Dear Colleagues:

As public health conditions improve in Virginia and the governor begins lifting some of the public health restrictions regarding Covid-19, we are planning for your safe return to work.

These past several months have been trying for all of us, both as professionals and personally. I want to commend each of you for how well and how enthusiastically you have met the needs of our students, families, and each other, whether working from home or supporting programs in person, such as the distribution of meals to students and families in need. I have heard reports from parents and school administrators about the special efforts instructional staff have made to connect with students and to be there to support them when needed. I am very proud of all our employees.

Our return to work program includes three phases. Phase 1 takes effect a week from this Monday, on June 15, when all 11- and 12-month employees should return to their workplace with the exception of employees:

• Who are in a high-risk group as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); or
• Whose duties allow them to continue to telecommute from home.

If you are unsure how this requirement will affect you, please contact your supervisor for guidance.

If you have questions about the temporary emergency leave provisions afforded by the Family First Coronavirus Relief Act, please contact Human Resources at 434-296-5827 or email benefits@albemarle.org.

Employees returning to the workplace on June 15 should always observe the social distancing requirement of staying six feet away from others. In public areas of the building or whenever you are unable to social distance, you will need to wear a face mask. Employees also will be required to conduct a health self-assessment as outlined in our Employee COVID-19 Screening Procedure.

We also are finalizing plans for Phase 2 of our Return to Work program, which will take effect on Monday, July 6, and expand the number of employees required to return to the workplace. We will share details with you once they are finalized. Phase 3 of our program will be consistent with guidance from the Virginia Department of Education on school openings later this year.

Providing for and protecting the health, well-being, and employment status of our ACPS family of employees continues to be a priority for our school division. I am incredibly appreciative of how you have answered the extraordinarily difficult challenges that confronted us on March 13. We have been flexible, creative and adaptive in response to how our lives have changed, but we have kept our focus on our mission to establish a community of learners and learning, through relationships, relevance and rigor, one student at a time … even from a distance.

Please stay safe.

Matt

Matthew S. Haas, Ed.D.
Superintendent