Gadsden City Schools Reopening Guide 2020-2021 This document is intended to provide information and guidance as we plan to reopen schools. This is a fluid document and is subject to change.
Introduction Gadsden City Schools, with guidance from the Alabama State Department of Education, has developed this plan to reopen schools. Our plan to reopen provides an approach and steps that are advisable before students and faculty return to school buildings, along with direction that is applicable throughout the 2020-2021 school year. The recovery plan includes the guidance and recommendations from health officials; it is strongly aligned to the reopening guidelines that have been provided by state and federal leaders. It is designed to help schools prioritize the health and safety of students and teachers as the school buildings are reopened. Gadsden City Schools reopening plan focuses on the health and physical requirements necessary for reopening school buildings. We will continue to provide guidance and recommendations to schools on navigating the academic, social, and emotional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on students and employees.
Important Items Staggered Chromebook Pick-up (Week of August 10th) ● Students with parent’s last name starting with A-E - TBD ● Students with parent’s last name starting with F-K - TBD ● Students with parent’s last name starting with L-Q - TBD ● Students with parent’s last name starting with R-Z - TBD ● First Day for Remote School - August 17, 2020
Teacher In-service - Professional Development Plans ● New Employee Orientation - Aug. 5th - virtual meeting ● All GCS employees will report to their home school for training and preparation for reopening schools - Aug. 6 - Aug. 14 ● Trainings will be conducted in small groups with social distancing or via online webinars. ● Aug 6th - ○ Opening Session 8am - Welcome back systemwide webinar by Mr. Reddick and staff ○ All staff will remain in home schools for discussion of district and building based plans for virtual learning ● Aug 7th and Aug. 10 - ○ Online training for new learning platforms ■ Elementary - IXL, Star Ren., USATestPrep, MYon, Google Classroom, Sonday, ■ Secondary - IXL, Star Ren., USATestPrep, MYon, Google Classroom, Edgenuity ■ CPR training and other small pull-out trainings ● Aug. 11 - Aug. 14 ○ Set up virtual classrooms and develop week one lesson plans ● Teachers are encouraged to participate in virtual trainings offered throughout the summer for Google Classroom, LETERS, AMSTI, etc.
Instructional and Technology Services GADSDEN CITY SCHOOLS WILL OFFER THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR Remote learning will take place for ALL STUDENTS at the beginning of the school year and reviewed weekly to determine when TRADITIONAL LEARNING will be made available. 1. Remote - Students work online from home and teachers regularly check-in and provide virtual instructional. (Google Classroom, Google Meet, SchoolsPLP, etc. Once the traditional learning option becomes available, students choosing to remain on the remote learning option will commit for at least 9 weeks before being allowed to return to traditional. Full-Time remote instruction will require a greater daily time commitment than was expected during last spring) 2. Traditiona l - Face to face instruction physically in the school buildings. (A blended schedule may be necessary based on changing CDC guidelines, ADPH, and mandates/recommendations from the ALSDE. 3. Blended - BLENDED IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS OR SCHOOLS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY COVID-19 . For students who choose traditional learning, a blended option will available in the event of illness. This will enable students to transition between traditional and remote and back again, which will be crucial if we need to close a classroom or a school for cleaning and disinfecting, or the entire district. Blended will also be provided if your child needs to quarantine or stay at home due to COVID-19 for an extended amount of time. After completing the required quarantined period, your child will return to the Traditional school setting. In the event schools are closed, efforts will be made to provide access to WIFI for students who need it.
Traditional Learning Option NOT AVAILABLE AT THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL ● The schools will be open five days a week, and all traditional students will attend school daily. (A blended learning schedule may be necessary based on changing CDC guideline ADPH, and mandates from the ALSDE.) ● Students will not be allowed to congregate in areas of the school upon arrival. Students will go directly to the cafeteria to pick up a grab and go breakfast. All students will socially distance during breakfast or go to a designated area if students are not eating. Masks are highly encouraged. ● Pre-K-12 students will have staggered class changes and all hallway movement will be in the same direction. ● All schools will have staggered release times to buses and car lines. ● Students will be seated in rows facing in the same direction. ● Students will spread out as much as possible in the classroom to promote social distancing. ● Physical Education and enrichment will take place. Groups must spread out in the gyms, playgrounds, and athletic fields. Staff will enforce limited physical contact between students. ● Students with underlying health conditions should consider the Remote Learning option. ● If a student is found with a temperature of 100.4 or higher, the student will be placed in isolation until parent/guardian can pick them up from school.The student may not return to school until they have been symptom-free without medication for 72 hours.
Traditional Learning Option NOT AVAILABLE AT THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL Staggered Entry - Purpose ❖ Allow students and parent to learn new school procedures that have been put into place due to COVID-19 prevention in a small-group setting ❖ Allow students to acclimate back to school in a small group setting Allow teachers to have small groups of students to access gaps in learning in small group settings ❖ that may be due to school closure Establish a schedule that could perhaps be followed in the event of partial school closure or ❖ potential teacher/substitute shortage due to teacher illness Staggered Entry Beginning TBD ❖ Students with parent’s last name starting with A-E - TBD Students with parent’s last name starting with F-K - TBD ❖ ❖ Students with parent’s last name starting with L-Q - TBD Students with parent’s last name starting with R-Z - TBD ❖ STUDENTS WILL ONLY COME TO SCHOOL ONE DAY THE FIRST WEEK, DETERMINED BY THE FIRST LETTER OF PARENT/GUARDIAN LAST NAME.
Remote Learning ● All Students will begin on August 17, 2020. School staff will contact students about picking up Chromebooks. ● Students will work online from home and teachers will regularly check-in and provide virtual instruction. ● Students will not attend school in an on-campus manner. ● Students MUST have access to the Internet. We will work with families if needed. ● Students will be provided a device, if needed, once they have met all requirements of the Usage Agreement. ● Students must abide by all policies and procedures when utilizing a device provided by GCS.
Remote Learning ● Courses online using ALSDE approved Curriculum ● Students are expected to work independently and take ownership of their learning. ● Quality, virtual instruction administered by GCS teachers during designated school hours. ● Assignments and tests will be rigorous and graded. ● Elective and Advanced options may be limited. ● May still participate in athletics/extracurricular activities. ● Will still participate in ALSDE required assessments.
School Procedures ● In the event of a parent checking a child out of school, there will be a camera at the front door to show your identification and your child will be sent to you at the front door. Parents will not be allowed in the school buildings. ● Parent conferences will be by telephone or electronic device only. ● Each school will develop a transition plan based on their number of students and facility layout that ensures minimal contact with students from other classrooms. ● Each school will only have 50 percent occupancy in the lunchrooms. Procedures will be determined by the school principal. ● Facial coverings - Per current health order (Item 13c), teachers are required to wear facial coverings when they are within 6 feet of students. Facial coverings for students are highly recommended and suggested. ● Water fountains will not be available. Students are encouraged to bring individual water bottles with their name on the bottle. Students will not share water bottles with other students. ● Restrooms will be sanitized multiple times daily. ● Locker use will be minimized or not used at all. ● Each school will develop a individual plan that fits their schools population, demographics and environmental conditions. ●
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