Fall Opening Looking Back and Moving Forward Reading School Committee June 25, 2020
District Leadership Family Survey Staff Survey Results Team Reflections on Latest Information Results on Fall Questions on Fall Reopening Remote Learning from DESE Reopening This Spring Presentation Topics
Survey administered from June 14-22 nd via Google Forms Survey Overview Total of 2701 Responses 2119-Family 582-Staff
Staff Results Reading School Committee June 25, 2020
▪ Being at school if virus is still a public health issue in the fall Themes from ▪ Child care issues and trying to teach in a hybrid environment ▪ If they live in Reading, having their children have similar hybrid Staff Survey schedules, if possible ▪ Comments Teaching students, particularly students with disabilities and younger children, with PPE ▪ Wearing PPE all day long, particularly in hot and humid weather ▪ Remote learning is not as effective for youngest and neediest Staff Concerns students ▪ Transition will be critical with two major issues: reentry into school for About A staff and students and addressing social justice and equity Hybrid Model
▪ Remote learning needs to have clear and simple expectations for staff and students Themes ▪ If we are in a hybrid model, have all students with disabilities, ELL, from and other high needs students attend school every day ▪ Go to remote days on excessive heat days and snow days Comments ▪ Have staff and other meetings virtual ▪ Need a consistent uniform learning platform Suggestions ▪ Provide technology for paraeducators for remote work ▪ Provide child care, at employee’s expense
Family Survey Results Reading School Committee Meeting June 25, 2020
If the 2020-21 School Year were to begin tomorrow, what type of school model would you prefer for your child (ren) assuming that we will be following all proper health guidelines (i.e. social distancing, face protection, etc.). Please check one box for each child in your family. If you have more than one child in school next year, child 1 should be designated as your youngest child, child 2 should be your next youngest, etc. Option A is defined as full remote learning where all students would be learning virtually at home. Option B is defined as a hybrid model where each day approximately half of the students are in school and the other half of the students are learning remotely. Option C is defined as a full in person model where all students would be attending school.
Due to public health restrictions, we may have to start the year in a hybrid model where approximately half of the students on a given day are in school and the other half of the students are engaged in remote learning at home. If we are in a hybrid model, what would be your preference for your child (ren)? Please check one box for each child in your family. If you have more than one child in school next year, child 1 should be designated as your youngest child, child 2 should be your next youngest, etc.
If we had to go to a hybrid model to start the school year and you did not have a choice of either all remote or all in person learning, which type of schedule would work best for your child (ren) and family? Please check one box for each child in your family. If you have more than one child in school next year, child 1 should be designated as your youngest child, child 2 should be your next youngest, etc.
If we do start the year in a hybrid model and your child is not able to be part time remote and part time in person in the school building, what would prevent your child (ren) from participating in this model? Please check one box for each child in your family. If you have more than one child in school next year, child 1 should be designated as your youngest child, child 2 should be your next youngest, etc.
▪ Wide range of comments and opinions ▪ The only consensus is that families want their children back at school full time ▪ Split on whether everyone should wear masks and practice social distancing while at school Themes ▪ Remote learning is not optimal for most students from Family ▪ If we are to continue remote learning, consistency among grade levels and organization of remote learning materials Survey needs to improve. Expectation is that it needs to be more robust. ▪ Students on IEPs should be in school full time
▪ Families would like as much advanced notice as possible. ▪ Concern about how lost learning time from spring will be made up. ▪ Wearing masks in the heat was expressed as a concern. ▪ Concerns raised about ventilation in classrooms. Themes ▪ If we have to do a hybrid approach, the M/Tu; Th/Fri with from Family Wednesday as a remote learning and cleaning day makes sense. Survey ▪ There was some support for an every other week model ▪ If we have to go to a hybrid model, keep families together on the same cycle ▪ The model employed needs to be based on medical science and logic, not politics
District Leadership Team Discussion School Committee Meeting June 25, 2020
▪ Increased collaboration among staff sharing and communicating -Grade Level Teams -District Leadership Team and Directors -Subcommittee work What are the -Teachers successes of -Department Chairs ▪ Systems that were put in place to address student’s fundamental needs this spring? (i.e. food distribution, technology, social emotional support) ▪ Increased communication and collaboration with special education parents (i.e. SEPAC, Virtual IEP Meetings) ▪ Greater respect for the work that teachers do each and every day
▪ Support for the Class of 2020 ▪ Virtual student celebrations and concerts ▪ Teachers were able to reach students 1:1 easier than they normally would in an inperson setting What are the ▪ Connections that we have made with students ▪ The birth of virtual meetings successes of ▪ Addressing connections with students as top this spring? priority ▪ Unsung heroes (Food Service, Facilities, Health Services, Technology) ▪ Collaboration with the Town ▪ Uncovered areas that we need to work on
▪ Create a better balance between virtual work and personal life ▪ Giving students greater access to technology at home What will we ▪ Increase accountability for both students and staff ▪ Assess the learning platforms that our students use do differently and streamline in the ▪ Look at maximizing the roles of all staff in a remote setting future? ▪ Reduce the busy work (i.e. worksheets) and increase engagement ▪ Minimize activities that require printing at home
DESE Fall Guidelines Reading School Committee Meeting June 25, 2020
Some Initial Thoughts ▪ We appreciate the level of thoughtfulness and care that went into this plan, which is informed by the latest medical expertise. ▪ This is the “Initial guidance.” There will be further guidance coming to us in July. ▪ Changes will be ongoing based on updated information. ▪ The Guidance emphasizes that students returning to school is a primary objective. ▪ Our leadership team will need time to review the guidance to assess what our plan and action steps should be.
Some Initial Thoughts ▪ The Commissioner has provided guardrails for the new school year. It will require each school district to figure out how these will work in each school and district. Context will matter. ▪ We are working through these issues in unprecedented times requiring a great deal of time and planning. It will require patience and understanding among all of us. ▪ We will be required to provide to the Commissioner three plans ranging from students returning, a hybrid model of both remote and in school attendance and full remote. ▪ We will continue to update you as we proceed with our planning process.
Goal For This Fall To safely bring back as many students as possible to in-person school settings, to maximize learning and address our students’ foundational and social and emotional needs.
We need to keep in mind not only the risks associated with COVID-19 for in-person model, but also the consequences and challenges of keeping students out of school. There is no substitute for in person instruction when it comes to quality of academic learning and to support We need to balance students’ social and emotional needs risks with We also need to recognize how disruptive school closures consequences have been to families trying to maintain regular work schedules, manage households, and facilitating remote learning. In light of recent events and a national movement to fight for racial justice, it is even more critical to have our students quickly return to robust learning opportunities and a supportive school environment
We need to establish a culture of health and Adherence to safety (the new norm) in our schools that focuses on regularly enforcing important Health and practices such as hygiene and handwashing, use of face coverings, physical distancing, reducing Safety Is Key interaction between groups, staying home when sick, and protecting those most vulnerable to the disease.
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