, “Why not just go to online school?”. The governor’s office, as well as the Oregon Department of Education, have made it clear that Oregon schools cannot simply shift to an online platform. This is due to the state and federal laws around equitable access for every student and the fact that we do not currently have the capacity to comply with these laws. Our state, like every other state, is working to come up with a plan that meets all requirements and the needs of our students. As information gets passed to me and that plan becomes clearer, I will be communicating that out to all. For right now, spring break is here. I hope you all take the opportunity to take care of yourself, your families, and each other. I will be working on gathering information and answers to how we will proceed for the remainder of the year.
Take care and stay healthy,
Bryan Trendell
Coos Bay Public Schools
Superintendent
Phone: 541-267-3104
1255 Hemlock Ave
Coos Bay OR 97420