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About The Redmond spokesman. (Redmond, Crook County, Or.) 1910-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 2021)
P4 THE SPOKESMAN • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 We initially planned to have students at both middle schools and high schools attend for full days, twice a week. After conducting a survey to determine how many high school students we could expect to ride the bus, we realized there was another solution. Redmond School District photos Redmond students return to the classroom. Students Continued from P1 At our elementary schools, the staff-to-student ratio is lower, students don’t move between classes much, and we have enough room — 35 square feet per student in class- rooms or by using additional spaces like cafeterias, libraries or separate learning spaces — for all students to be there all the time. At our middle and high schools, the staff-to-student ratio is significantly higher — 32 and 34 students for every staff member, and the number of students in the building is also higher. While our students will be in cohorts to limit how many people they come in con- tact with each day, it’s harder to maintain that 35 square feet per student if all students are in school at the same time. We initially planned to have students at both middle schools and high schools at- tend for full days, twice a week. After conducting a survey to determine how many high school students we could ex- pect to ride the bus, we realized there was another solution. So many high school kids get themselves to school — either by driving, walking and biking, or riding with their parents — that we figured out how to run two shifts of students four days a week. We like this plan, be- cause we think it will help our students feel more connected and reestablish a routine. This is important in ensuring our high schoolers are on track to graduate and are prepared for their next steps. For now, that leaves our middle schoolers as the only ones not visiting their build- ings four or more days each week. The reason is primar- ily transportation — we sim- ply don’t have enough buses or enough space on existing routes. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. District officials will keep thinking outside the box, looking for solutions that can help our students. We’ll continue looking for ways to get our secondary students in school for as many hours as possible, and in the meantime, we’re thrilled to have students back. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Don’t remove Jessie Hill school library There is a good chance our beloved Jessie Hill School, site of our current library, will be demolished soon. Nothing good about that and it’s not by chance. Ann Malkin, the current chair of the Deschutes Library Board, stated that,” Redmond will get a stunning new building twice the size of the current library and it will be built on the existing site” if the library bond passes. As we know, the bond passed and in March the final deci- sion will be made that can turn Jessie Hill into a pile of rubble. Yet, just 25 years ago, a lot of our tax money went to bring that building up to code, the same process whereby we now have a beautiful city hall. Both buildings complement each other and can last for an- other 100 years. Jessie Hill can serve many other uses, both civic or commercial. I urge the library board to work for an alternative solution to a new library in Redmond. About two years ago the board held a meeting in Redmond regarding new library plans. There were 56 residents there and we all agreed that, no matter how the plans turn out, the current building should remain as is. We still feel that way; please honor our wishes. Thank you. — William Groesz, Redmond LETTERS AND COLUMNS Ryan Brennecke/The Bulletin Chuck Arnold documents a participant’s information as volunteer Ron Osmundson fills a bag with items while handing out personal protective equipment to local businesses at Redmond City Hall on Thursday. PPE Continued from P1 Teresa Duckworth and Susie Brown also swung by city hall Thursday. The duo planned to use the protective equipment to safeguard the senior citizens they work with while cleaning their apartments and taking them grocery shopping. “God bless them for what they are doing,” Brown said of city staff. “This is a blessing.” Joey Podsadecki, an employee of Springtime Landscape and Irrigation, called the city event “pretty rad.” Getting lots of free face masks, sanitizer and more for Springtime’s large staff helps the company financially, he said. “We have 60 employees... so buying that much PPE is a big expense,” Podsadecki said. “Now, we can focus on trucks and equipment and stuff.” Thursday’s drive-thru event likely won’t be the last, Arnold said. “This is the first of what will probably be several Join in on the topics we’re covering. The Spokesman welcomes letters to the editor and guest columnists. Submissions may be edited or rejected for clarity, taste, libel and space. They must be signed and include an address and a tele- phone number where the writer can be reached during business hours. Full addresses and phone numbers will not be published. For more information, call 541-633-2166. To submit, email is preferred: news@redmondspokesman.com. Submissions can also be mailed to: P.O. Box 6020, Bend, OR 97708 FIND IT in the SPOKESMAN CLASSIFIEDS 923-3725 or classified@redmondspokesman.com Ryan Brennecke/The Bulletin Chuck Arnold asks Joey Podsadecki if the business he works for also needs a thermometer while handing out PPE. events,” he said. “If demand grows, we’ll find a way to get the supply.” ý Reporter: 541-617-7854, jhogan@bendbulletin.com Read and recycle Joe A Lochner Insurance Agency Inc. Joe Lochner, Agent 123 SW 5th Street Redmond, OR 97756 Bus: 541-548-6023 joe.lochner.h5mi@statefarm.com Fax: (541) 548-6024 State Farm, Bloomington, IL 1211999