Hello AAPS Parents, Students, Staff and Community,

Many thanks to our students, staff, parents and community for all your work together to support our students this fall. We recognize that this COVID crisis is far from over. Our ongoing work to successfully connect and support our students and staff, to ensure learning and growth, to monitor rates of infection in our community, and the vigorous work in progress to devise ways to safely and sustainably bring our students and staff back to in-school learning are among our top priorities and the toughest challenges we will face. We know that we are stronger together and appreciate your support as we work together to move through these challenges. 

Safety Net and Supports for Students and Families

The Ann Arbor Public Schools continues work to extend a safety net to students and families impacted by COVID-19, including food distribution, technology and connectivity, and community health supports. Food distribution continues at more than 20 sites on Mondays and Thursdays. Full details on the food distribution program are available here.

Since March 13th, we have distributed over 600,000 meals in the AAPS, including breakfast and lunch for families seven days a week, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Chartwells dining staff, the Durham Transportation team and several community partners, including Community Action Network and the Peace Neighborhood Center. I recently visited the teams that prepare the meals in the kitchens at Pioneer and Skyline to thank them for their efforts on behalf of a grateful Ann Arbor community.  We have produced this behind the scenes video so you can learn more about their impressive work. 

Reimagine Learning Plan, Fall 2020 Update

At this week’s Board of Education meeting, we shared an update on the Reimagine Learning/Extended Continuity of Learning Plan in three parts. The overall AAPS Update, including video and a written transcript, is available here. The Health Review, including the new dashboard of COVID-19 cases in the AAPS, is available here, and the Teaching and Learning Update is available here. 

COVID-19 Metrics Dashboard Update

Our weekly update of the COVID-19 Metrics Dashboard was published today and can be viewed here.

Physical Properties Update: Preparing Our School Buildings for a COVID Informed Return to School

Significant work has been in progress over previous months to prepare AAPS school buildings for the healthiest and safest return to in-school learning. Highlights of this work include attending to healthy water and indoor air quality and increasing touchless surfaces in restrooms. You may see recently shared information about work on AAPS buildings here, and we will convene a Study Session of the Board of Education on this topic next Wednesday, October 21st, at 6 pm. This information session may be watched here and will be available for on-demand following the meeting. 

Frequently Asked Questions

As the AAPS community faces new challenges daily caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic, we continue to respond to new questions. We work on updating the most commonly asked questions for these communications each week, Reimagine Learning 2020-21 FAQs webpage.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to serve and support our students and are proud of the work of our teachers, staff and leaders to ensure connections for learning and growth during this difficult time. Thank you, parents and community members, for your understanding and strong support.

Sincerely,

Jeanice Kerr Swift
Superintendent of Schools
Ann Arbor Public Schools