The Summit staff and students had a lot of fun dressing up for classroom parties last week (pictured), but now as the weather continues to get colder that means Summit is looking ahead to potential snow days as well as a shift to more learning indoors.
Inclement Weather Policy
It has been decided that Summit Schools will conduct weather days in the same manner as previous years. Both in-person and remote learners will not convert to online learning if there is a weather delay, cancellation or early dismissal.
Although all of our students have been issued devices, we understand that there are potential complications with access to devices or the internet on unexpected cancellation days.
We have built additional snow days into our academic calendar, and have been granted an additional 60-hour waiver from the state to accommodate for any lost school days. For these reasons, we will continue to account for inclement weather days as we have done in the past.
COVID-19 Update
We have done a wonderful job as a community in managing the risk of COVID infection within the school. I wish the same could be said about the state of Iowa, and specifically, Linn County.
As of 11/03 the infection rate in Linn County is 15.2%. This number is important as a 15% infection rate is the benchmark for when we can apply to move our school into a virtual platform. I have applied for this waiver in spite of not meeting the additional qualifier of 10%+ absenteeism. Although I expect to be denied in this request, it does bring attention to our current situation in the county. Furthermore, it allows us to finalize our internal preparation should a shift to virtual learning be necessary. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and make the necessary decisions in collaboration with the Department of Education and Linn County Public Health.
This week I will be instructing teachers to prepare themselves for a potential online transition which will include releasing school-owned devices to students who are in need. Assuming that we are still in our current model, I will ask for students who are in need of a device to secure one and take it home with them before they leave for Fall Break on November 20. There will be no access to the building the week of November 23. Please let your classroom teacher know if you are in need of an at-home device. Before we leave for Fall Break teachers will have communicated with you their potential online plan should one be necessary after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Thank you for doing your part to help ensure the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff.
With gratitude,
Paul Pressler
Head of School/Principal