On November 8, 2020, J. Scott Smith, Ed.D., the Superintendent of Schools for St. Mary’s County sent the following letter out to parents of School children.
Dear St. Mary’s County Public Schools Staff and Families:
I regret to inform you that as a result of community spread of COVID 19 in St. Mary’s County, we will be cancelling all in-person instruction for the upcoming week, November 9-13, 2020. As I am sure you are aware, COVID 19 cases are surging across the nation and our state. On Thursday evening, November 5, Governor Hogan held a press conference detailing the current surge and emphasizing the importance of taking every precaution to contain the spread of COVID 19. The state is recognizing rates that it has not seen since July, with a Maryland statewide positivity rate nearing 5% and a new case rate per one hundred thousand of over 18. He has called this a “pivotal moment” and we agree.
St. Mary’s County Public Schools and all those whom we employ have worked tirelessly over the past eight months to support our children and provide the best possible instruction in the worst possible time. We have followed CDC guidelines of masking, social distancing, and hygiene. We have put our students first and sacrificed much to get where we are right now and the last thing we want to do is move backward but being able to continue inperson instruction requires the entire community to be committed to this goal. The numbers from the last three days, show that our community is moving in the wrong direction.
We will continue to work daily with St. Mary’s Health Department and follow their advice. We urge everyone else to do the same. An update will be provided mid-week and we are hopeful that the trend we currently see will reverse. It is up to each one of us to make that happen.
Again, as a result of the number of positive COVID 19 cases recorded for the past three days in St. Mary’s County, all in-person instruction for the upcoming week will be cancelled.
Sincerely,
J. Scott Smith, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
