Superintendent, Dr. Cindy L. Wigley Reopening School Fall 2020 Marshall County Schools Message from Superintendent We are looking forward to the start of the 2020-2021 school year. We understand that anything less than a full-time, in-person traditional school schedule creates challenges for many of our students and families. The vision and mission of Marshall County Schools has remained unchanged. The health and safety of students and staff is our single highest priority. We understand for students with compromised immune systems or those who live in homes with at-risk family members, a virtual, on-line learning option might be best. For other students, a return to face-to-face instruction would best suit their individual needs. With this unpredictable pandemic, we know that we cannot anticipate every challenge, but we are making every effort to address all possibilities. It is imperative that we reopen our schools in a process that is well-planned, cautious, and gradual. It is important to understand that school reopening is not a first step in restoring “normality,” rather, it is the first step in creating a new model of education. Our staff have worked very hard to provide parents with options for learning environments that best meet the needs of their children, and have worked hard to provide students with opportunities to excel educationally by utilizing individualized and adaptive cutting-edge technology five days a week ExcelEd Program. In preparation for the 2020-2021 school year, the district has distributed hotspots ($102,000), and provided Chromebooks ($650,000) to students in need. In addition, over $200,000 have been spent on supplies for cleaning, sanitizing and personal protection measures. We appreciate the feedback from our preliminary parent survey. After parents have had an opportunity to view the current Marshall County Reopening Plan, a second parent survey is scheduled to be sent on Monday, July 20, 2020. The new survey will provide our school system with more information regarding the exact number of students in each grade level who want to choose virtual instruction or face-to-face instruction, as well as their transportation needs. The results of the survey will be used to determine specific class schedules and bus routes, so it is very important that we collect this information for each Marshall County student. Marshall County Schools Reopening At-A-Glance At-A-Glance includes the highlights of our reopening plan. It is a working document that will be updated as Alabama Department of Public Health guidelines change. Following the At-A-Glance, the multi-page plan for reopening Marshall County Schools is described in detail. A new calendar has been approved by the Marshall County Board of Education. Teachers return August 5 -- Students grades 6-12 return August 20 (excluding DAR Middle) -- Students grades PreK-5 staggered start August 20 - 25 DAR Middle School (grades 5-8included) Learning Options for Instruction Traditional Face-to-Face Virtual At-Home Learning This option is five days a week. The ADPH has developed a color-coded Risk Indicator Dashboard. If Marshall County is in the Very High Risk (Red Status), the traditional face-to-face option will transition to remote learning at home. Cutting-edge technology in Marshall County’s new ExcelEd Program will allow teachers to create, record, and deliver instruction, adding additional support for students and parents during times of remote learning. Grades PreK-5 will utilize SchoolsPLP as a personalized learning program in an at-home setting. ● Grades 6-12 will utilize the Edgenuity personalized learning program in an at-home setting. A weekly supply of breakfast and lunch meals will be scheduled for pickup on one designated day each week. A staggered start will provide a face-to-face opportunity for grades PreK-5 to assess student skill retention. A staggered start will provide a face-to-face opportunity for grades PreK- 5 to assess student skill retention. At no cost to parents, student supply kits will be purchased by the district for the 2020-2021 school year. At no cost to parents, student supply kits will be purchased by the district for the 2020-2021 school year. ● With either option, students may participate in extracurricular activities and elective courses (sports, band, Career Tech, e tc.). Health & Safety Precautions Facilities If a state or county mask order is in place, it will be followed. In accordance with ADPH, masks will be required when social distancing is unable to be achieved. Schools will intensify cleaning and sanitizing efforts with a strategic schedule. Hand sanitizer will be provided for buses, classrooms, and school entrances. Students will wash hands before eating breakfast and lunch. All school supplies will be provided, at no costs to parents during the 2020 -2021 School Year. Signage will be displayed for social distancing, proper hand washing techniques, and respiratory etiquette. Marshall County EMA Signage Staff and students, with parental assistance as needed, will conduct daily symptom checks prior to leaving home. Touchless faucets and touchless soap dispensers are being installed where needed.When and How to Wash Your Hands Handwashing Roadmap to Return Our plan is divided into three primary categories: ● Individual Health and Safety Precautions ● Instruction and Extracurricular Activities ● Facilities, Transportation, and Child Nutrition Program Individual Health and Safety Precautions Daily Home Symptom Check: ● Children should remain at home when they are sick or exhibiting signs of any illness. A partnership with Qualtrics will send an automatic symptom check to employees and students every morning. Employees and students are prompted to self-report symptoms and whether they have interacted with anyone with symptoms. This data will flow into a daily dashboard per school. Isolation Preparation Measures/Disinfecting if a Student Becomes Sick at School: ● An isolation area has been established on each campus for students exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. ● Follow HIPAA/FERPA Guidelines as outlined in the following link: Comparison of FERPA and HIPAA Privacy Rule State Public Health ● Where possible, close off areas used by the student who is sick and wait for droplets to settle before sanitizing (24 hours). ● Immediately separate individuals with COVID-19 symptoms from the general school population. ● Clean and disinfect all areas used by the student who is sick, such as offices, bathrooms, and common areas. ● Follow recommended public health guidelines on home isolation. Hand Sanitizing Stations: ● The district has purchased hand sanitizer with 1,500 spray bottles for buses, classrooms, and stations for school entrances. ● Students will wash their hands before eating breakfast and lunch. Water Fountains: ● Water fountains will be closed as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). ● Students may bring water from home in the clear, original water bottles or they may purchase water at school during break or lunch. Restroom Use: ● Allotted restroom times will be determined at each school based on student enrollment. Lockers: ● Academic lockers may not be issued this year (this will be an individual school decision). If issued, students' access to lockers will be minimized as much as possible and lockers will be routinely sanitized. Classroom Organization and Set-Up: ● Rearrange desks, chairs, and tables to face the same direction. ● 6-foot spacing will be used, when possible. Personal Protection Equipment: ● Students and staff will receive washable masks. ● Use of masks will be encouraged when social distancing guidelines cannot be followed, especially while in common areas, and will be required during transition times. Nurses: ● Teachers will limit well-child visits for students with minor problems. ● Additional infrared (touchless) thermometers will be in place. ● Isolation rooms will be provided for those exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms and will serve as a holding area until the guardian arrives for pickup. ● School nurses will serve as a resource for student educational activities, such as: ○ Age-appropriate educational videos on hand washing/sanitizing ○ Covering one’s mouth when coughing or sneezing ○ Procedures for wearing a mask ○ How to wash a cloth mask How to wash a cloth face covering - CDC ○ Parent video’s regarding recognizing signs of COVID related symptoms Safety and Wellness Measures for Students ● Teachers should inform the nurse if a student shows signs of illness. ● Students who are showing signs of illness should be sent to the nurse’s office or quarantine area. ● If a student in their classroom exhibits signs of illness, teachers should notify the custodian so that the area can be sanitized properly. ● The nurse should notify school administrators and the parents when a student exhibits signs of illness. ● The nurse will report cases to the ADPH. It is the responsibility and duty of the Alabama Department of Public Health to notify individuals of possible exposure to COVID-19. ● School staff will be mindful of student privacy and share information about student health concerns) with only “Need to Know” personnel. Safety and Wellness Measures- Employee Guidance Employee Guidance Instruction & Extracurricular Activities Student Registration To assist with planning classroom rosters and bus routes, parents of all students will complete a registration form and select either Traditional Face-to-Face or Virtual AtHome Learning. Please complete registration forms by July 27, 2020. School Program Options Traditional Face-to-Face Virtual At-Home Learning The students who choose Traditional Face- It is important for students and parents to understand this option will not be the same as at-home learning which took place last Spring. This is a very rigorous program. Students who are typically successful with remote learning have the following traits: be able to communicate through writing, be self-motivated and self-disciplined, be willing to speak up if problems arise, accept responsibility for individual learning, and effective time management skills. ● Grades PreK-5 will utilize SchoolsPLP as a personalized learning program in an at home setting. ● Grades 6-12 will utilize the Edgenuity personalized learning program in an at-home setting. Classes will be built on a quarterly (9 week) basis. Teachers will have the flexibility to utilize SchoolsPLP and ACCESS Franchise Model information as needed. to-Face instruction will follow the 20202021 school calendar and attend school five days a week. The ADPH has developed a color-coded Risk Indicator Dashboard. If Marshall County is placed in the Red Status (Very High Risk), students will not attend classes on their school campuses. Instead, traditional face-to-face instruction will transition to “remote learning” at home. These students will not become “Virtual Students”. Instead they will receive remote instruction from their regular classroom teacher. Cutting-edge technology in Marshall County’s new ExcelEd Program will allow teachers to create, record, and deliver instruction. Teachers will also have the ability to incorporate additional supports for students and parents during times of remote learning. Advantages of ExcelEd ACCESS will be utilized for advanced placement and electives. ACCESS will be utilized for advanced placement and electives. Staggered Start Schedule Staggered Start Schedule Early Assessment Schedule (K-8) Early Assessment Schedule (K-8) A Student Handbook will be linked at a later A Virtual Learning Student Handbook will be date. linked at a later date. Students may opt-out only at the completion of 9-week terms unless an exception is granted due to extenuating circumstances. Students may opt-out only at the completion of 9-week terms unless an exception is granted due to extenuating circumstances. Providing a foundation for seamless educational studies, professional development (PD) days will be provided for teachers to develop course maps, pacing guides, co-plan, and become familiar with new learning platforms. Providing a foundation for seamless educational studies, professional development (PD) days will be provided for teachers to develop course maps, pacing guides, co-plan, and become familiar with new learning platforms. All four middle/high schools will be on a Schedule requirements will be individualized common bell schedule in order for teachers by each school and released at a later date. to co-plan, share lessons, schedule students for Marshall Technical School, and provide a framework for systemness throughout the district. Modified Block Bell Schedule Extended Day Services will be determined at Enrichment activities are encouraged by accessing educational platform links at a later date. www.marshallk12.org Staff and students are encouraged to wear a A weekly supply of breakfast and lunch mask as much as feasibly possible. If a state meals will be scheduled for pickup on one or county mask order is in place, it will be designated day each week. followed. Otherwise, In accordance with ADPH, masks will be required for students and staff when social distancing is unable to be achieved; therefore, the use of masks will be a requirement for bus drivers and bus riders. Gov. Ivey Mask Proclamation With either option, students may participate in extracurricular & CTE activities. (Athletics, Band, Career Tech Ed, etc.) Special Education Plan Link: SPED Reopening Plan The ADPH has developed a color coded COVID-19 Risk Indicator Dashboard. Categories: Very High (Red), High (Orange), Moderate (Yellow), and Low (Green) indicate the risk of spread in the community. Whenever Marshall County is placed in the Very High Risk (Red) status, the traditional face-to-face option will transition to remote learning. The link to ADPH to access the Indicator Dashboard and categories is: Alabama Department of Public Health Marshall County Schools Indicator Dashboard Response for Traditional Learning Green Yellow Orange Red Low Risk Moderate Risk High Risk Very High Risk Traditional School (5 days a week) Traditional School (5 days a week) Traditional School (5 days a week) *A modified schedule may be required. *A state mandated mask order may be in place. Breakfast in the classroom. Cafeteria at 50% capacity for lunch Breakfast in the classroom. Cafeteria at 50% capacity for lunch Breakfast and lunch served in the classroom Schools Closed with remote learning through Excel Ed Traditional and Virtual students: Weekly food pickup The following link provides the most current CDC Recommendations: Current CDC Recommendations Physical Education (PE) The district will utilize the Recommendations for Alabama’s K-12 Physical Education Programs as a working document providing strategies and suggestions for schools to implement safe and effective physical education programs under Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) and State of Alabama COVID-19 guidance. Each school has its own unique set of circumstances and characteristics that influence what is appropriate. The document includes overall suggestions as well as those specific to elementary, middle, and high school physical education programs. As a working document, additions and revisions to the Physical Education guidelines will be provided as CDC and State guidance change. In addition, recommendations for virtual/distance learning will follow in a separate document. Consideration must be given to scheduling, equipment, classroom protocol and the teaching environment. Scheduling: Daily physical education instruction is required for a minimum of 30 minutes for Grades K-5 and 30-50 minutes for Grades 6-8. To meet this requirement and maintain physical distancing, modification of the daily physical education schedule will be necessary in most situations. Assessments K-8 Assessment Plan Substitute Training ● A substitute teacher training will be held prior to the school year to cover new procedures. Extracurricular Activities Guidelines For Athletic Facilities Facilities, Child Nutrition Program and Bus Transportation Facilities Only essential personnel will be allowed to enter school facilities. Intensify Cleaning and Disinfecting Efforts ● Principals and custodial staff will make adjustments to the current master school flu prevention plan, to include pandemic protocol. This includes the use of additional electrostatic sprayers for common areas throughout the day, between bus routes, and in classrooms after school. Signage ● The district has purchased and will install precautionary signage with instructions for hand washing, cough and respiratory etiquette. Touchless Faucets and Soap Dispensers ● The District has purchased and will install touchless faucets and soap dispensers in each school. Cafeteria/Food Service ● Students will wash their hands before breakfast and lunch. ● Principals and lunchroom managers will develop school-specific procedures designating student entry doorways, staggered meal pickup routes, and separate exit doorways, if possible. ● Principals and lunchroom managers will develop measures to provide meal service with a combination of classroom and cafeteria dining. ● Measures will be implemented to physically separate students during cafeteria dining. Example: Students seated 6 feet apart and facing the same direction, assigned seats, and designated alternate dining areas. ● Hand sanitizing stations will be available for students at the start of the serving line. ● All self-service will be temporarily discontinued. ● Touchless payment procedures will be implemented to limit surface contact. ● Disinfecting will occur between student groups. ● Lunchrooms will be off-limits to all visitors or non-essential personnel. ● CNP workers will be trained on symptoms and procedures to follow when symptoms are present in students, faculty, and/or staff. ● CNP workers will wear masks or face shields at all times while in regular interaction with patrons or grocery delivery personnel. ● Distancing measures will also be implemented for CNP staff. Example: Appropriate spacing of employee workstations. ● The cafeteria will no longer utilize share carts/tables. ● Students who bring lunches from home will need to pack items that do not require reheating. ● Students may not share food items brought from home or obtained in the cafeteria. Bus Transportation ● The results of the parent survey will be used to determine who will be using bus transportation. ● Parents and/or students will check temperatures and symptoms of Covid-19 before route. ● In accordance with ADPH guidelines, masks will be required for bus drivers and bus riders. ● Bus drivers will wear a mask and gloves. ● Masks must be worn on the bus when the student loads and until the student unloads at school or home per Alabama Department of Public Health (ADHP) guidelines. ● As stated previously, three (3) cloth masks (washable) will be provided to each student and driver by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADHP). ● Drivers will discreetly report a student with suspected symptoms to the proper administrator/ teacher. (See HIPAA Guidelines in previous link) ● Hand sanitizer will be available on all bus routes. ● First two seats will remain open behind the driver, if possible. ● Members of the same household will sit together. ● The buses will load back to front. ● Students must remain seated in assigned seats at all times. No changing seats or leaning across the aisle. ● The buses will unload front to back with a safe distance. ● Hatches will be open to allow for fresh air circulation. ● Bus drivers will wipe commonly touched areas such as handrails, window latches, and seats after each route with disinfectant wipes. ● Disinfect buses with sprayers after routes in the morning/afternoon. ● School administration and staff will take measures and precautions per ADHP guidelines when someone who rides the bus tests positive. ● In the event that a driver or a student tests positive for COVID-19, established protocol will be followed. This document is considered a working document and may be updated based on additional information regarding COVID-19. This document was developed around current guidance and strategies that the district must implement in order to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.