Dear fellow members of the Broadalbin-Perth community,
My, how things have changed in the last few weeks. Our classrooms, which are usually full of children engaged in learning, are empty after being cleaned and disinfected. Our teachers are getting creative by connecting with students through technology and over the phone. Our food service staff are preparing meals for the neediest children and serving them through car windows rather than on a cafeteria line.
But the one thing that hasn’t changed through all of this is how overwhelmingly kind and giving and compassionate the people of our community are.
This current crisis is a true test of the strength of local communities around the world, including the Broadalbin-Perth community. As a lifelong resident, I am proud of the response from our community so far, and I believe that our community will come out of this current crisis even stronger than it is now.
As the leader of our local public schools, I have to thank all of our employees for stepping up to serve the children and families of our district. Our instructional staff shifted incredibly quickly from business-as-usual in the classroom to providing our students with resources that will allow them to continue the learning process at home. Our food service and transportation staff have gone above and beyond to make sure that children in need in our community continue to receive breakfast and lunch every weekday. Our IT team has been helping to connect students and teachers by distributing technology to students who need access at home, as well as troubleshooting issues as they arise. And our custodial team has been working tirelessly to clean and disinfect every inch of our school buildings to help mitigate the spread of this virus.
During the few quiet times I’ve had over the past week, I’ve enjoyed reading all of the kind words about our school district’s efforts that so many of you have posted to social media or shared with our staff via email. I’ve also enjoyed a few chuckles at some of the posts and memes about the experiences some people have had with helping their kids learn at home — sorry, I can’t get your child transferred out of your class, but it’s totally up to you if you want to give them detention!
In all seriousness, though, I understand and respect the struggle many parents may be experiencing while classes are canceled. Please know that, even though they can’t be with your children in person, our teachers and leaders are standing by, ready to support you in your efforts to continue the learning process. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher and/or building leader as the need arises.
We face a lot of uncertainty in the coming days and weeks, but I remain committed to answering your questions and responding to the needs of our school community as events unfold.
Thank you for being a part of what makes B-P such a strong community. We will get through this together!
Sincerely,
Stephen Tomlinson
Superintendent of Schools