Dear Ross Students and Families,
On Monday, April 20, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine officially closed Ohio public schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Sending this letter on behalf of the Ross Local School District is sobering for our staff, our students and our families. If there’s one thing I have learned in almost four years as Superintendent, the Ross Local Schools are a wonderful place to be and we will miss each other.
With this information in hand, our district will develop plans for the remainder of the school year as well as begin planning for 2020-2021. Our District Leadership Team will be meeting soon to discuss a whole host of items including distance learning, meal distribution, time for students to pick up items left in the buildings, and rescheduling activities such as prom, graduation, and other student recognition events.
News of the closure may be emotional for many of our students since they thrive in their school environment, including the structures and the connections they make with their peers and the adults in their lives. Some students will miss athletics, plays, field trips, science experiments, music programs, etc. Some of our students will miss the smiles and heart-felt interactions with their friends, teachers, and coaches. The staff of the Ross Local School District is here for you to support conversations about this closure as well as your child’s emotional and mental well-being so please contact us if you need assistance. Please contact us as we can lend a listening ear to your concerns and challenges.
On a personal note, I am finishing my 22nd year in Educational Administration and this is one of the hardest letters I’ve had to write. I’m already anticipating the sunrise on the first day students are able to come back to school at Ross. I’m already anticipating hearing the Ross Band of Class practicing and playing on a cool Friday evening. I’m already anticipating watching the students at Elda and Morgan leap off the bus so excited for school. I’m already anticipating watching the Ross Cross Country Team running the steps of my office building. I’m already anticipating teaching about coral reefs to the RMS fifth grade. I’m already anticipating the future. Let’s stay positive and forward-thinking as we meet this challenge head-on.
Our staff will continue to grow relationships with you and your children even through distance learning. Please continue to monitor the Covid19 HQ on the district website, communication from your child’s buildings, and your child’s distance learning platform for more information.
We are #RossBetterTogether. We will Discover, Aspire, Relate. Every Day. We will Win the Day, but most importantly, we will all be Ross Rams.
Most Sincerely,
Scott Gates, Superintendent