Dear Elkhart County Public Schools Families,

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we plan for the safe reopening of your schools. The Elkhart County public school superintendents have been meeting weekly with Elkhart County Health Department, the Elkhart County Commissioners and the mayors of Elkhart, Goshen, and Nappanee as we prepare for the 2020-2021 school year. The Indiana Department of Education recently released guidance on the reopening of schools in their IN-CLASS report. The Elkhart County public schools are working collaboratively with this guidance to create reopening plans that ensure the safety of all students.

As we welcome your children back to our classrooms, we want to share important information about these reopening procedures with you. All Elkhart County public schools will be starting on their scheduled date offering instructional options in our schools or online. Students returning to classrooms will do so with procedures approved by the Elkhart County Health Department. Online options will be available for students who cannot or are uncomfortable returning to school. A detailed reopening plan will be available from each school soon. Reopening plans will include procedures for:
• Self-screening
• Cleaning and disinfecting
• Facial coverings and shields
• Bus transportation
• Social distancing
• Identifying, tracing, and reporting cases of COVID-19

Please expect to see these reopening plans in the coming weeks.

Thank you for supporting Elkhart County public schools and we look forward to serving your students for the 2020-2021 school year.

Mr. Byron Sanders, Baugo Community Schools
Dr. Denise Seger, Concord Community Schools
Dr. Steve Thalheimer, Elkhart Community Schools
Dr. Robert Evans, Fairfield Community Schools
Dr. Steve Hope, Goshen Community Schools
Mrs. Jane Allen, Middlebury Community Schools
Dr. Scot Croner, Wa-Nee Community Schools