OFFICIAL, from Incoming Superintendent of Schools Chuck Klaus
As I write this, we are closing in on the final hours of the extraordinary 2019-2020 school year. Putting it mildly, this year has stretched many of us to our limits.
Here in Haddonfield, we have made the best of a challenging situation, not just for our schools, but for our entire community. I am proud of the way we all adapted to unexpected, and frankly abrupt, changes from in-person to at-home schooling. THANK YOU to everyone on the staff, to all of our students, and to the families who supported these changes with good humor and great care. Thank you.
Today, two topics weigh heavily on my mind.
First … In the aftermath of the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, Board members and administrators have received communication from a group of alumni and community members concerned about how Haddonfield has approached equity, inclusive curriculum, anti-racism education, and diverse hiring practices.
I am not at all surprised and am honestly proud that Haddonfield alumni, parents, and community members have strong feelings on these topics. Board President Adam Sangillo penned this letter to those who reached out. In it, Mr. Sangillo points out what has been done, what is being done now and what is planned for the future; however, we are at a point where looking at what we have done and are doing is not enough. We must take a fresh look at our goals and programs with a lens focused on equity and a promise that the work we are doing is designed not to simply address and reduce racism, but that is proactively anti-racist. We don’t have all the answers on how to achieve this goal, but we are committed to work actively to grow and promote this stance. We are committed to providing our students with the avenues and opportunities to become allies and accomplices in developing a proactively anti-racist environment.
To this end, we are redoubling our efforts by scheduling a “town hall meeting” planned for June 29th at 6:00 p.m. led by Dr. Shelley Zion, Executive Director of Rowan University’s Center for Access, Success and Equity. District administrators, staff, and interested community members will be available to discuss concerns and a vision for the future. Details of the meeting format will be emailed and will be posted on the HSD website in the near future.
While we still have far to travel, we have started on this journey. In January and February of 2019, we launched the district’s Long-Range Strategic Plan (LRSP). One of the three major goals is Cultural Competence. We have worked hard to improve our curriculum, our professional development and our overarching awareness of many issues related to equity and racism. Please feel free to examine what we have posted online on this subject. I welcome your input, and I encourage you to participate in the process. I look forward to hearing from you on June 29th.
Second … what’s next? The uncertainty of what school will look like in September looms large. We have already started discussing how to prepare for what may lie ahead. The short, immediate and truthful answer is that we simply don’t know. All New Jersey districts are looking to the Governor and to the state Department of Education for guidance so that we can prepare, but as of this date, we have little information. I can tell you that we are trying to make plans, and we are hoping that state guidance will come sooner rather than later.
This week, I began to form committees to attempt to make reasonable plans for the options for fall 2020 that we can currently imagine. These committees include teachers, administrators, parents, and community members. The committees are:
- Instruction – how do we best deliver instruction in the event we must continue distant or blended learning?
- Social and Emotional Learning – we must put supports in place for students and staff who have suffered anxiety, trauma or loss during this time.
- Facilities – how buildings and classrooms might be used effectively and safely; what does hygiene look like in September?
- Communication – keeping staff, students, families, county and state offices and the community well-informed.
- Health – what precautions and accommodations will be required in the fall if we return to the classrooms?
The chair of each committee has started the process of developing his/her Action Teams to address each area of focus.
As we work through different scenarios and make appropriate plans, we will keep all school families informed. Thank you for your confidence and your patience!