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
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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
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Joe Lochner, Agent
123 SW 5th Street
Redmond, OR 97756
Bus: 541-548-6023
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Fax: (541) 548-6024
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