How was the community engaged in the development of the reopening plan?
A task force was formed at the end of June 2020 which included school administrators, teachers, school support staff and bargaining unit representation. Subcommittees were formed including technology, scheduling, health and safety, nutrition, communication, transportation, equipment and supplies, social/emotional support. These subcommittees met over the month of July. A parent survey was developed and shared with the school community. The survey requested input on transportation, online learning, enrollment model and concerns related to reopening.
How will the Reopening Plan be communicated to the school community including parents, staff, students and the broader school community?
Multi-modal communications and consistent focus and reinforcement of the plans elements will be necessary. Parents, staff and students will be engaged meaningfully in the communication, orientation and implementation of the plan via:
- Parent letters
- Global calls, text, email
- Social media
- District website
- Local newspaper
- School print publications
It is critical that the school community is fully aware of and supports the reopening plan. The plan will be communicated using a variety of methods including print, social media, website, and where possible, via video.
Signage will be included in school buildings to promote health and safety measures including information about virus symptoms, wearing of masks, hand hygiene and maintaining social distance. Details of the plan will be submitted to the New York State Education Department by July 31st. New York State Department of Health guidelines, along with State Education Department guidance, have been incorporated into the plan.
The detailed plan will be placed on the school’s website.
How can the plan be practiced?
If guidance is received and the plan submitted and approved in a timely manner, aspects of the plan will require training:
- Home screening of children before being sent to school
- Wearing masks and social distancing on school transportation
- Social distancing at school (in hallways, bathrooms, classrooms and offices)
- Practicing the 3 W’s (wearing a mask, washing hands, watching your distance)
- Blended learning aspects of the plan can be practiced
- Accessing Google Classroom/Seesaw content
- Communicating with teachers
- Teaching in a block schedule
How will the plan be evaluated and adapted?
The plan must be able to adjust as conditions change. It is a “living document”. The opening week of school will be a significant opportunity to evaluate the plan’s elements. Adjustments must be identified and well communicated. All stakeholders have a role in identifying parts of the plan that are working and parts that are not. School staff, school administrators, students, parents, the Superintendent and the Board of Education also play key roles in the evaluation and adjustment of the plan.
Area
Plan communication and transportation
Communication Plan Detail
- Students and staff will be encouraged to use physical distancing to the extent possible; students and staff should remain at least 6 feet from one another; if unable to physically distance, masks will be worn.
- A global call will be shared with the school community to introduce the plan and indicate that the detailed plan is available on the website.
- Parents will be asked to complete a survey with questions regarding screening, transportation, wearing masks, hand hygiene, and social distancing.
- Written communication to each parent will request if parents are able to drive their children to/from school.
- Drop off plans must be identified in communication. Parents will drop students off only when they are feeling well and are free of COVID-19 symptoms.
- Students riding school transportation will be asked to wear a mask while boarding and riding on the bus. This will be communicated in writing, will be shared on social media, the school website and if possible, a video will share how students will be seated and how they are expected to wear a mask.
Area
Physical Distancing-School Buildings
Communication Plan Detail
- Student groups of no more than twelve (12) shall be organized for classroom spaces; larger student groups can be organized for larger instructional spaces if physical distancing can be implemented.
- Parent communication will occur in writing, social media, website and if possible, video to share how students and staff will practice social distance in the school building including hallways, classrooms, cafeteria and school offices.
Area
Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfecting
Communication Plan Detail
- Hand hygiene is a critical component of the plan; students and staff will be encourage to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer multiple times during the school day
- Demonstrations of proper hand washing should be part of the opening days routine; elementary classrooms should consider incorporating hand washing into the school day; hand washing should occur before eating and after bathroom use. Hand sanitizer will be available; hand sanitizing stations will be visible and located strategically.
- Parent communication will occur in writing, social media, website and if possible, video to share how students and staff will practice social distance in the school building including hallways, classrooms, cafeteria and school offices.
Area
Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfecting
Communication Plan Detail
- During the school day, cleaning staff will be sanitizing frequently touched surfaces.
- School staff and students will be encouraged to wash their hands frequently and to disinfect surfaces before each use.
- Night cleaning crews will disinfect classrooms, bathrooms, offices, locker rooms, hallways, cafeteria and frequently touched surfaces with cleaning material that will sanitize these surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting the surfaces.
- Details about this aspect of the plan will be shared in writing, on the school website and by video, when possible.
Area
Family and Community Engagement
Communication Plan Detail
Parents served on the Reopening Workgroup that developed the district reopening plan.
Multi-modal communications and consistent focus and reinforcement of the plans elements will be necessary. Parents, staff and students will be engaged meaningfully in the communication, orientation and implementation of the plan via:
-
- Parent letters
- Global calls, text, email
- Social media
- District website
- Local newspaper
- School print publications
Area
Plan Communication
Communication Plan Detail
- Multi-modal communications and consistent focus and reinforcement of the plan elements will be necessary. Parents, staff and students will be engaged meaningfully in the communication, orientation and implementation of the plan via:
-
- Parent letters
- Global calls, text, email
- Social media
- District website
- Local newspaper
- School print publications
- A parent letter will share the initial information about the reopening plan. The letter will include clear information about the important role that parents will play in daily screening, transportation and meaningful engagement with school staff.
- Plan details will be shared via graphic publications and detailed plan documents available on the school website and school publications.
- School buildings will hold orientation sessions and simulations to support plan elements.
- Orientation sessions and information letters, global calls, text and email will share other important plan elements.