July 28, 2020

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SCHOOL BOARD

GRAND FORKS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #1
Tuesday, July 28, 2020 – 6:00 p.m.
Red River High School Performance Hall, 2211 17th Avenue South, Grand Forks, ND
(Enter through the Performance Hall Door #22)

The meeting will be broadcast live at https://www.youtube.com/c/GFSchools. For in-person attendees,

due to precautionary measures that are in effect against the transmission of COVID-19, social distancing
and the wearing of a facemask will be enforced. Attendees should wear a facemask as they enter the
building and locate a seat. Once socially-distant seating is established and can be maintained, attendees
may remove their facemask if desired. However, when social distancing cannot be assured, and when
moving throughout or exiting the building, attendees should wear their facemask. Hand sanitizer will be
available for use upon entering the building.

AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

II. SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION FOR DISCUSSION

A. School Reopening Update

III. SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION FOR ACTION

A. Consideration of a Later School Start Date

IV. ADJOURNMENT

Any person who requires an auxiliary aid or service to allow access or participation at a school board
meeting is asked to notify the superintendent’s office (787-4880) at least one day before the meeting.
 July 28, 2020
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Mission Statement
Grand Forks Public Schools will provide an environment of educational excellence that
engages all learners to develop their maximum potential for community and global success.

Mark Sanford Education Center Mr. Jody Thompson Ms. Catherine Gillach
PO Box 6000 (58206-6000) Associate Supt. of Elementary Education Assistant Supt. of Secondary Education
2400 47th Avenue South (58201-3405) Department Phone: 701.787.4882 Department Phone: 701.787.4882
Grand Forks, ND jthompson270@mygfschools.org gillach210@mygfschools.org

MEMORANDUM

DATE: July 28, 2020

TO: Dr. Terry Brenner, Superintendent
FROM: Jody Thompson, Associate Superintendent
Catherine Gillach, Assistant Superintendent
RE: School Reopening Update

We will present our most recent GFPS Smart Restart Plan to the board at our Tuesday, July
28, work session. We are meeting this week with all school principals and directors to review
the final draft and solicit their input and suggestions. We have also shared the draft with a
group of 41 teacher leaders from across the district for their input as well. We’ll need time to
make any revisions and/or additions to the document before sharing it with the school board.

Therefore, we will provide the board members with an electronic copy of the GFPS Smart
Restart Plan this Friday, July 24. We’ll use this document to guide our discussion at Tuesday
night’s board meeting.

Thank you.

JT:CG/ls

__________________________Providing Equal Opportunities in Education and Employment_____________________________

 July 28, 2020
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Mission Statement
Grand Forks Public Schools will provide an environment of educational excellence that
engages all learners to develop their maximum potential for community and global success.

Mark Sanford Education Center Dr. Terry Brenner

PO Box 6000 (58206-6000) Superintendent of Schools
2400 47th Avenue South (58201-3405) Phone: 701.787.4880
Grand Forks, ND Fax: 701.772.7739
www.gfschools.org tbrenner270@mygfschools.org

MEMORANDUM
TO: Grand Forks School Board
FROM: Dr. Terry Brenner, Superintendent of Schools
SUBJECT: Consideration of a Later School Start Date
DATE: July 28, 2020
_______________________________________________________________________

School Board Policy 1001 requires the Board to approve the start and end dates of each academic calendar year. The
board previously approved the start and end dates of the 2020-2021 calendar beginning on Wednesday, August 26,
2020, and ending on Thursday, May 27, 2021.

COVID-19 has pushed us into unprecedented times. The District has crafted a robust “smart restart” plan that
outlines new health and safety protocols and procedures; a heightened collective commitment to Social and
Emotional Learning (SEL); the need to build both teacher and student capacity in digital competency to assure
fluidity between face-to-face and remote learning; implementation of additional K-12 reading and math assessments
to identify learning gaps caused by last spring’s closure dynamics; identifying and focusing on priority standards K-
12; a shift to block scheduling; and more. It is imperative that we allow teachers and administrators ample time not
only to plan and absorb this information but also time to create application strategies once they are back on contract.

As a result, we propose modifying the beginning date of school to August 31 for K-9 students and September 1 for
10-12 students for the 2020-2021 school year. This would result in two fewer student contact days while still
meeting Century Code requirements. It would also allow us to provide teachers and administrators two additional
planning and preparation days on August 26-27, 2020. Input for a delayed school start was sought from District and
building-level administrators and teachers. Further, I reached out to superintendents from Fargo, West Fargo, Minot,
Mandan, Bismarck, and Jamestown and a majority are pushing school start dates back to allow staff more time to
prepare.

The administrative recommendation is to approve the revised school calendar to start on August 31, 2020, with an
end date of May 27, 2021.

_______________Providing Equal Opportunities in Education and Employment_______________