a
Dear MSD Community, First and foremost,
I hope that each of you and your families are safe and well. I wish to share with you that MSD along with Maryland Public Schools has been preparing for distance learning in the event that an extension of the current school closure becomes necessary.
This is also known as e-learning or online classes. Starting on Monday, March 23, 2020, MSD administrators, specialists, teachers, teacher aides, nurses, counselors, therapists, instructional staff, support staff, office staff, and dormitory staff will telework from home. MSD staff will not go to Frederick or Columbia Campuses per Governor Larry Hogan’s orders. MSD staff, please be monitoring your emails as your supervisors will be in touch with you shortly to outline your roles and responsibilities. If the state closes schools beyond two weeks, MSD will start distance learning for MSD students on March 30, 2020.
That is, MSD students will study at home. In the next few days, MSD administrators and assistant principals will be in touch with MSD families and MSD staff for next steps in preparations for distance learning. We will utilize the internet, video technology, and the United States Postal Service in order to provide continued instruction to MSD students. Hopefully, soon we will learn more from the Maryland Department of Education regarding graduation requirements for our Class of 2020, IEP meetings, and IEP services. Distance learning will be a very new experience for most of us.
Figuratively, we are building a new airplane as it flies. I ask for your patience and support as we all come together and learn this new paradigm in learning. This exciting and challenging journey is going to transform each of us for days and months to come.
The ASL version of this letter is found at the following link: https://youtu.be/f4K_G-_CcSg If you have questions, please email me at james.tucker@msd.edu, Frederick Campus Principal Kevin Strachan at kevin.strachan@msd.edu, Frederick Campus Dean of Student Affairs Jenn Ortiz at jennifer.ortiz@msd.edu, or Columbia Campus Principal Dawniela Patterson at dawniela.patterson@msd.edu.
Be safe.
Sincerely,
James E. Tucker Superintendent