Dear SPS Families,

Reflecting on the past year, it is hard to believe all that our country has been through and even harder to accept that so much is still in flux. This week we welcomed staff and students back from the December recess and, as expected, saw a marked uptick in the number of COVID positive persons. We are grateful to our staff, families and community for continuing to embrace mitigation strategies such as social distancing, hand hygiene, testing, vaccination, and masking. Layered on top of the safety measures we are taking at school (e.g. at-home rapid testing for staff before returning from the recess, weekly pooled testing, lab quality filters in our air exchange units, contact tracing, and distancing), these strategies are helping us keep school in session. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has been very clear that, at this time, remote learning is not an option for districts this year. Should the district need to cancel school for snow or any other reason, including COVID, days would need to be made up at the end of the school year, on a Saturday or designated school recess.

Speaking of snow, I am watching the weather closely today. Earlier this morning I met with Sudbury’s DPW Director, Public Safety Chiefs, and Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School Superintendent. I have two main concerns about tomorrow’s forecast. The storm is projected to be at its peak during morning arrival which could create dangerous situations. I am also concerned with the amount of snow predicted as well as the DPW’s ability to ensure the roads are safe due to a shortage of drivers. I am meeting again with them later this afternoon and I am hoping to make a determination early this evening.

Wishing you a healthy, happy, and safe new year!

Brad Crozier

Superintendent