Transportation costs and parent feedback are highlighted in Superintendent Mark Lane's latest email to families

Two pieces to the challenging puzzle of figuring out what the fall might look like were presented to Decorah School District families last week.

In an email sent to families by Superintendent Mark Lane, he discussed the role of feedback as one essential piece.  He thanked the 600 parents who had, at the time of the email being sent, already filled out the DCSD Hybrid Learning Model Survey. Any parents who have not filled it out can find the link here. The survey will close at the end of business today.

Lane went on to say that feedback is important to the district, but it is also only one piece of the puzzle in deciding about the viability of a hybrid learning model.  Another key component of the decision is analyzing the financial impact of providing transportation in alignment with COVID-19 health and safety guidance.  Under normal circumstances, the district spends almost $600.00 per pupil annually on transportation.  Of the 323 school districts in Iowa, only about 10 spend more per pupil than DCSD.  This cost is due to the geographic size of the district, 301 square miles, and the high number of bus riders.

Lane concluded the email, "As we prepare for the next school year, we are dedicating time to thinking about how we can manage our transportation processes in the most economically viable way.  We continue to be on track for submitting our Return to Learn plan to the Iowa Department of Education on July 1, and expect to share details with our families and community the week of June 22."