Colorado Springs School District 11 was recently informed that an individual who was at Monroe Elementary on September 8 was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. As such, individuals who were at Monroe Elementary on September 8 may have been exposed to the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), the virus is thought to spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet for longer than ten minutes) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Due to these circumstances, D11 and Monroe have taken the following actions:
Over the past few days, the District also became aware of other individuals at Monroe who were not feeling well. While there has not been another positive test result to date, the District and school are working out of an abundance of caution to maintain the health and safety of students, staff, and family members of the school community. Therefore, the following actions will be taken this week:
For Immediate Release:
On Friday, September 11, at 9 a.m., Mitchell High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps will have its annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony commemorating the 19 year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 tragedy. The memorial ceremony will honor the military personnel, fire fighters, police officers, and civilians who passed away during the 9/11 tragedy.
There will be a special tribute to Ms Kathryn Yancey LaBorie, a 1975 graduate of Mitchell High School, who was a flight attendant aboard United Airlines Flight 175. Her plane was the second aircraft to crash into the World Trade Center. As part of the tribute to Kathryn Yancey LaBorie, the JROTC cadets and the Yancey Family will be laying a wreath and releasing balloons in honor of Ms LaBorie during the ceremony.
As a final tribute to Kathryn Yancey LaBorie, the Mitchell High School JROTC program and the Yancey family created a scholarship in Kathryn’s memory and the scholarship winner will be announced during the ceremony.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Devra Ashby, Office: 520-2286, Cell: 640-2883
Colorado Springs School District 11 In-Person Learning Update
Colorado Springs School District 11 continues to monitor the health data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and El Paso County Public Health and Environment (EPCPHE). Thankfully, data is starting to show favorable COVID trends in our community that may help as the District continues to plan for students returning to the classroom. At last night’s D11 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Thomas mentioned a possible staggered in-person start as early as September.
Tentatively starting in mid-September, and dependent on the health data holding positive trends, the District would begin to bring back elementary students to schools in-person, five days per week. Middle school students would be brought back in-person also five days per week on the planned block schedule as stated in the D11 Return to Learn plan, and high school students on the hybrid model (also stated in the Return to Learn plan). D11 would continue to offer an online, remote learning environment for the families who choose this option. More details will be discussed at the September 9 regular Board of Education meeting, at 4 p.m. That meeting may be viewed live at www.d11.org/tv.
The District continues to monitor the circumstances and environmental safety levels for students and staff. It has always been the desire of the Board and the District to bring students back to in-person learning, and it is hopeful these positive trends will alow the District to do so sooner than anticipated.
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