Brewer Schools Open on Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Dear Families and Staff of the Brewer School Department,

Both Brewer Community School (BCS) and Brewer High School (BHS) will be open tomorrow, Tuesday, January 12, 2021. It is a cohort B day.

Some have asked why BCS was open and BHS moved to remote learning today. The primary factor was timing. We learned of the BCS positive case last week when we could contract trace and go through all our protocols. However, we learned about the BHS case over the weekend and could not complete all safety protocols on Sunday night and so needed today to make sure all that work was done and that we had the full picture of who was affected and if we still had conditions that were conducive to being open for in-person learning.

Had we learned of the BHS case last Thursday at 9:00 a.m., for example, then we would not have had to go remote based on the facts of the recent case. We are happy that, on the whole, BHS has been open for in-person learning the vast majority of days since starting school back in September, and that BCS has not had to go to a remote learning day yet this school year.

However, if we should need a remote day for either school based on safety concerns, or for our 9-12 Alpha program located on the first floor of central office, then we have not and will not hesitate to do so. Having BHS remote today gave us time to assure everyone's safety, and our teachers scrambled to make it a productive educational day despite the late notice.

No case of COVID-19 has been traced as originating in our schools. It appears that there has been more virus out in the general community, but we know that our safety measures and improved air filtration is the best way to make sure people remain healthy. Our contact tracing is conservative in nature, and when we ask students and staff to quarantine it is in order to make sure they do not get sick.

Schools and programs will be fully disinfected this evening, as they are every night, and we'll be ready to go tomorrow and will remain vigilant on behalf of our students staff.

We have done well this year thanks to everyone's careful, watchful eyes. Please keep doing the great job you have been at monitoring your own and your students' health, and we will remain your partners in this effort.

Better days are coming.

Sincerely,

Gregg Palmer, Superintendent of Schools
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