HPS sets school re-entry forums

HOPE – A series of internet-based public forums will be conducted by the Hope Public Schools to gain more feedback and encourage use of an on-going survey regarding the planning for re- opening public schools in Hope in August.

HPS Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hart will moderate the forums to be livestreamed on Facebook beginning June 23 at 6 p.m.

“We want to do due diligence in bringing local involvement into the re-entry to school,” Dr. Hart said in announcing the series of at least two such forums. “We want this to be a fact-finding exercise toward the creation of a dialogue within the community.”

He said the HPS plan for re-opening schools is expected to be completed for presentation to the Hope School Board after the July 4 holiday. The forums are designed as a collaboration toward that end, Hart said.

Hart will act as moderator with HPS administrators who will be on hand to provide insights and answer questions from the community, he said.

Viewing the live-streamed Facebook session will be open to anyone, and a Facebook account will not be required to view only.

Viewers who wish to participate by asking questions may do so by emailing questions to www.townhall@hpsdistrict.org before and during the livestream. Questions should pertain to the five areas which the HPS has identified as relevant to its planning, including online instruction/access, transportation, food services, extra-curricular activities, and attendance.

The district will ask that participating viewers observe best practices for the meeting, including: 

--After initially joining, please mute computer microphone.
--Please use the chat window for questions not pertaining to announced topics.
--Please do not use any inappropriate language, pictures or video.
--Please type your full name in the Zoom window.

Zoom meeting invitation information necessary is as follows:
Topic: HPS Virtual Town Meeting
Time: Jun 23, 2020 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting  
https://zoom.us/j/93946706070?...
Meeting ID: 939 4670 6070 Password: 4rXdZ9
Dial in with your phone if internet device unavailable: +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 939 4670 6070
Password: 906570

Parents of HPS students interested in participating in the district’s on-going survey regarding re- opening schools may do so by clicking the link in the bulletin board of the HPS website on the upper-right of the administration web page.

Hard copies of the survey will become available at the Hope/Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce, Hempstead County Library, local businesses, local churches, and at the HPS Administration Building, 117 E. Second St., Hope, 71801, and should be returned there by mail.