BVSD schools in Marshall fire area to open as planned Wednesday

The Boulder Valley School District announced Sunday that classes will resume at all schools as planned after winter break on Wednesday, including those in areas impacted by the Marshall fire.

“This is incredibly important knowing that schools — both in the area of the fire and outside — can serve a very important role of supporting students and their families following this large tragedy,” district officials wrote in an update to the community.

This evening we sent an update from Superintendent Rob Anderson announcing that all BVSD schools will be open on Wednesday, January 5, as planned.https://t.co/oZagNTQk60

— Boulder Valley School District (@BVSDcolorado) January 3, 2022

None of the Superior or Louisville schools was physically damaged in the fire, and district maintenance crews are “air scrubbing” buildings where there is smoke. Xcel Energy also has restored electricity to all the buildings, while natural gas is expected to be restored by Tuesday, according to district officials.

While a boil water order is expected to still be in effect in Louisville and Superior next week, the district plans to bring in bottled water.

To provide employees impacted by the fire with flexibility and address resulting staffing shortages, the district plans to add support through substitute teachers and classroom monitors. Substitute teacher pay will be temporarily increased to $175 a day, Monday through Thursday, and will continue to be $200 a day on Fridays.

The district is accepting applications for subs, child care workers, food services workers, bus drivers and custodians at jobs.bvsd.org.

Officials on Saturday said that 991 structures were destroyed and 127 were damaged in the fast-moving Marshall fire, which ripped through 6,000 acres in eastern Boulder County on Thursday fueled by high winds and dry conditions.

While classes will resume, district officials cautioned in their update that “it will be some time until things return back to ‘normal.’”

“We are encouraging our schools and teachers to put the social-emotional health of our students first and will be working to provide impacted families and staff the additional support and flexibility they need during this crisis,” district officials wrote. “We ask that everyone approach the second semester of this school year with empathy and understanding.”

The school district has set up a page at bvsd.org to provide updates and resources related to the fire, including a form for students and staff members who need grief counseling or other mental health support from the district’s trauma response team.

Displaced families also can contact their school principal or fill out an online form to let the district know about their situation and needs. Displaced students will qualify for support under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, a law that creates a safety net for students without adequate housing. That support includes district transportation to their home schools.

For teachers and other staff members, the district has canceled all professional learning and training events scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

Impact on Education, Boulder Valley’s foundation, is accepting donations for students and staff members displaced by the fire through its Critical Needs Fund. To donate, go to impactoneducation.org/donate.