March 9, 2021
Greetings Team CCSD,
The New Mexico Secretary of Education announced that schools may return to full in person instruction! NM Secretary of Education Ryan Stewart has indicated that all NM schools will be in full operation by April 5th.
What does this mean for us?
All CCSD schools will be open for five day per week instruction beginning Monday, March 22, 2021. FORTUNATELY, Team CCSD has been preparing for this day and we are ready! Deep cleaning will still take place on Wednesdays, however, these services will be scheduled AFTER the instructional and work day have concluded - please expect regularly scheduled Wednesday ½ day instruction / ½ day professional development. Parents who choose to have their children remain in a remote learning environment may do so.
Are we safe to be able to return?
ABSOLUTELY!!! We will continue to abide by ALL COVID SAFE PRACTICES (CSP); in fact, it is a condition of employment. All schools have passed all required NMPED requirements, meet or exceed CDC requirements, and will maintain all screening practices. NOTHING HAS CHANGED in terms of the screening criteria for entering and remaining in school buildings. The current staff vaccination rate is approximately 85% with about 2/3 of the employees responding to the vaccine survey sent via email.
What about the mandates restricting class size capacities and things like eating in the cafeteria?
The updated toolkit addressing these specific areas are being released within the next 48 hours. CCSD follows the guidance requiring students to be facing the same direction, monitor compliance with mask wearing, and social distancing to the greatest extent possible. We will be moving more desks back into the classrooms.
Whose responsibility is it to enforce the social distancing and mask wearing for all students?
It is the building staff’s responsibility to support students in adhering to the CSP. Teachers and instructional staff are responsible for students in their classes on duty stations. Noncompliance of all COVID Safe Practices by students can result in a remote learning program.
What about the Navajo Nation/NMPED requirements for consultation and respecting sovereignty?
Supt. Benavidez has been and will continue to consult with the NN and DoDE. CCSD remains a parent choice for in person instruction option for students, respecting all tribal sovereignty requests.