January 10, 2022
RE: BHS, BRCOT, BMS Temporarily Moving to Remote Instruction;
All other schools remain open and in-person
Dear Staff, Students, and Families,
As you’ve undoubtedly heard, in the last two weeks there has been a significant surge in COVID-19 cases across the nation, the State of Maine, and many of our schools.
As the latest variant of the Coronavirus rapidly spreads through our community, we are continuing to closely monitor positive cases within our schools. Following this weekend, our data shows positive cases have increased significantly within our adolescent and adult population. We continue to ask parents to monitor all symptoms and keep students who are not feeling well at home.
Due to the lack of necessary staff and high community transmission the above schools are moving to remote instruction through Friday, January 14. This will include all afterschool activities and sports. Practices and games will resume on Tuesday, January 18. Until that time, athletics and performance venues at BHS and BMS are closed.
Be clear: we want kids in school. We have kept schools open, and will continue to do everything in our power to keep our schools open. That said, as the public health picture continues to evolve, and increasing numbers of students and staff are testing positive for COVID-19 across the district, we must temporarily move to remote instruction.
Unvaccinated people in York County are at an extremely high risk for COVID-19 infections. New cases are the highest they have ever been. The average number of new cases in York County was 174 yesterday, about the same as the day before. Because of high spread, the CDC recommends that even vaccinated people wear masks in our County. Since January 2020, at least 1 in 8 people who live in York County have been infected.
As our health data continues to come in, I’ll keep the community advised. At this time, we don’t have plans for a whole-district school closure, rather, we will assess program-by-program, and school-by-school to keep disruptions to the bare minimum.
FOOD SERVICE: To-go breakfast and lunch will be provided to any family daily between 10am and 11am at the following locations:
- BHS: Left entrance near Steve White Gym
- BMS: Left entrance bus loop
Families without access to transportation in need of school nutrition service can email smorrell@biddefordschools.me
INSTRUCTION: Linked below is the school-based information for remote instruction, which may include asynchronous learning.
BHS Schedule
BRCOT Schedule
BMS Schedule
BIDDEFORD REC: The Rec Department will be shuttering the Teen Center for the same period.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Ray
Superintendent of Schools