Dear RSU 71 Students, Families, Staff, School Board and Community Members,
I hope that you have had a good week. This update will include a COVID-19 update, a message about equity, and a meditation on the power of love. I will send the next update on Friday, January 22, unless there is an active case of COVID-19 before then.
The Pandemic: Today at noon, Waldo County was designated as still being GREEN according to the state's color-coded county risk levels. That means we will continue with daily in-person instruction in our K-8 schools for the next two weeks, while the high school will remain in the yellow/hybrid mode. We have no active coronavirus cases in RSU 71 and no evidence of spread in our eleven locations. Within two weeks, I will know more about when vaccinations will be rolled out, where they will be done, and in what order. Until then, there is perfect consensus on the part of epidemiologists that the best things we can all do for ourselves and one another, in order of importance, include:
Wearing masks,
Doing daily symptoms checks,
Practicing hand hygiene and,
Maintaining social distance.
Here is a link to information about the required safety protocols and the color-coded risk assessment system: https://www.maine.gov/doe/framework/part-I/#CRL
Equity in RSU 71 - Our school system is fiercely committed to equity for all students. As the superintendent of schools, I want every single student and every single family in our school system to feel that the staff and I work hard for each of them. We care about and serve all students regardless of political affiliation, religion, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, family, or marital status. We want all students to feel that they belong and that their school system is working for them.
Love is the Way - It may sound corny, but I believe that love for one another and respect for one another is the best way forward during this challenging time of pandemic and social unrest. Our people and community will thrive in a loving environment. It can start simply with listening, respect, kindness, and eventually love. We can open the door to this by recognizing when people are suffering, suffering with them, and growing affection in the process.
I continue to see our students leading and modeling the way forward. When it comes to caring for and respecting one another, our students set a great example despite vast differences in perspectives and beliefs. Our students' character is a tribute to their parents, extended families, and staff members' school cultures. As a school system, we want every student to have a voice and every student to feel free to use honest, legal, respectful, and peaceful methods to express themselves. After last week's update, I heard from two concerned parents that using the word "fall-out" and sharing resources to help staff and parents talk with children and young adults about this moment in our nation's history was making a political statement. I am so glad that they reached out to me to share these concerns to address them in this week's update. Students and families are allowed and encouraged to express their beliefs and personal politics.
On the other hand, all staff members in public schools have authority over students. Therefore, though staff members all have personal religious or philosophical, and political beliefs, we must avoid sharing these with students so that students and families don't worry that staff members serve only some students rather than equitably serving all students. A possibly unifying thought: all religious and humanistic traditions have a great deal to say about love. Love in action inspires and requires merciful and compassionate behavior toward all community members in this shared journey through life. Staff must provide students with opportunities to deliberate upon and learn about the times in a historical context without proselytizing or privileging any one perspective, which can be a tricky balance. Our staff members are quite good at striking this critical balance.
I end with a quote from Love is The Way (Michael Curry, 2020, p. 9):
" There is a universal hunger at the heart of every human being: to love and be loved. Love connects all people … love knows no border, no limitations, no divisions or differences of race, class, caste, nationality, ethnic origin, political affiliation, or religious conviction. Love is truly universal."
As always, I heartily encourage all students, families, and staff members to be in touch with me and with other members of our district's administrative team with feedback, questions, ideas, and concerns.
Sincerely and optimistically yours,
