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Good communication really is imperative

By Garth J. McKinney, Ed. D. - Guest Columnist | Oct 2, 2021

Garth J. McKinney, Ed. D.

Let’s keep in touch is more to me than a common saying among friends and colleagues.

The Nashua School District wants to improve how we keep in touch with our families and our school community members at not only at regular intervals but also at moments when you want to share a concern or have a question about our school district. Our goal is to keep all our school community members informed.

I am delighted to announce today an added way to reach out to us. We have posted a new form to the home page of our school district website at nashua.edu, found on the right-hand side of the home page, illustrated by a speedy envelope icon. The link is in addition to the dedicated email specifically for COVID-19-related concerns and questions, which we started at the beginning of the pandemic.

Specific COVID-related questions can be emaileed to COVID-19@nashua.edu.

General NSD-related concerns, visit www.nashua.edu/page/1614.

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, our administrators and our teachers have come to know each other and our students in ways we had never experienced before. For more than a year, for some of our students, school was taking place in school buildings but, for many, school was also taking place at the kitchen table, in automobiles, on porches, at grandpa or auntie’s house and, when weather permitted, outdoors in the sunshine. No matter from wherever school was taking place, we all learned the value of communication and how we can accomplish a lot if we stay in touch. When all is finally said and done about the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be looking at how we can continue to be more flexible in how we learn and live, and study and communicate. We have all learned it is possible to engage with others more readily and more conveniently, and more effectively if we stay in touch. I want to encourage families to stay in contact with their children’s teachers and school administrators when questions arise about schoolwork, and to stay in touch with us to keep informed about COVID-19 and other school topics of concern.

I also want to take this opportunity to announce I am resurrecting snow days this year. Yes, we are returning to the nostalgia of possibly waking up to a snow day message. As you may recall, last year we suspended calling snow days because we were teaching remotely. This year, like years past, I will call all families, staff, and news media outlets to let them know when we are closing schools for snow days and delayed openings for inclement weather.

Good communication is important to my office, and we all benefit when we know what goes on in our schools and how we can encourage and support teaching and learning. As we continue through more months of pandemic uncertainty, let us make special efforts to keep in touch and to take care of each other this year. One again, if at any time this school year you have questions about either COVID or school, please reach out. Our goal is to have as much-uninterrupted in-person learning as possible this school year. Thank you for your support.

Garth J. McKinney, Ed. D., is superintendent of schools for the Nashua School District.

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