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School Board Appreciation Month

Message from the SuperintendentDear Canutillo Community,

January is School Board Appreciation Month. We are particularly appreciative of our CISD trustees this year.

A trustee is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “one to whom something is entrusted.” During these trying times, they have been entrusted to keep our school community safe. Our board members have taken this responsibility to heart as evidenced by their support of policies, programs, and protocols designed to keep our students and staff healthy in view of the pandemic. They have also approved resources to enable the continuation of high-quality instruction through virtual platforms.

We are fortunate to have these seven altruistic citizens on our board, always with the welfare of our district community foremost on their minds. We pause to thank them this month for their invaluable service.

While we celebrate our trustees, I want to take this opportunity to welcome two new principals to the District. Jonathan Flores has been named as principal of Bill Childress Elementary School. Flores previously served as an assistant principal at Montwood Middle School in Socorro ISD. Maria Alarcon, former assistant principal at our own Congressman Silvestre & Carolina Reyes Elementary, will take over at Gonzalo and Sofia Garcia Elementary.

As we begin the new year, we must continue to navigate the health crisis. CISD has been working closely with local health officials and neighboring ISDs to develop return-to-school plans and strategies.

On October 23, 2020, ESC-Region 19, in collaboration with TEA, implemented the below plan for the reopening of schools. The El Paso area hospitalization rate has moved from the red zone to the orange zone and we are required to adjust to the listed safeguards.

Region 19 School Safe Zones

In addition, based on a recommendation from the El Paso City/County health authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza, we will not begin in-person instruction until after January 18. Despite currently being in the Orange Zone (hospitalization rate below 20%), the recommendation from the local health authority was made to provide a full two-week period from possible holiday gatherings that have the potential to increase community spread.

Therefore, the re-opening for students whose parents have chosen for them to return to school will be delayed for one week. Canutillo ISD is tentatively scheduled to begin in-person instruction on January 19 to limited groups of students. Teachers will tentatively return to their classroom on January 14 pending any other changes based on the health of the local community. Until then, learning pods and remote instruction will continue as normal.

Don’t forget that our Child Nutrition Department is continuing meal service. The meal distribution takes place at the campus curbside from each school Monday thru Friday from 10:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. You can pick up the meals at any campus. Please visit our website for more information or contact your campus.

Lastly, in order for continuous improvement and as part of the Resilient School Support Grant, we would like to hear from parents and teachers regarding remote learning. Please complete the survey:
Parent: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H6DLR3L
Teacher: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WFWW6XB

The survey will close on Wednesday, January 14 by the end of business day.