Dear Parent, Students, and Faculty:
As many of you are aware the Dumas Administrative Team, along with several community leaders, have worked this summer to develop a re-entry plan that we feel best meets the needs of the students in the Dumas School District. We have worked to develop a plan which maximizes social distancing, along with other recommendations from ADH, in our current facilities. The plan was a combination of on-site instruction as well as on-line instruction. We felt that this blended learning approach was best for our community and our students.
On Wednesday, August 5, 2020, Education Secretary Johnny Key issued a directive which stated all school districts in the State of Arkansas would offer, at a minimum, relevant and engaging onsite learning opportunities for each student, each day of the 5-day school week. He further stated that school districts not affording onsite educational opportunities each day creates inequity that impedes the State from ensuring its responsibility is met. While I wholeheartedly disagree, I am required by law to follow this directive.
Therefore, the Dumas School District will discontinue its work on developing a blended learning instructional model which incorporates onsite and online instruction. The district will instead offer two (2) options to parents and students. The first option will allow students the opportunity to attend school five (5) days a week with no online instruction. This option will resemble the traditional school day. The second option will allow students the opportunity to attend school totally virtual five (5) days a week with no onsite instruction. Students will have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities regardless of the option chosen. In order to best serve your child, please contact your child’s principal to make your request known.
The district is committed to providing its students the necessary tools needed to learn effectively, whether onsite or online. While the district cannot guarantee internet connectivity for every student, we have upgraded connectivity at each campus as well as installing internet hotspots on all school buses. The district is also committed to providing each student with a chrome book/laptop regardless of whether they choose total onsite instruction or total online instruction.
As superintendent of the district, I want to personally thank everyone for the time and energy they put in developing a very good blended learning model. I also want to ensure parents that every employee of this district is committed to providing the safest environment possible for students and teachers. We will continue to make decisions that best serve the needs of our community. #ItsaGreatDaytoBeaBobcat!!!
Sincerely,
Kelvin Gragg Superintendent
