Reopening Plans for Fall 2020 Update to the EASD Board of School Directors August 25, 2020
Dealing with a Health Pandemic ● Continues to be an evolving and fluid situation ● Necessitates the ability to adapt quickly given updated information occurs (almost daily) as more data and research become available and educational entities begin to reopen. ● Understands that numerous opinions ( both informed and emotional ) are prevalent on how best to reopen schools for in-person learning; address extra-curricular/athletic opportunities; and social emotional health/ well being. ● Requires a stable, consistent direction/ response ● Relies on EVERYONE to do their part (both in and out of school) to help keep our schools open. ● Underscores the importance of: ● Patience ● Grace ● Flexibility
As a district, we continue to: ● stay informed of the science and guidance. ● listen and understand the needs of our students/ families and our staff. ● be mindful of social/ emotional wellness and concerns of our staff and students. ● Realize that some families have child care needs. ● be respectful of the concerns still surrounding the unknowns of COVID 19. ● share information and resources with other partners (health officials, other school districts, community organizations). ● develop plans that provide options for families to maintain in person instruction to the extent possible. ● make recommendations that we can realistically and effectively implement to help slow the spread of this disease. ● Ask for the help and support of our families and community in practicing the health and safety protocols put in place.
What major changes have occurred since our last board meeting? ● Dealt with actual situations at EASD where there were persons who presented with symptoms; had contact with others on campus; and required testing. (Thankfully, at this point, all had negative test results.) Communication occurred with those directly impacted. ● Received updated guidance from DoH and DoE ● Recommendations for Pre-K to 12 Schools Following Identification of a Case(s) of COVID-1 9 August 13, 2020 www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/emergencyplanning/ COVID-19/SchoolReopeningGuidance/ReopeningPreKto12/PublicHealthGuidance/Pages/ SchoolClosureRecommentations.aspx ● Update to Masking orders August 17, 2020 ● Both PIAA and District 3 have voted to move forward with Fall Sports ● Adhering to the Governor’s orders of ● “no spectators” ● Gatherings of 250 outdoors or 25 indoors for participants (This is to include officials, coaches, participants, staff) ● LL League had already deferred Fall Sports schedules ● Held numerous and lengthy discussions with our school physician concerning ● the reality and implications of the new case guidance ● research findings on young adults (typically 13 and older) and transmission of COVID-19 ● https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/10/20-1315_article ● https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7147903/pdf/mm6914e4.pdf
Per the medical guidance provided directly to EASD…. ● Even with 1 confirmed case it's reasonable to close the building for a 24-48 hours to allow for contacting the DoH and performing contact tracing. ● Unfortunately the decision on how long to close based on small number of cases will, at least in part, depend on how quickly we can turn testing around on close contacts. ● Any building with more than one case (2-4, especially if those children interact with different classes should be closed for several days (at minimum.) ● Per the CDC, if community spread is considered low, it is reasonable for closures to be by building as opposed to district wide. ● If the community spread is larger for our region we would need to consider the entire district. ● At this time it is reasonable to use the closure matrix (8/13/20) for CONFIRMED cases, with continuing to plan to isolate suspected cases until testing returns. ● Cases that impact athletic teams are currently being addressed by sport.
Data to Inform Decision Making ● Monitor Community Transmission Rates as provided by DoH https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Monitoring- Dashboard.aspx ● Utilize ● Closure Matrix for cases (8/13/20) ● https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/emergencyplanning/ COVID-19/SchoolReopeningGuidance/ReopeningPreKto12/ PublicHealthGuidance/Pages/SchoolClosureRecommentations.aspx ● Parent/Guardian communication/support to School for “persons of interest” ● Weekly calls with LGH/Penn Medicine for job alike groups ● School Physician consults on an as needed basis
Info Already Communicated Out to EASD Families August 31- September 3 ● Early dismissal days K-12 ● Includes both In-person and EASD Online options ● Students w/ last names A-L ● attend Monday & Wednesday ● off Tuesday & Thursday ● Students w/ last names M-Z ● attend Tuesday & Thursday ● off Monday & Wednesday ● Families with multiple last names in same household have been assigned same days to help with family schedules (contacts have already been made) ● Select student services programs will attend each day (contact has already been made to those families) ● LLVS Orientations continue as scheduled GOAL : Acclimate students and staff to new health & safety protocols and instructional delivery methods. Refine as needed. September 4 and September 7 are scheduled days off
UPDATED Recommendation on Schedules September 8 and Beyond ( pending continual review of community wide spread numbers and confirmed classroom/building/ district cas es) While the recommendation was to implement ● In Person Option this hybrid schedule through Jan. 22, the ● Grades K-6 Board will now re-evaluate in November to determine whether or not to stay with this ● All day, every day schedule. ● Grades 7-12 **** ● All day, HOWEVER the recommendation is to now alternate in- person and online instructional days until the end of the HS 1st semester (January 22) ● Provides a better opportunity to cohort students ● Follow an A-L and M-Z schedule ● Students will be in school 2 days and online 2 days ● Five day weeks will have all students on line on Fridays ● See calendar for example ● Select Student Service populations Grades K-12 ● Individual schedules with families ● EASD Online Option: K-12 ● All day, every day ● LLVS as per individual schedule
Sample Calendar for 7-12 Secondary Alternating Schedule Calendar Monday- Sept. 7 Tuesday- Sept. 8 Wednesday- Sept. 9 Thursday- Sept. 10 Friday- Sept. 11 No School A-L- in building M-Z in building A-L- in building M-Z in building M-Z online A-L online M-Z online A-L online A day classes A day classes B day classes B day classes Monday- Sept. 14 Tuesday- Sept. 15 Wednesday- Sept. 16 Thursday- Sept. 17 Friday, Sept. 18 A-L- in building M-Z in building A-L- in building M-Z in building All Students online M-Z online A-L online M-Z online A-L online A day classes A day classes B day classes B day classes A day classes Monday- Sept. 21 Tuesday- Sept. 22 Wednesday- Sept. 23 Thursday- Sept. 24 Friday, Sept. 25 A-L- in building M-Z in building A-L- in building M-Z in building All Students online M-Z online A-L online M-Z online A-L online A day classes A day classes B day classes B day classes B day classes ** Students enrolled in EASD Online will be expected to attend their regularly scheduled classes daily.
Why are we recommending an alternating (hybrid) schedule for 7-12 only? ● Research provided by our school physician indicates that transmission of COVID 19 among children younger than 12/13 yrs old is not as prevalent. ● Based upon new “case” guidance, the threshold for closing a school is very low. ● Due to the nature of secondary schedules and certifications, we continue to have larger numbers of students 7-12 who are unable to be grouped by “cohorts” while still utilizing our larger areas for social distancing efforts. ● Consistent with our survey results, we desire to maintain as much in person instruction as possible, while safely keeping our buildings open. ● By adjusting to an alternating A-L/M-Z schedule 7-12 we are able to create smaller cohorts within the complex and are better able to monitor and track cases/ persons under investigation, further reducing the potential for closing the entire building. ● The uncertainty of the impact that resuming fall sports competitions with other schools may have on the daily operations of our own district allows us the ability to cohort, isolate and quarantine more effectively.
District Transportation ● Is available every day for those who are eligible and assigned for in person instruction on that day ● Plan for 2 students/ seat, however may be reduced by implementing the 7-12 alternating schedule ● Face coverings required at all times NOTE: Students in grades 7-12 participating in school sponsored, after school activities will need to arrange their own transportation to campus on the days they are scheduled for online instruction.
Current Enrollments (8/25/20) ● Full in-person ( sometimes referred to as Traditional ) - 2875 ● Online, in real time, with EASD teachers (EASD Online) - 754 ● Virtual option through a third party (LLVS)- has an increased financial impact to the approved district budget - 113 ● Outside Cyber- has a significant financial impact to the approved district budget - current figures show an increase of 43 additional enrollments
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