KHS and MSK Move to Temporary Remote Instruction

January 10, 2022

Dear Staff, Students, and Families,

After consultation with the Dr. Don Burgess (RSU 21 Consulting Physician) and school administrators, we made the difficult determination that keeping Kennebunk High School and the Middle School of the Kennebunks open in the face of the current post-holiday community COVID-19 surge is unmanageable. Due to a number of factors, including the challenge of staffing our buildings, and a trajectory of increasing adolescent student and staff COVID-19 cases, I am declaring that Kennebunk High School and the Middle School of the Kennebunks engage in remote learning effective Tuesday, January 11 through Monday, January 17, 2022.  All PreK to Grade 5 elementary schools will remain open at this time. We have heard from our parents regarding the importance of keeping our youngest learners in school whenever it is possible. Closing KHS and MSK now, may prevent a longer period of remote instruction later in these buildings. All in-person co-curricular and extra-curricular activities are paused for the high school and middle school effective Tuesday, January 11, 2022. 

Tuesday, January 11, 2022 is a non-instructional day for students. This will be a preparation day for staff and an opportunity for parents to pick up materials from our schools. All IEPs will take place as scheduled on this planning day. Students will begin remote learning on the morning of Wednesday, January 12. Schools are closed for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on January 17, 2022. We anticipate in-person learning and in-person co-curricular and extra-curricular activities to resume on Tuesday, January 18. RSU 21 will continue to monitor the situation and if there are any changes, we will update you.

We know in-person instruction is best for students. However, at this time, the best way to ensure continuous learning given the increasing number of student and staff absences, is to provide remote learning opportunities for our students. Building principals will provide specific information to families regarding the schedules for remote instruction in a follow-up letter.  Below you will find links to the general building plans for remote learning and our school lunch program during this period. 

• KHS Remote InstructionSchedule

• MSK Remote Instruction Schedule

• School Nutrition Lunch Form 

Staff who have COVID related illness during this time will post asynchronous learning activities for students.

We look forward to returning to in-person instruction and resuming co-curricular/extra-curricular activities as quickly as possible and responsible. Thank you for your understanding and support. Together our preventative steps can protect the health of our students, school personnel, and the RSU 21 community. Stay well.

Sincerely,

Terri I. Cooper, Ed. D.

RSU 21 Superintendent

For general COVID-19 questions, dial 211 (or 1-866-811-5695). You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211 or email info@211maine.org. Call a health care provider for questions about your symptoms. More information can be found at www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.