Albertville City Schools Back to School Plan 2020-2021 A Guide to Reopening Schools in Response to COVID-19 Dr. Boyd K. English, Superintendent 107 W. Main Street Albertville, AL 35950 Table of Contents Introduction Letter from ACS Superintendent School Start Dates & Procedures Staff Professional Development/Training Prevention of Sickness Cleaning Protocols Academic Options & Changes for 2020-21 ● Traditional Enrollment ● Virtual Enrollment ● Special Programs ● Extracurricular & Field Trips Child Nutrition Program Protocols Transportation Protocols Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 9 Page 10 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Disclaimer The information provided in this document does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. Instead, all information, content, and materials available in this document are for general informational purposes only. Information in this document may not constitute the most current legal regulations. This document may contain links to other third party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the user. Albertville City Schools does not recommend or endorse the contents of third party sites. All liability with respect to action taken or not taken based on the contents of this document are hereby expressly disclaimed. The content in this document is provided “as is.” No representations are made that the content is error-free. The document is not an exhaustive list of every action that Albertville City Schools will need to return to school or remain in school. Guidance by the Alabama State Department of Education is not mandated. Albertville City Schools has the authority and flexibility to meet their individual needs and be responsive to the community. 1 Introduction In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused schools to close unexpectedly in March 2020 and is a continuing threat to public health, Albertville City Schools has created a guide to reopening schools for 2020-2021. This guide outlines our best effort to provide high quality educational opportunities for all students while keeping the health and safety of our staff and students at the forefront of all decisions. Albertville City Schools will offer two options for student enrollment in 2020-2021: ● Traditional (at school) ● Virtual (online) Providing these options will enable our families to make the best enrollment decision to meet the health, safety, academic, and social-emotional needs of their children. In addition to offering a virtual option for K-12 students, ACS recognizes that the traditional school setting will necessarily change for the upcoming school year. While these changes may be unpleasant and unwanted to those of us who appreciate school as we have known it, we understand the importance of having students and teachers back in the school buildings; therefore, we accept the responsibility of finding the safest way to reopen our schools this year. This plan is a result of many hours of teamwork, relying upon input and recommendations from the Alabama State Department of Education, the Alabama Department of Public Health, community partners, and our local education professionals in Albertville City Schools. Explanation of Enrollment Terms Traditional Enrollment Students who are enrolled in the traditional school setting will attend school in person except in the case of illness or school closure. Traditional students will complete work at school and through a virtual platform/online lessons as needed to ensure a continuation of education through any breaks in school face-to-face attendance. If there is a school closure or extended student absence due to COVID-19, traditional students will transition to ​Remote Learning. Remote Learning Traditional students are able to complete work from home through remote learning in case of a school closure or extended student absence due to COVID-19. Remote learning will allow K-12 students to continue in their traditional classes through the use of a Chromebook (or Tablet as appropriate) and teacher-led activities meant to keep the student on track to return to the regular classroom when the closure or illness is over. Virtual Enrollment Students who are enrolled in the virtual school setting will attend school in an online environment. Virtual students will complete work through a virtual platform/online lessons. Virtual enrollment requires parent/guardian consent and agreement to program requirements, as well as a commitment from home to assist the student by providing structure and support necessary for successful online learning. Virtual enrollment will begin July 10, 2020 and end on July 24, 2020. ​Once enrolled in ACS Virtual, students may only transition to ACS Traditional at the beginning of the second semester (January 2021). 2 ​ ​ALBERTVILLE CITY SCHOOLS ​107 West Main Street • Albertville Alabama 35950 • 256-891-1183 www.albertk12.org Boyd K. English, Ed.D., Superintendent Dear Aggie Family: The 2019-2020 school year was a school year none of us will ever forget. It was a year we prepared for and expected traditional conclusions with graduations to celebrate with so many wonderful families. However, we were forced to combat the threat of COVID-19 by shifting to new methods of delivering instruction for our students. The closure of the Albertville City Schools for the final nine (9) weeks of the school term presented challenges that none of us could have ever imagined. We were inspired by everyone in the Aggie Family as we faced formidable challenges associated with the school closure associated with COVID-19. There are so many educators, community leaders, parents, and students who worked tirelessly to ensure that we turned these challenges into opportunities. Opportunities to develop new methods to meet the academic needs of our students. We also embraced opportunities to develop new approaches to invest quality time in our children. Finally, we forged partnerships with churches and community members to provide essential nutritional services for our students. There is no doubt that we have developed a firm foundation to conquer new challenges that we could encounter in the future. We are now planning for the 2020-2021 school year. It will be a year that presents new challenges for all of us. However, these challenges will be overcome by the same fortitude that became commonplace over the past few months. Students will have the opportunity to engage in traditional or virtual academic settings for the upcoming school year. We encourage parents to carefully consider the option that best meets the needs of their families. Our family of educators stand with you to ensure we serve our students and continue to have a positive impact on the future of each one of our students. In this season of preparation, we have developed a comprehensive guide for reopening Albertville City Schools. Our team of educators has carefully examined approaches and measures to ensure the safety of our faculty, staff, and students. The ACS Guide for Reopening Schools focuses on essential components for us to safely reopen for the 2020-2021 school year. COVID-19 does present a threat that we have never faced. However, we will not allow fear of this threat to prevent us from reaching our goals or anxiety to keep us from preparing our students for success in the future. Together, we will overcome the challenges presented and return to enjoying the traditional school experiences that make being an Albertville Aggie so special. Boyd K. English, Ed.D. Superintendent Albertville City Schools 3 School Start Dates & Procedures ● ● All teachers/9 month employees of Albertville City Schools will return to work on Thursday, August 6th. Teacher Work Days and Professional Development Days to prepare for the new year will be August 6-14, 2020. This will allow seven (7) work days to make necessary modifications in the classroom and to participate in necessary training/professional development, in addition to performing regular beginning of year preparations. Students will return to school beginning Monday, August 17th. This year, ACS will start school with a staggered entry for all students (PreK-12). There will be three days of staggered entry Monday, August 17 through Wednesday, August 19. The first day for all students to attend together is Thursday, August 20. Schedule for ACS Staggered Entry Start: 1. August 17, 2020 - All students identified as Group 1 (from enrollment postcard and School Messenger message) will come to school for their first day of class. 2. August 18, 2020 - All students identified as Group 2 (from enrollment postcard and School Messenger message) will come to school for their first day of class. 3. August 19, 2020 - All students identified as Group 3 (from enrollment postcard and School Messenger message) will come to school for their first day of class. 4. August 20, 2020 - ALL students will come to school. Purpose/Expectations for Staggered Entry Start to School: ● Students and parents are able to learn new school procedures in place due to COVID-19 prevention in smaller groups. ● Students acclimate back to school in a small group setting. ● Teachers/staff will invest this time in getting to know students and assessing their individual needs. Teachers and other school staff will be in assigned areas to welcome students to school each day. Each school will share their specific times, locations, and procedures for morning arrival of students. All school plans will incorporate guidelines to prevent large groups of students to be in an area together before class time begins. In general, the plans will direct students to their homeroom or first period class. Details will be provided in the school plans. Attendance Policy In order to minimize exposure to COVID-19, students should by no means be sent to school if they are sick. It is important that students with any symptoms of illness stay home until the symptoms resolve.​ ​Absence codes have been added to reflect student absences due to COVID-related reasons. Please notify your child’s school when any absence is related to COVID-19. 4 Staff Professional Development/Training August 6-14, 2020 Teachers and Staff Work Days and Professional Development Schedule: August 6, 2020 Systemwide PD Meetings August 7, 2020 PD - Learning Management System (Schoology) Training - at each school August 10, 2020 Teacher Work Day/Local School Meetings August 11, 2020 Teacher Work Day/Local School Meetings August 12, 2020 PD - Remote Learning Training - at each school August 13, 2020 ½ Day PD - Sickness Prevention/Cleaning Protocols/Changes for 2020-21 ½ Day Teacher Work Day/Local School Meetings August 14, 2020 Teacher Work Day 5 Prevention of Sickness Albertville City Schools is following the guidance provided by the Alabama State Department of Education and the Alabama Department of Public Health to open schools. As guidance from these organizations is given, our protocols for schools may change. No plan, however carefully thought out, can completely protect all students and staff from risk of infection. Nevertheless, Albertville City Schools is committed to providing an environment for learning that lessens that risk as much as possible. Defining Close Contact/Risk Behaviors ● The greatest risk for infection occurs when people are in close contact with someone with a confirmed positive case of COVID-19. ● Close contact is defined as being within less than 6 feet of a person for a total of 15 minutes or longer. ● Risk behaviors also include having direct contact with infectious secretions of a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Mitigating Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in the School Setting ● Facial Coverings​ - Masks or face shields will be recommended for all faculty, staff, and students when an expectation of close contact with others for an extended time is possible, and facial coverings will be required for specific activities such as small group learning activities and labs. Students and staff are expected to have masks with them at all times. Each school employee and each student will be provided with one facial covering at the beginning of the school year, and training will be provided to teachers to help students best use the facial coverings appropriately in the school setting. Parents may choose to have their child wear a facial covering at all times; if so, the school will support that decision but cannot guarantee its enforcement at all times during the school day. Specific rules for the use of facial coverings will be provided at beginning of year training sessions for school employees. Teachers will share expectations with parents through regular communication lines and with students during the first days of school. Any change in use of facial coverings will be governed by Alabama Health Department directives. ● Hand Washing/Sanitizer ​- Teachers and staff will model and expect enhanced hand washing and sanitizer routines throughout the school day. Students will be trained and reminded of these routines. Soap at sinks and sanitizing stations will be available throughout the building. ● Water Fountains​ - Current guidance directs schools to not use water fountains. Students will be allowed to have bottled water or a pre-filled water bottle from home. ● Temperature Checks and Nurse Rounds​ - Homeroom/first period teachers will be responsible for a temperature check of each student at the start of the day. School office personnel will be responsible for temperature checks for late check-ins and any visitor allowed past the office. Any student with a temperature of 100.4 or above will be considered to have a fever and will be sent to the school’s isolation room after notification of the school nurse through school-specific procedures. In addition, nurses will check on any student with other symptoms associated with COVID-19 or other infectious diseases. Nurses will provide staff training at the start of the year on temperature checks and promoting healthy behaviors such as sneezing/coughing into the elbow, etc. Thermometers will be provided for all teachers/offices. 6 ● ● ● ● ● ● No Deliveries ​- Deliveries to the school of non-necessities, such as flowers or outside food items, will not be allowed in order to minimize visitors in the building. Social Distancing, Alternative Scheduling and Physical Spacing​ - School staff will make every effort to arrange learning activities and make scheduling adjustments to promote social distancing by adhering to the 6 feet/15 minute standard for close exposure. Before school starts, each school will verify that classrooms and common areas have been designed to provide physical spacing between students as much as is possible. A transition plan will be developed at each school based on the number of students and facility layout to address student interactions in common areas. Complete physical distancing over the course of the school day is not possible in a traditional school setting, but every effort will be made to use alternative scheduling and crowd flow patterns to minimize long-term close contact. Communication with Home ​- The first line of defense for preventing the spread of infection in our schools is the home defense. Parents and families should be familiar with the symptoms associated with infection and keep students at home if any of these symptoms are evident. These symptoms include: ○ Fever of 100.4, especially first thing in the morning ○ Cough, runny nose, or sinus congestion ○ Trouble breathing or persistent pain/pressure in the chest ○ Abdominal pain or stomach ache ○ Diarrhea or vomiting Parents are encouraged to take students’ temperatures and assess their health status before school each day. Procedures for Symptomatic Students at School ○ Teachers should inform the nurse and send student to the isolation room per specific school plans. ○ Parents will be notified per the specific school plan so student can be picked up promptly. ○ Extra sanitation steps will be enacted as needed. ○ Parents will stay in contact with the school to communicate the status of their child’s health. School staff will be mindful of student privacy and only share information with “Need to Know” personnel. Attendance Policy In order to minimize exposure to COVID-19, students should by no means be sent to school if they are sick. It is important that students with any symptoms of illness stay home until the symptoms resolve.​ ​Absence codes have been added to reflect student absences due to COVID-related reasons. Please notify your child’s school when any absence is related to COVID-19. Employee Wellness Guidance ○ Check your temperature and assess your wellness for any symptoms related to COVID-19. If you have symptoms or have had a direct exposure to an infected person (closer than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes), contact your supervisor immediately and follow instructions before returning to work. ○ If you test positive for COVID-19, you should notify your supervisor, contact payroll for appropriate leave steps, follow the directions of your medical provider, and obtain one negative COVID-19 test result before returning to work. 7 ● Albertville City Schools - Employee Absence Guidance ○ If you must be absent from your position for any medical reason (not COVID-19 related), you should follow normal protocol (Absences 10 days or less). ■ Put absence in TCP. ■ Ensure you have obtained a substitute through SPUR. ○ If you must be absent from your position for more than 10 days for any medical reason, or due to COVID-19 related reasons, you must notify Carrie Jefferson (cjefferson@albertk12.org, 256-891-1183 ext. 219) in Human Resources at the District Office to request medical leave. If related to COVID-19, leave may be requested under the Families First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA). Any absence of greater than 10 days requires a leave of absence per board policy. ○ If you have signs/symptoms of COVID-19, or have been exposed to COVID-19, please notify Carrie Jefferson (cjefferson@albertk12.org, 256-891-1183 ext. 219) in Human Resources at the District Office immediately for further guidance. ○ In the event you test positive for COVID-19, one negative test result must be provided to the Human Resources Department prior to returning to work. 8 Cleaning Protocols ● Albertville City Schools will provide sanitation equipment, including additional state-of-the-art electrostatic sanitizers, to ensure proper sanitation at each school. Teachers will be provided sanitizing supplies to clean as needed and to sanitize desks and other areas according to school cleaning protocols between groups of students. Each school will have specific plans to ensure that classrooms and common areas are kept as sanitary as possible. ● Restrooms will be sanitized multiple times daily - morning, midday, and after school hours - as part of this plan. Water fountains will not be in use until further guidance is given from the health department. ● ACS will develop modified and expanded cleaning schedules to ensure daily sanitation and cleanliness of facilities. Extended cleaning crews will be deployed to each school after students have left the building each day. These cleaning cycles will be planned and completed nightly to ensure that staff and students return to a sanitized environment each morning. Custodial staff will receive ongoing training in recommended cleaning guidelines issued by OSHA, Alabama Department of Public Health and the CDC. ● Teachers will perform basic cleaning protocols during the school day and will be provided with professional development/training on how to fulfill these expectations. Common sanitizing supplies will be provided for classroom use, including Lysol spray for door knobs, class sinks, and other high-touch areas; paper towels and soap for class sinks; vinyl gloves for teacher use in cleaning; and institutional-size containers of hand sanitizer with a pump for each classroom. ● School leaders will conduct and document facility walkthroughs regularly with custodial staff to identify any areas needing additional cleaning and to make sure facilities are prepared and safe for staff and students. A standardized checklist will be used systemwide to ensure adherence to guidelines. 9 Academic Options & Changes for 2020-21 In response to COVID-19, Albertville City Schools is extending access to virtual learning for all students in grades K-12, as an alternative setting to the traditional school setting. Students in both models, traditional and virtual, will: ● Register for school using the online registration portal for Albertville City Schools (InfoSnap). ● Communicate their intent for Traditional or Virtual Enrollment via the ACS Learning Intent Form 2020-2021 School Intent Form​ by July 24, 2020. ● Follow the board-approved ACS academic calendar for the 2020-2021 school year. ● Participate in all assessments required by the Alabama State Department of Education and the Alabama Literacy Act. ● Learn standards outlined in the Alabama Course of Study for the grade and subjects in which the student is enrolled. ● Receive grades each nine (9) weeks and a final grade for each course/subject. ● Receive guidance and feedback about progress being made toward completion of the grade level/course work. The following technology changes will allow virtual and remote learning to be effective in ACS for the 2020-2021 school year: ● Devices will be provided for all students K-12 (Chromebooks, or Tablets where appropriate K-2) for daily work in both virtual and traditional learning environments. ● WiFi accessibility will be expanded through community partnerships and additional equipment. ● Teachers will keep daily lessons in the school’s Learning Management System (Google Classroom or Schoology) which align to the pacing guide for each grade/subject or course. Traditional Enrollment Students who are enrolled in the traditional school setting will attend school in person except in the case of illness or school closure. Every effort will be made to keep the traditional school setting as “normal” as possible while keeping student and staff safety and well being at the forefront of all decisions. Traditional students will complete work at school and through a virtual platform/online lessons as needed to ensure a continuation of education through any breaks in school face-to-face attendance. If there is a school closure or extended student absence due to COVID-19, traditional students will transition to ​Remote Learning. Remote Learning is not the same as Virtual. Remote Learning ​- Traditional students are able to complete work from home through remote learning in case of a school closure or extended student absence due to COVID-19. Remote learning will allow K-12 students to continue in their traditional classes through the use of a Chromebook (or Tablet as appropriate) and teacher-led activities meant to keep the student on track to return to the regular classroom when the closure or illness is over. Teachers will keep work assignments and lessons in their school’s Learning Management System (LMS) - either Google Classroom or Schoology. Grades will be taken and work will proceed along the regular progression of the course/class pacing guide during times of remote learning. This is different from the ACS Spring 2020 School Closure Plan. Grades will be factored in as usual and no reduction in expectations will occur. Remote learning is a 10 temporary situation for breaks in attendance at school due to COVID-19 sickness, quarantine, or school closure. Students who are enrolled in traditional learning may only transfer to ACS Virtual during the school year after a guidance meeting with a counselor/administrator and parent/guardian. Virtual Enrollment Students who are enrolled in the virtual school setting will attend school in an online environment instead of attending on the school campus. Virtual students will complete work through a virtual platform/online lessons. ● In Grades K-6, students will be assigned an ACS teacher who will facilitate the virtual platform and provide online lessons for virtual students. ● Virtual students in Grades 7-12 who enroll in 100% virtual school (all courses virtual) will be assigned an ACS teacher who will facilitate the virtual platform provided by ALSDE, which is Schools PLP​. If the student is enrolled in ACCESS course(s), the ACCESS teacher will facilitate their online learning for those courses. ● Students in Grades 7-12 who enroll in virtual school but also want to participate in extracurricular athletics, band, or choral must be accepted into those programs and also attend the associated class required for the extracurricular activity. Likewise, a virtual student may request to attend other courses on campus. ​ Virtual students may only attend three (3) maximum in-person courses per semester. ● Scheduling decisions will be made with the assistance of the ACS Virtual School Counselor, who will assist in ensuring that all virtual students are properly enrolled and on track for success in the appropriate grade level and classes/courses. Virtual enrollment requires parent/guardian consent and agreement to program requirements, as well as a commitment from home to assist the student by providing structure and support necessary for successful online learning. Virtual enrollment requirements include, but are not limited to: 1. Acknowledgment of a time requirement for daily work (varies by grade level) 2. Acknowledgment of WiFi/Internet capability 3. Commitment by parent, guardian or assigned adult family member to monitor and support virtual learning 4. Agreement to come on campus as needed for state-required assessments (both State Assessment and Alabama Literacy Act-required testing) according to the ALSDE state testing schedule and Literacy Act testing dates set by Albertville City Schools 5. Agreement to required check-ins as scheduled with the facilitator of the class/course. 6. Adequate progress, based on grade/course-specific pacing guide(s), is required to maintain virtual school enrollment Virtual enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year will begin July 10, 2020 and end on July 24, 2020.​ ​Once enrolled in ACS Virtual, students may only transition to ACS Traditional at the beginning of the second semester (January 2021) unless an exception is granted due to extenuating circumstances. 11 Academic Special Programs ● Students with special health considerations should be in communication with the school’s educational support committee (IEP or 504 Team or school administrator) to support the student’s learning plan and make the best enrollment decision for the student. ● All general education guidance and protocols will apply to special programs students in both virtual and traditional learning environments. ● Intervention for students who are not meeting grade level standards may be delivered through both in person and virtual methods. Intervention software may be used but is not the primary source for intervention in ACS. Visitors, Assemblies, Library, PE, Extracurriculars and Field Trips Visitors​ will have limited access on school campuses during the 2020-2021 school year in order to limit possible exposure to students and staff. Events such as Open House, Family Science Night, Community Holiday Brunch, and other campus events will be suspended or will be reconfigured in a way that meets social distancing and campus sanitation guidelines. School administrators must be consulted before planning an event or inviting a visitor on campus during the 2020-2021 school year. Assemblies​ - No groups larger than 50 should assemble inside the school building, unless social distancing rules can apply to the seating arrangements. Sanitation requirements before and after the assembly or program must be met. Outdoor events, including free play time in elementary school, are subject to administrative approval to ensure that they align with school health and safety plans. Library ​- Library procedures will be specific to each school, but access to school libraries and library books will not be prohibited. Book check out and return procedures must be set to ensure sanitation processes are in place. Special care should be given to have as much access to books and reading materials in all schools and for the virtual setting/Chromebook use. Librarians should explore online library checkout systems and all students should have access to the online library. PE ​- Each school will make a plan for physical education classes. PE is a required part of the school day in the K-8 traditional setting and is required for graduation in 9-12. Each school plan will ensure that the PE space allows for social distancing during class time. Extracurricular/Sports ​- State/local guidance will govern the feasibility of extracurricular activities, including sports activities, in Albertville City Schools. Announcements will be publicized closer to the start of school. Field Trips ​- Field trips are suspended until further notice for the 2020-2021 school year. School administrators will share any updates when this may be lifted to allow field trips to be planned. Teachers may want to explore virtual field trips to provide an educational opportunity in place of traditional field trips until this situation changes. 12 Child Nutrition Program Protocols The Albertville City Schools Child Nutrition Program (CNP) will work with the Alabama Department of Public Health and US Department of Agriculture to follow current guidance and create individual feeding plans for each school in the system by working together with the school administrative team and school CNP team. Plans include, but are not limited to: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Creative scheduling to avoid large numbers in the cafeteria - Schools will have 50% or less occupancy in the cafeteria and will schedule some classes eating in classrooms as an alternative to the cafeteria Plexiglass barriers on tables and 6 feet distancing of seating use in the cafeteria. Tables will be marked with seats that may and may not be used to accomplish the 6 feet distancing. Scheduling meal pickup in the cafeteria line to limit the amount of time in line to no more than five (5) minutes in line with other students Breakfast in classroom already in place in PreK-4; option to implement alternative feeding plan if needed in place of morning cafeteria use and/or implement controlled flow to 2nd chance breakfast kiosks in 5-12 Outside visitors and/or guests will not be allowed to dine in the school cafeteria Staff and students will not self-serve food; fewer meals options for speed of pick-up Disposable trays and extra trash containers will be used to minimize issues Possible scanning identification in place of pin pad entry (touchless) In the event of school building closure/move to remote learning for traditional students due to COVID-19, the school system will announce CNP feeding options for the system during this time. Virtual students will have the option to pre-order and pick up meals at a designated school site. Details will be shared with virtual students as they are available. 13 Transportation Protocols ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● The school district will provide sanitizing equipment for use by the Transportation Department to ensure each bus is thoroughly sanitized by assigned personnel after each route. Cleaning will occur between morning and afternoon bus routes and in the evening after routes are completed. Masks/facial coverings will be required on all bus routes. Bus drivers and any bus aide/other adult on the bus will be required to wear a facial covering, as well as all students while riding the bus. One mask will be provided by the school system for each staff member and student. Parents may provide additional masks/facial coverings. Failure to comply with the bus mask rule will result in disciplinary action. School buses will have clearly visible signage that states students should not board the bus if they have a fever or other COVID-19 symptoms. The signage will also list the symptoms as a visible reminder and educational tool. If a student on the bus shows signs of being ill, the student will be isolated in a designated seat on the bus until arrival at the school, and the bus driver will report this promptly to the school contact so the nurse will be notified. Parents are encouraged to provide their own transportation whenever possible to reduce bus rider numbers. Parents are encouraged to have hand sanitizer available in backpacks for their child’s use on the bus. Siblings are encouraged to sit together on the bus, and the bus driver may assign seats for all students on the bus. Elementary teachers will help make sure masks are in place when boarding buses in the afternoon. 14