Supt. Armstrong addresses remainder of school year
Posted on 03/25/2020
graphicDear Chieftains,

Earlier today, the State Board of Education approved State Superintendent of Instruction Joy Hofmeister’s recommendation to extend the closure of school buildings and to implement a Distance Learning strategy for our students to complete the 2019-2020 school year.

The moratorium on instruction will end on April 5th. On Monday, April 6th, our students will begin distance learning in which we will assign course work that they can do while continuing to practice social distancing recommendations. Distance Learning will include options for virtual learning and take-home assignments. You will not need access to the Internet for your child to partake in Distance Learning. We are working on the details of our plan and we will share it with you soon.

As a school district, we have been in constant communication during spring break monitoring the COVID-19 situation. We understand that you have many questions on what’s ahead these next couple of months. We will do our very best to keep you informed of any new developments. Here are answers to a few of the more frequently posed questions we’ve been asked:

  • The last day of the school year for our schools is May 15.
  • State testing has been canceled for this school year.
  • Extracurricular activities have been canceled for the remainder of the school year. The State Board of Education did leave open the possibility for the order to be changed based on future Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revisions about event/gathering limitations.
  • Prom and Graduation. Prom has been postponed and Graduation is still scheduled for May 22nd. However, we must adhere to the CDC’s guidelines limiting events/gatherings to less than 10 people. Therefore, we must have a contingency plan. Our goal is to give the Class of 2020 their time even if that means moving their events to the summer and combining both events over a weekend. This is just one of many options we’re reviewing. They’ve worked hard to get to this point and they deserve these memorable events. We will provide updates at the appropriate time.

The Distance Learning strategy is something we expected, you may remember we planned for this prior to leaving for Spring Break. It is also a strategy we support. Our goal is to educate your child and to do it in a safe and secure environment. You hear us say this frequently - the safety and security of our students and staff is our top priority. Those are not just hollow words. We feel, during the coronavirus pandemic, distance learning is best for both students and staff. We will have more information for you later as we continue to prepare our plan.

Thank you for patience and understanding as we manage these unprecedented times. We are Chieftain Strong.

Rob Armstrong
Superintendent of Sapulpa Public Schools