Lisbon School Department

Lisbon School Department

Maine Department of Education (Update)

Dear Lisbon Families,

In an effort to provide you with the most updated information related to the impact of COVID-19 on our schools, I am writing to inform you that later today the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) will be releasing the framework to assist in the planning of a return to in-person instruction in the fall. It is important to note that this framework will further develop and evolve as additional information and guidance is provided by the DOE. It is also important to know that exceptions to the framework will include any executive orders, state laws or local ordinances, which may be subject to change.

As you know, student and staff safety is our top priority and our district Safety Committee, which consists of school nurses, administrators, educators and representatives from transportation, food service and local emergency responders will also be collaborating with local and regional health experts per the framework outlined by the DOE. Our first meeting is being scheduled for next week and please be assured that we will be looking closely at the framework requirements and provide updates as they become available. 

As I have mentioned before, this notification is an effort to communicate this news to you as soon as possible as many of you have questions related to how things will look upon our return to in-person instruction and we felt that it was important to provide you with this assurance prior to having you see this information on social media and the news when it becomes available later today. 

Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions and thank you for your continued support of our students and our schools. “We are Lisbon”!

 

Richard A. Green, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Phone: 207-353-6711 X1005

"All Students Learn in Different Ways and in Different Timeframes"

Lisbon School Department

School Closure Update (April 29, 2020)

Dear Lisbon Families,

In an effort to provide you with the most updated information related to the impact of COVID-19 on our schools, I am writing to inform you that as a result of the extended “Stay at Home” order, the Lisbon School Department will remain closed and continue to do remote learning until further notice. 

As you may already know, on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, Governor Mills extended the timeline for Maine schools to cease classroom-based instruction. As a result, we are in the process of transitioning into Phase II of our “Distance Learning Plan” which will now continue until our last student day, which is scheduled for Friday, June 5, 2020. Over the next few days, you will receive information outlining what Phase II learning will involve but as I have shared with you in prior communications, our “Distance Learning Plan” is a blended approach that will continue to emphasize and encourage student engagement, creativity and family involvement. Also, the status of extended school year services for identified students with IEPs remains unclear but will be communicated to you as soon as additional information becomes available.

Several traditional school related events have already been impacted or canceled as a result of COVID-19 and we are truly sorry and understand the negative impact that this is having on our students and families. The most significant event impacted is the Class of 2020 graduation ceremony. Please be assured that we are looking at all of our options and our intent is to celebrate the Class of 2020 in a safe and allowed manner. Currently the graduation ceremony is still scheduled on the original date, which is Sunday, May 31, 2020. Specific details related to this event will be shared with parents and members of the community over the next week. Other plans related to the celebrations and transitions involving our Grade 5 and Grade 8 students are also being discussed and again we will be providing updates as they become available. As a result of the extended closure, families are asked to contact the schools to make arrangements to pick-up any personal belongings that may have been left in your students lockers or classroom.   

Our ability to provide meals at each of our “Mobile Food Sites” during this closure has been well received and I want to commend and thank all of our staff who have made this possible. Please contact our office at 353-6711 X1014 if you have any questions.

As I have mentioned before, this notification is an effort to communicate this news to you as soon as possible so that you may continue planning for child care and other concerns that have occurred as a result of this extended closure. If you or your family is in need of any support, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. Please be safe and as always be assured that we care and are here for you. Thank you for your continued support of our students and our schools and always remember that “We are Lisbon”!

 

Richard A. Green, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Phone: 207-353-6711 X1005

"All Students Learn in Different Ways and in Different Timeframes"

School Closure (Clarification)

Dear Lisbon Families,

In an effort to provide you with the most updated information related to the impact of COVID-19 on our schools, I am writing this letter in an effort to clarify the intent of the DOE email from Commissioner Makin, which was sent out last evening. Earlier today I was involved in a webinar with Commissioner Makin and she informed us that her email was intended only as a “recommendation” for schools to be proactive and start to prepare remote/distance learning plans for the remainder of the year and that is shouldn’t be misinterpreted as a notice that she had made the final decision to close schools. Commissioner Makin assured us that she will be clarifying this fact in her news interviews throughout the day. She also informed us that we could return to classroom-based instruction, prior to our last day in June, if in fact it was determined to again be safe. Although I personally believe that it is unlikely that we will be allowed to return, I wanted to assure you that we will follow this recommendation and update, revise and prepare our “Distance Learning Plan” in an effort to provide supports for the social, emotional and academic needs of our students from now until our last day in June.  

As I have mentioned before, the Lisbon School Department will continue to provide meals at each of our “Mobile Food Sites”, throughout this closure, so please contact our office at 353-6711 X1014 if you have any questions. Also, if you or your family find yourself in need, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. Please be safe and as always be assured that we care and are here for you. Thank you for your continued support of our students and our schools and always remember that “We are Lisbon”!

 

Richard A. Green, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Phone: 207-353-6711 X1005

"All Students Learn in Different Ways and in Different Timeframes"