Dear Shorewood Families,
On this last day of what has become an unusual and difficult school year, we want to thank you for your partnership as we navigated uncharted territory.
As challenging as this year has been, we have much to celebrate. We began our partnership with Children’s Hospital and have been able to provide mental health services to students on campus. We have broken ground on our facilities renovations, and are moving forward to create new spaces that are safer, more secure, and more accessible for all our students. Our student athletes amazed us with both their individual and team accomplishments throughout the year, most recently being named 4th in the Journal Sentinel's School of the Year for Sports. And our district and students received many, many awards for performing arts, geography bees, and overall district excellence, to name a few. To all the teachers and staff, students and parents - congratulations!
As we plan for the summer and next fall, we are working to build on the innovative solutions and systems Shorewood School District staff and teachers have created to support student learning and relationship building under conditions many of us never imagined.
Planning is underway for the first day of school on September 1, and our Superintendent, Bryan Davis, has pulled together teachers, community members and parents to help us think through possible school reopening models. While it is still unclear what guidance and restrictions from public health agencies may be in place this fall, it will almost certainly impact the way we serve our students. Student learning and school operations will look very different for the 2020-21 school year, and likely beyond. As always, the health and safety of our students and staff will be our highest priority.
At the same time, we continue our work to address inequities, dismantle white supremacy and adopt antiracist policies. We refuse to go back to the “normal” or status quo that is harmful to students and our community. Our reopening plan will have racial and educational justice as guiding principles. The needs of our students who have been denied full and equitable access to their education must remain at the forefront of our work.
This summer, your Board will recommit to the work outlined in our recently renewed strategic plan, which places equity at the foundation of everything we do. We will continue to forge relationships with stakeholders and maximize the potential and talents of all children. We recommit ourselves to struggling with our own racism, and we will examine and refuse to play any further part in creating or upholding injustice in our schools.
We are grateful for the trust you place in us to serve this community and its learners. We accept the known and unknown challenges ahead with optimism and humility, knowing we are marching forward together in the right direction.
Be well, and enjoy your summer,
Paru Shah, President
Hilary Deblois, Vice President
Pablo Muirhead, Treasurer
Emily Berry, Clerk
Clarke Warren