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By Dr. Susan Long
Dodge County
School Superintendant

As we end the first nine weeks of the 2020-21 school year, I want to express our appreciation for your support. These are unusual times, and extra effort is required by everyone to ensure the safest learning environment possible for our students and staff. I love the quote from H. E. Luccock who writes: “No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it.” To me, the writer is talking about teamwork. Michael Jordan also writes: “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” These quotes really do highlight the importance of working together for the same purpose. The Dodge County School System is thankful for the students, staff, parents, and community that work together each day to do great things for our students. Since March 2020, we have all been met with situations that are new and challenging.
Because we have worked together, we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. As we move forward, we are continuing to adapt, and we are addressing each situation while keeping the well-being and health of our students and staff as the priorities. Please continue to embrace our school system spirit as we work to make school as close to normal as is possible under the ever-changing circumstances in which we are living.

I would like to share a few updates with you:

1. Homecoming has been moved to November 20, 2020. We hope to have a week full of Homecoming festivities including a Homecoming Powwow, a parade, and the presentation of the Homecoming Court during halftime at the Dodge County High School (DCHS) vs Southwest football game.

2. The Dodge County School System has received a grant for 27 Wireless Access Points. These access points are placed in various locations around the county and within Eastman city limits. Each location’s access point has a specific ID: dcs plus four numbers. Examples: dcs0123, dcs6789. The password for all locations is dcs12345. While at the locations, we request that users remain in their vehicles due to social distancing guidelines and safety concerns. The wireless access points contain content filtering and are CIPA compliant. Dodge County Schools is still contacting potential sites. If you have questions, please contact us at the Dodge County Board of Education (DCBOE) at 478-374-3783.
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By Joey Marchant

The Dodge County Board of Education, at a called meeting on Monday October 5, 2020 upon the recommendation of superintendent Dr. Susan Long, voted unanimously to adopt an alternate schedule for the second nine weeks of the 2020-2021 school year.

The alternate schedule will be as follows: high school students will be grouped into Group A and Group B alphabetically based on last name. Group A will attend in person classes on Monday and Thursday. Group B will attend in person classes on Tuesday and Friday. Wednesday will be an eLearning day for all high school students.

Elementary, middle school and Dodge Achievement Center (DAC) students will attend in person classes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday will be an eLearning day for all elementary, middle school and DAC students.

An effort will be made to continue to have pre-k students attend in person classes Monday through Friday. However, if this option is not feasible, pre-k students may be put on the same schedule as elementary and middle school students.

Dr. Long stressed that everyone has had to adapt during the COVID-19 Pandemic and has worked well together to meet the challenges. The alternate schedule will help prevent the placement of students in quarantine and allow for time to sanitize schools and buses. The eLearning day will help prepare students for the unfortunate possibility that matters could get worse and schools may have to close for a period of time as happened during the 2019-2020 school year.

The new schedule will begin Tuesday, October 13, 2020 and will remain in effect through December 18, 2020.