Tuscumbia City Schools Reopening plan 2020-2021 Disclaimer: Using the guidance of the Alabama State Department of Education, Alabama Department of Public Health, and the Center for Disease Control, Tuscumbia City Schools has developed this plan in order to reopen schools for instruction in either traditional face-to-face instruction, blended learning, or virtual learning. By using the most current data and understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tuscumbia City Schools will operate under this plan but is subject to change based on guidance from the above named institutions. Given the fluid nature of this current pandemic, any changes to the plan will be disseminated to all stakeholders, students, and staff as quickly as is possible. The information in this document is presented “as is” and no representation is made that the document is error free. Guiding Principles  Tuscumbia City Schools will be transparent and will share what we know, do not know, and be clear about what we can control along with what is outside of our control.  Tuscumbia City Schools will be equitable and will center decisions on what is best for all students, families, and educators.  Tuscumbia City Schools will listen and bring together diverse stakeholders and experts to understand realities on the ground and to surface creative solutions.  Tuscumbia City Schools will put safety first and will leverage science, data from the Alabama Public Health Department and Colbert County Health Department along with other health leadership to inform the choices we make.  Tuscumbia City Schools will be decisive. Due to the enormous responsibility that is entrusted to the school system, all decisions will be made deliberately and although we may have to make tough choices, if we need to adapt, we will do so quickly and decisively. Important Dates July 28, 2020 - First day for parents to decide between Virtual or Face to Face educational format. (Contact your local school) August 4, 2020 - First day for teachers to return to campus August 6, 2020 - Teacher Institute Day August 10, 2020 - Deadline for parents to decide between Virtual or Face to Face educational format. (Contact your local school) August 17, 2020 - Deadline for any student course request changes (grades 6-12) ADPH Color Coding System August 20, 2020 - First day of school The Alabama Department of Public Health has created a color coding system in which to identfy COVID-19 cases in each county. Green: Low Risk Yellow: Moderate Risk Orange: High Risk Red: Very High Risk Specific School Plans and Closures Each Tuscumbia City School will develop and disseminate a specific plan to address the following: Entrance into the building Exits from the building Plans for students eating in the cafeteria Student use of common areas such as restrooms, computer labs, hallways, etc. Elementary Library, Music, and recess time Movement of students in the hallways Staggered start times for grades Dismissal procedures Lockers and cubbie areas (Grades 6-12 will not use lockers until further notice) Virtual resources for all students Small group activities in the classroom School Closure Procedures Classroom: Positive case identified in a classroom Room will be cleaned and sanitized. No entry for 48 hours. Contract tracing procedures initiated. Parents notified. School: Increases in positive cases, system decision, or state mandate All face to face students transferred to blended learning. Entire school will be cleaned and sanitized. No entry for 72 hours. Contact tracing procedures initiated. Parents notified as to duration of school closing if timeframe is known. Home Screening All parents will be asked to screen their own children daily for the following symptoms. Temperatures above 100.4 Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache New loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea Facial Coverings Based on evidence from the Center for Disease Control, one major method of controlling the spread of COVID19 is by wearing a mask. Masks will not be required, although TCS encourages the wearing of masks while inside. The school and system reserves the right to require masks for students that exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms while on campus. All visitors to any TCS school building or Central Office will be required to wear a mask upon entry to the building. Teachers in the elementary grades will wear face masks or shields during any type of close instruction. This will allow students to view the teacher in order to work through phonics instruction. Physical Distancing All teachers should wear face masks or shields at all times when working in close proximity to students. (Within 6 feet) The Center for Disease Control has recommended a physical distance of six (6) feet for no more than fifteen (15) minutes (6-15 rule). While best efforts will be made to maintain the 6-15 rule, it may not always be practical in the school environment. To mitigate the spread of contagions all desks will need to be faced in the same direction if at all possible, with as much space between desks as possible. Centers and collaborative learning may be limited. Per ALSDE, any student who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, in the school environment, shall be placed in a quarantined room supervised by a TCS staff member until the student has been checked out of school. Sanitization and Cleaning All schools buildings will be cleaned using the latest known methods to effectively sanitze any space so as to kill the COVID-19 virus. All rooms, hallways, common areas, and any other location within the TCS buildings will be fogged daily. Staff that are tasked with cleaning any TCS building will be effectively trained and will conduct periodic additional trainings as needed to ensure compliance with CDC and ADPH guidelines. New signage will be posted throughout the school to limit student travel flow, entrance, and exits from buildings. All buses that are used to transport students will be cleaned after each use. Additional supplies such as hand sanitizer have been purchased and will be placed in classrooms and other common areas for use. Students will be encouraged to bring their own water bottles to school for use during the school day. Teachers will teach and model effective hand washing, cough, and sneeze protocol to students. Teachers will be trained to monitor and identify symptoms associated with COVID-19 and contact the appropriate personnel when appropriate. Teachers will discourage the use of sharing any item during the school day. Child Nutrition Program All portions of the current Tuscumbia City Schools Child Nutrition Program will be operational and follow all cleaning, sanitization, and physical distancing guidelines. Cafeterias will be utilized but most meals will be consumed in the classroom setting. Meal times will be altered as necessary to ensure that all recommendations are met but children will still be afforded the opportunity for quality meals and adequate time to consume meals. Special Populations and Needs Tuscumbia City Schools has developed a process and procedure to identify students and staff who have Special Needs that could inhibit their return to school or work. All students who have current Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), Individualized Healthcare Plans (IHPs), or 504 Plans will be evaluated to determine the best educational path for those children. All special services that Tuscumbia City Schools have offered in the past will be offered to the best extent possible under the current circumstances. Tuscumbia City Schools staff who routinely work with those that have special needs will be trained on the most up to date methods of how to identify symptoms associated with COVID-19 and will also be given appropriate tools to safely educate children under their care. Tuscumbia City Schools will follow all FERPA and HIPPA guidelines as it relates to students and staff. Technology All students will only use technology that is assigned to them. All students must have a current Digital Device Agreement Form on file in the principal's office. Students in grades 1-5 will use computers in the classroom assigned to them. In the case that the student must utilize the blended learning model, the student may take this computer home with them during that time. All students in grades 6-12 will be assigned a computer provided by Tuscumbia City Schools. Students in grades 6-12 will be allowed to take this device home with them in order to complete schoolwork. Tuscumbia City Schools will not provide WiFi access to all students but we are engaged in a process in which we may be able to increase our WiFi coverage outside of our school buildings. Technology usuage fees per year for all students are listed below and are calculated based on grade and lunch code status: Grades 1-5: $10.00 for each student. Grades 6-12: $50.00 Paid Lunch $30.00 Reduced Lunch $25.00 Free Lunch Payment options will be created for each family. 50% Capacity In the event that Tuscumbia City Schools must operate on a 50% capacity of students, all information will be disseminated accordingly. If this situation arises students will be instructed as to the days in which they will be assigned to attend school. The students will be assigned face to face instruction based on either grade or determined alphabetically. If the student is a virtual student, this will not apply. Students who are traditional face to face students will be transferred to the blended learning option. Days in which they are not assigned to attend school, will become E-Learning days for the students and all assignments will be assigned through Google Classroom. In the event that we transfer to a 50% learning model, students will have the opportunity to video conference with their teachers during certain times of the day. Visitors and Other Large Gatherings At this time, all large gatherings must follow the guidelines established by the Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Governor's Office, and the City of Tuscumbia. Tuscumbia City Schools will adhere to all regulations as posted by these entities. At this time, all Open Houses, Meet the Teacher, and other programs usually associated with the start of school are temporarily cancelled but Tuscumbia City Schools will create videos for these programs. All visitors to Tuscumbia City Schools buildings must wear a face mask upon entry. Methods of Instruction Tradition al Face to Face Instructio n Blended Instructio n Virtual Off Campus Instruction Traditional Face to Face Instruction All materials, assignments, and content will meet the ALSDE Course of Study for each particular course. Each teacher will utilize a digital learning platform in the classroom to acclimate students in case of the need to transfer to Blended Learning. All assigned work will be graded and entered in the teacher's digital gradebook in order to determine the student's average for that course. Physical and Social Distancing will be enforced to the greatest extent as practicable in the school environment. Students will not be required to wear masks but they will be encouraged. Teachers will wear masks when working with students in close proximity and other times as deemed necessary. All students will be facing in the same direction and small groups will be limited. Certain electives such as band, chorus, PE, etc. will be modified and adapted to ensure students are not placed in any danger. Blended Virtual All materials, assignments, and content will meet the ALSDE Course of Study for each particular course. Blended Learning will only be utlized in the event that the student has been deemed either sick, in need of quarantine, or the school has been deemed unsafe. This is not to be confused with Virtual Learning as Blended Learning is a short term option in order to continue the educational process. All work will be assigned through the digital learning platform established by the individual teacher. This could be a blending of Google Classroom, Edmentum, or other teacher designed learning path. All assigned work will be graded and entered in the teacher's digital gradebook in order to determine the student's average for that course. All students must log in daily for attendance purposes and complete daily assignments. All summative tests will be postponed if the student has been quarantined through doctor's orders. All state mandated tests will be postponed if the student has been quarantined through doctor's orders. All materials, assignments, and content will meet the ALSDE Course of Study for each particular course. All work will be assigned through the digital learning platform established by the individual teacher. This could be a blending of Google Classroom, Edmentum, or other teacher designed learning path. All assigned work will be graded and entered in the teacher's digital gradebook in order to determine the student's average for that course. All students must log in daily for attendance purposes and complete daily assignments. Students failing to make adequate progress in the virtual learning platform will be required to meet with the student's counselor, principal, and guardian in order to determine if Virtual Learning is a viable option. Students may only enter Virtual Learning at the start of a semester. Students may not move between Traditional Learning and Virtual Learning in the middle of a semester. All summative tests must be scheduled and taken at either the local school or the Tuscumbia City Schools Testing Center. All state mandated tests must be taken by the student at either the local school, Tuscumbia City Schools Testing Center, or a National Testing Center at the students expense. Certain elective courses may not be available in the Virtual Learning Platform. Sample elementary school day schedule Traditional Elementary schedule 7:40-8:30 8:30-9:00 9:00-9:15 9:15-10:35 10:40-11:10 11:15-12:00 12:00-12:30 12:30-1:00 1:00-1:15 1:15-2:00 2:00-2:30 Greet students/Attendance/Check Folders/Morning Work Morning work/Writing activities/Quiet choices Restroom/Break Whole Group Instruction/Literacy Centers Lunch/Restroom Math/AMSTI Centers Physical Education Restroom/Tiered Instruction AMSTI Science/Social Studies/Health Recess/Free Play Daily Wrap Up Virtual elementary schedule 7:40-8:30 8:30-9:00 9:00-9:30 9:30-9:45 9:45-10:15 10:15-10:45 10:45-11:15 11:15-12:00 12:00-12:30 12:30-12:40 12:40-1:10 1:10-2:00 Morning Work Students may log in using Google Meet Reading Work Restroom/Break Writing Virtual assignments Writing activities Lunch/Restroom Math/Students may log in using Google Meet Physical Education Restroom Math Virtual assignments Science/Social Studies/Health Virtual assignments Sample middle school day schedule Traditional Middle School Schedule Time 8:00-8:50 8:55-9:45 9:50-10:40 10:45-12:15 12:20-1:10 1:15-2:05 2:10-3:00 Period 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Subject English Elective Math Social Studies/Lunch Reach/Intervention Science Physical Education Virtual Middle School Schedule Time 8:00-8:50 8:55-9:45 9:50-10:40 10:45-12:15 12:20-1:10 1:15-2:05 2:10-3:00 Period 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Subject English, Potential for student to participate using Google Meet. Student completes virtual assignments/Electives Math, Potential for student to participate using Google Meet. Social Studies, Potential for student to participate using Google Meet/Lunch Student completes virtual assignments/Electives Science, Potential for student to participate using Google Meet. Physical Education Sample high school day schedule Traditional High School Schedule Cardinal White Time Period Subject Time 8:00-9:25 9:30-10:10 10:1512:00 12:05-1:30 1:35-3:00 1st 2nd 3rd English REACH Social Studies/Lunch Elective Elective 8:00-9:25 9:30-10:10 10:1512:00 12:05-1:30 1:35-3:00 4th 5th Perio d 1st 2nd 3rd Subject 4th 5th Science Elective Math REACH Elective/Lunch Virtual High School Schedule Cardinal White Time 8:00-9:25 Period 1st 9:30-10:10 2nd 10:1512:00 3rd 12:05-1:30 4th Subject English, Potential for student to participate using Google Meet. Complete Virtual Assignments Social Studies, Potential for student to participate using Google Meet/Lunch Elective, Potential for student to participate using Time 8:00-9:25 Period 1st Subject Math, Potential for student to participate using Google Meet. 9:3010:10 10:1512:00 2nd Complete Virtual Assignments 3rd Elective, Potential for student to participate using Google Meet./Lunch 12:051:30 4th Science, Potential for student to participate using Google Meet. 1:35-3:00 5th Google Meet. Elective, Potential for student to participate using Google Meet. 1:35-3:00 5th Elective Assignments, Potential for student to participate using Google Meet.