March 12, 2020
Dear Manitou Springs School District Community,
Starting Monday, March 16, Manitou Springs School District (MSSD) will join Pikes Peak-area school districts in closing all school facilities for a period of two weeks. For MSSD, one of those weeks is our Spring Break. This necessary action is an effective way to slow the spread of infection and allow for a deep cleaning of our schools and other facilities.
• For students, the closure will be from March 16 through March 30. Students will return to school on March 31.
• For staff, the closure will be from March 16 through March 27. Staff will return to school on March 30 for a professional development day.
These dates of return will be reviewed as the days go on.
The decision to close our school district was extremely difficult, but it was made in collaboration with our leadership team and superintendents representing other districts in the Pikes Peak area. We know that closing our schools will have a significant impact on our families, but we also believe that strong, urgent action must be taken to prevent the spread of this disease and to protect lives.
During the closure, all schools, district facilities, and buses will undergo additional “high touch” deep cleanings with highly effective disinfectants. We encourage the community to continue hand washing and follow other recommendations from the CDC about how to avoid the spread of illness.
To Parents—Our principals will send follow-up communications with additional information about how you and your child can access online education resources, print materials, and other updates/developments.
To Staff—At school tomorrow, you will receive information from your Principal or Director about how you will work during this time period. Tomorrow, you will also have the opportunity to discuss the specific plans for your role/position and how you may work from home and/or the school (with approval from your principal). All Central Office staff, Principals, Assistant Principals, and Directors will be reporting to our respective campuses on Monday. We will continue to assess staff access to campuses.
Principals will most likely be receiving lots of emails, so please know that they will respond to your emails as soon as possible. Please continue to check MSSD’s website for updates.
Our goal is always to protect the safety, health, and wellness of our students, staff, and families.
We thank you for your support and partnership in this effort.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Domangue, PhD
Superintendent of Schools
March 12, 2020
Dear Manitou Springs School District Community,
As you know, significant changes, cancellations, and restrictions are being implemented across the country and world as a result of COVID-19. Manitou Springs School District 14 is no exception. This communication is being sent to share updates related to this important time for our community.
Part I—Learning Environment
Our school leaders are working collaboratively to develop e-learning and alternative learning plans in the event that we would need to close a school. This is to have a proactive plan. At this time, there is no plan to close a school or schools. There will be an Elementary Plan and a Secondary Plan as we know the needs are different across grade levels. If there is a closure, the principal for each school will communicate with the school’s community.
Part II—Travel
The following travel restrictions will be put into effect immediately for school-organized or sponsored student trips and staff professional learning.
I understand that this is disappointing news to the impacted students, staff, and families. However, these decisions are made out of an abundance of caution and safety for our students and community. Please know that we make these decisions based on the information we are receiving from the Colorado Department of Education, the Centers for Disease Control, the El Paso County Health Department, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
I also understand that numerous students and staff may have also booked private trips.
While the district has no authority to cancel these trips, personal travel by staff and students could result in a student or staff member being quarantined (by another agency) for up to 14 days upon return.
I will provide an update to the community once this travel restriction for school-organized or sponsored student trips and staff professional learning has been lifted.
Part III—Upcoming Events
We also learned today that, per the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), effective Friday, March 13th through April 6th, there will be NO team practices or games/events allowed. The CHSAA, along with multiple state agencies, will continue to evaluate the situation. Cameron Jones (Athletic and Activities Director) will provide updates to families and coaches as he receives new information.
All Middle School sports and activities will also be suspended starting, Friday, March 13 until further notice.
Connect 14 will be suspended starting Monday, March 16th until further notice.
We have decided to postpone the World Language and Culture Night that was scheduled for next Wednesday, March 18. This event brings over 1500 people to our campus, so we are taking the guidance from health agencies by mitigating the potential spread of the virus by suspending large-group gatherings.
After thorough consideration and consultation, the 2020 MSES Roaring 20's Auction, originally scheduled for this Saturday, March 14 at Manitou City Hall, has been postponed to a TBD date. Updates will be available on MSES’s website.
The Baseball Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction, originally scheduled for Sunday, March 15 will also be postponed to a TBD date.
We know there are several other events that are planned for the upcoming weeks. Please monitor your school’s website for any cancellations, postponements, and/or other decisions.
I will be sending follow-up communications as needed.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Domangue, PhD
Superintendent of Schools
3/6/20
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope that everyone is having a wonderful week.
In my message last week, I communicated that I would provide an update related to our monitoring, preparedness, and responsiveness to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
MSSD has a pandemic plan (for Coronavirus and other contagions), which will be continuously reviewed. We have also been working across the district to review and evaluate the protocols we have in place, and we will adjust as needed as we receive updated information from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the El Paso County Health Department.
You can continue to find updated information about what the district is doing on our website: https://mssd14.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=57448&pageId=27128586
Our staff is also increasing the frequency of cleaning high touch surfaces across our buildings and busses and having staff remind students regularly about handwashing and the prevention of spreading germs.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Domangue, PhD
Superintendent of Schools
3/2/20
As we shared last week, Manitou Springs School District has been working closely with our local public health agencies as we monitor the global outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
To date, there have been two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Colorado.
In the event that COVID-19 reaches El Paso County, the District will work closely with the El Paso County Health Department to respond in a manner that is respectful to the individual rights of our students and families, including the right to confidentiality, while also working to prevent the spread of illness in accordance with applicable law and administrative rules. This may include temporarily limiting the attendance of students with a communicable disease at school and school activities. I will be providing an update next week as we receive more information from the El Paso County Health Department.
Our highest priority is the safety of our students and staff.
We are still taking this health threat very seriously, continuing to monitor schools for outbreaks, and regularly disinfecting schools during and after school hours. When there are respiratory or gastrointestinal outbreaks, MSSD14 school nurses and school leaders will use the existing illness outbreak processes to track illnesses, notify health department officials, disinfect schools, and notify staff and parents. We are also advising parents do not send your child to school if they may be sick. Keeping your sick child home will be a great benefit for the health and wellness of all students and staff.
MSSD14 has a pandemic plan, which has been developed in cooperation with our local health departments. We have also been working across the district to review and evaluate the protocols we have in place and adjust as needed.
Our staff is also increasing the frequency of cleaning high touch surfaces across our buildings and busses and having staff remind students regularly about hand washing and the prevention of spreading germs.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Domangue, PhD
Superintendent of Schools