DPS Family Return to School Survey
Dear Danvers School Families,
On June 25th the Commissioner of Education released Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance that asked districts to plan for three learning scenarios (in-person, hybrid, and remote) for the reopening of schools in September. The district has three committees working on these plans – DPS School Reopening Committee, Curriculum and Social Emotional Learning Subcommittee, and the Danvers School Administrative Council. These committees need your feedback to better prepare for each of these plans.
We’ve developed a survey for families to complete in order to gain your perspective on the reopening of schools. Knowing that every child learns differently, we are asking families to fill out one survey for each child in our schools. This will help provide a detailed picture of all our student needs.
Please check your parent email for the survey link
Remember this is an initial survey meant to help the district develop return to school plans. You are not committing to any plan at this time. We recognize that your family choices may change with continued information from the State. We intend to follow up with families later in the summer to finalize our return to school plan. The health and safety of students is our shared primary goal!
The survey will be open until July 17, 2020.
Thank you for your participation!
Lisa Dana
Keith Taverna
Mary Wermers
Danvers Public Schools 2019-2020 Final Accomplishments
DPS COVID-19 Update 4/2: Special Education
Letter to Parents/Guardians of Students with Special Needs
Danvers Public Schools
April 2, 2020
Dear Parents/Guardians;
During this exceptional time, Special Education providers in the Danvers Public Schools are actively engaged in supporting remote learning opportunities for students as we strive to flatten the curve of COVID-19. Our top priorities are to keep students and their families connected to us, support students as they learn at home as well as provide and modify these remote learning opportunities to the best of our ability and try to maintain aspects of normalcy in a time of enormous stress.
As you know, COVID-19 is the obstacle to providing service and instruction that we normally would. During this pandemic, the regular school day cannot be replicated. We cannot provide all expectations of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) nor can we evaluate students as we would if school were open. Despite severe constraints on our interactions with students we are working hard to provide opportunities that honor the intent of each student’s IEP. This work is different from specially designed instruction but is aligned to the IEP. We are regularly coordinating, collaborating and communicating with general educators, administrators, support staff and consultants.
Our Special Education providers, inclusive of related services providers, are planning activities and lessons that focus on maintenance, engagement and Social Emotional Learning. We will hold some annual reviews via video or teleconferencing with parent/guardian permission and if the health, safety of our students, parents/guardians, staff and community permits.
Our approach during this unavoidable shift to remote learning opportunities is consistent with the guidance issued by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the U.S. Department of Education. Of note, the Office of Special Education Services of the U.S. Department of Education maintains that the IDEA was not designed to deliver education during a pandemic and has advised that we focus on the safety, health and welfare of students and staff in our community first and foremost; provide FAPE by delivering services the best we can and to as many students as is reasonable under the constraints we face; and demonstrate a good faith effort to provide services.
We care deeply about our students and community. Danvers Public Schools Special Education staff as well as all related service providers meet regularly as groups and with general educators to coordinate our ongoing efforts to support our students. We will continue to do so. Please, please take care of yourself and your loved ones. Follow the guidance by the CDC. Together we can do this.
Most sincerely,
Dr. Mary Tatem
Director of Student Services
DPS COVID-19 Update 4/1: Information from Town of Danvers and State of Massachusetts
We hope you are all staying well during this school closure period. We would like to remind you of a few resources:
- Danvers Public Schools: Keeping Danvers Students Engaged webpage includes remote learning updates, tips for parents, resources for families to order a free lunch delivered to their home, and answers to your frequently asked questions!
- Town of Danvers: Information on Coronavirus and communications from the Town
- State of Massachusetts: Social Distancing, Stay at Home Advisory, etc.
Thank you,
Danvers Public Schools
DPS COVID-19 Update 3/30: MA DESE Info & Resources
Dear Danvers Families,
Please see the letter below from Commissioner, Jeffrey C. Riley and the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
The letter addresses the remote learning recommendations as well as updates on a range of other matters related to the school closures. Please visit the DESE site for more information and resources.
To read this letter in Spanish, click here. Additional language options will be available on MA DESE’s website.
