Letter to Parents and Guardians

Parents and Guardians of Crawford County Students,

                At 3:45 today, April 1, 2020, I found out that Governor Brian Kemp was going to require schools be closed to in person instruction for the remainder of this school year.   I want to first say to you, please know your kids are going to be OK.  All students in Crawford County Schools will be OK.  We are currently planning on how to get new resources to your children, both electronically and manually, as well as how we are going to start next year with intense remediation, to ensure skills and knowledge that your students may have missed during this disruption.  We will find a way to progress monitor each student early in the school year next year and we will come up with a plan to catch up everyone who needs catching up. We will continue to provide online lessons from teachers and programs, teachers will continue to find ways to reach your children and share those methods with everyone, and we will find a way to get paper packets safely to all children.  Right now there are more questions than answers, but we will work closely with the GA Department of Education, The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, and other agencies to work through this unprecedented time.  We are in the same boat as every school in the state.  We are better off than some and not as well off as others, but we are ALL (ALL public schools) in the same boat so we will get through it together.

             2020 Seniors, I literally hurt for how your special year has been upturned.  We will be discussing and asking for guidance on how to respectfully close your K-12 education experience. I don’t have the words to tell you how much I hate this is happening, but you will be alright too.  This will be a life lesson in perseverance.  I am certain your teachers and staff will do everything in their power to assist you to make certain you have the credentials to graduate and move forward in your college or career path.  We will be asking you as well as all students to complete assignments and interact with teachers.  This should allow you multiple one on one interactions.

Thanks,

Brent Lowe

Superintendent Crawford County Schools

COVID - 19

On December 8, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt gave his “Infamy Speech” detailing the events of Pearl Harbor and asking Congress to declare war on the Empire of Japan.  In that speech is a line that has always resonated with me.  That line is: “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.”  This speech and the attack on Pearl Harbor marks one of the most noted times in American History.  I lead this blog with that little history lesson to say the following:

No matter what side of the fence you are on about the Corona Virus (COVID-19), the way America or Georgia is reacting to it, the school closures, or the economic impact of all of the above, one thing is for certain, this will be marked as one of the most noted times in history.  History books will tell the story of COVID-19 and I am proud of one thing when this story is told, a group of people will be considered heroes.  This group is the Teachers, School Staffs, Nutrition Staffs, Bus Drivers, and Administrators of the many school systems across our state and our nation.  This group has provided meals to students, disinfected schools, provided daily on line resources to students, sent review guides to students, and provided other resources critical to students even though it’s schools are shut down.  And they will continue throughout the shutdown.  I am so proud of the teachers, staff and administrators in MY school district, Crawford County School District; because of the compassion that each has shown in this uncertainty.  I hold my chest out when I see kids being reached by teachers through a plethora of online and paper resources.  I do not know how long we are going to be at “war” with COVID -19, but no matter how long it may take us to overcome this virus, the students of America, Georgia, and Crawford County will be OK because the teachers, staff and administrators and their righteous calling will not have it any other way.

Keep fighting and, by all means, keep being an awesome staff!

Thank you so much Crawford County!      

         

Brent Lowe

Superintendent