The following letter was sent to Cape Henlopen School District Superintendent Robert Fulton, with a copy submitted to the Cape Gazette for publication.
My husband and I are very proud Cape alumni and have graduated five children from Cape. Between the five, they have ascertained eight college degrees, a retired Army veteran, and the fifth has special needs and is gainfully employed, just as his siblings are. So, here is proof, Cape is Great!
Life has it that my husband and I are raising grandchildren. They are even more wonderful than their parents! That’s why I have to write this letter to you, Mr. Fulton. I need to know all Cape students and faculty will be safe this upcoming school year.
I have several questions pertaining to our opening plan. Will opening and closing time at each school change? How will we upgrade the ventilation and HEPA filters in our schools? I know there is a limit of students for each school; can you tell us what those numbers are and if we are in compliance with those numbers? Will the students be sharing textbooks, calculators, and such? Will each student’s temperature be taken every morning and by who? Will the district hire more nurses? What are the actual class sizes for each school? Will the schools have bathroom monitors? How will recess aides handle recess, outdoor and indoor? Who will be eating cafeteria meals? Are we set up to keep everyone six feet apart in the cafeterias? Will Cape provide masks (and iPad insurance) to students who receive free or reduced lunch, or anyone else in the district that is financially unable to bear the cost? How will our bus system run? Will parents and families be notified immediately if there is a COVID-19 case in their building? Not just notifying the student’s class, but the entire building, or bus? Are we using CDC precautions or state precautions? I love where I live, but our cases in Sussex County are still very high. Are we finding monies to compensate our teachers and other faculty for adding to their job description? Or perhaps, hazardous pay? How will parents be confident their children are safe and safety measures are being used when we will not be permitted in the schools? I could probably go on forever, but these are what are important to me and hopefully you also.
In closing, I feel assured that every parent, school board member, and the faculty’s concern is our students’ safety. Therefore, I’m confident the district will be more transparent to the community as to how the district’s reopening plan will work, and if it allows quality teaching and teaching time for our students. Perhaps coffee one day to discuss such things? Six feet apart, of course. In my town, I’m considered the person who gets the information and shares it, laughably called the ‘Mother of Milton.’ I want these students to be safe, well educated, happy, and prosperous in their education. I’m trusting with your answers to the above questions, Great Cape can and will make sure of that.
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