Update - 4/22/20

Good afternoon,

Today, Governor Bullock held a press conference where he discussed lifting some facets of the Stay-At-Home order currently in place. Governor Bullock stated this is not a time for celebration, and our goal as a State is to remain open for good once we open. He did say that regardless of our decision, our school funding will continue as normal. I would like to share what he said about the current school closure.

Starting May 7th, how schools move forward will be decided by local control. That means our school board will have the final say. I will also be seeking input from the Lake County Health Department and the CSKT Tribal Education Department to help us make an educated decision. We also have a vulnerable population that has to be considered. That being said, we are fortunate to have a great board made up of intelligent individuals, who like me, will analyze this situation and make a decision that is in the best interest of our students, staff, and the community.

Schools have some interesting challenges that have to be considered. Would it even be possible to have a classroom of 20-30 students in the same room while trying to follow social distancing protocol? What would lunch or breakfast look like? What would passing time in the hallways look like? How would we put one student per seat on a bus that currently has two to three students sharing? Would parents just opt to keep their children at home for their safety or the safety of others? These are just a few of the many questions or scenarios that need to be considered.

At this time, we are working hard figuring out this distance learning process. I feel we have come a long way and will continue to tweak our efforts to provide the best possible education for our students. Today, I met with a teacher and an administrator from each building. We discussed some of the challenges, but we also were able to celebrate many of the successes we are seeing.  All of us appreciate the hard work of our students and parents and their willingness to step out of their comfort zone and learn along with us. We know it is not perfect, but we will continue to improve our current system.

We are having a special board meeting on April 29th at 7:00 PM where we will discuss and possibly vote on how our District will proceed for the remainder of the school year. I know how important it is for you to know, as soon as possible, the direction we will be taking going forward. Please feel free to email me any questions, comments or concerns you may have. Also, you can call the District Office to discuss with me or you can contact your child’s school if you have questions, comments, or concerns.

Stay Safe,

Mark J. Johnston
Superintendent
Ronan School District 30