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Date: 7/22/2020
WESTHAMPTON – The Hampshire Regional School District released a draft of its return to school plans for the 2020-21 school year on July 17.
Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Jeffrey Riley released the Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance for dison June 25, which prioritized a return to in-person learning in the classroom. Massachusetts schools initially closed in March and for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year a month later in response to the coronavirus pandemic and while the state prefers a return to schools, as part of the reopening process, districts were required to develop additional plans for remote learning and hybrid learning as well. Those plans must be submitted to the state for review and approval by August prior to implementation.
In a post on his HRSD Superintendent Facebook group, Superintendent Aaron Osborn noted the district would be hosting public sessions to allow for feedback from the communities that make up the district.
In his superintendent’s message as part of the draft plan, Osborn said, “While the state’s guidance is direct and clear, the complexities of schools are endless and require tremendous planning. While it has not been formal or shared publicly, we began the planning process in May in anticipation of this guidance. We recognize that schools open again in weeks and families need time to plan accordingly; we assure you that every effort has been made to provide the most ‘normal’ opening possible for our families while ensuring the safety of all. Members of our school community – students, staff, and parents – continue to express their strong desire to return to school in-person this fall. At the same time, we recognize that we may experience a resurgence of the virus, and we must prepare for the possibility that learning will be entirely remote this fall. This ‘Back-to-School Blueprint’ takes many variables into account and provides the framework for what a safe return-to-school will look like for us. It won’t be easy, and school certainly won’t be the same as before, but we are up to the challenge.”
HRSD’s draft plan for a return to the classroom calls for a phased approach. The proposed phase 1 begins in July with the implementation of social distancing protocols and the opening of facilities with limited use and access. In August, phase 2 calls for expanded use of the buildings based on CDC and local health guidance. Later in August, phase 3 involves the opening and operation of schools, guided by federal, local and state health input and determining what restrictions will remain in place.
Students in grades 2 and over and all adults, with the exception of those with medical conditions or disabilities, would be required to wear face coverings. Families are responsible for providing these and are also expected to screen students before they arrive at school as no screening would take place in school buildings.
Hampshire Regional High School would welcome students two grade levels at a time each day when school returns to session. From Aug. 31 to Sept. 11, students would attend a half-day of school while teachers and other instructional staff would take part in professional development and planning activities in the afternoons or on days without students. The schedule is as follows: Sept. 2 – Grades 7 and 10 attend a half-day in the morning; Sept. 3 – Grades 8 and 11 attend a half-day in the morning; Sept. 4 – Grades 9 and 12 attend a half-day in the morning; and Sept. 8 to 11 – All grades attend a half-day in the morning.
Elementary schools would also open on a limited basis during this time period with staff taking part in professional development in the afternoon. The schedule would be as follows: Sept 2 – each grade would have half of a class for a half-day in the morning; Sept 3 – Each grade has the other half of the class for a half-day in the morning; Sept 4 – Each grade has an entire class for a half-day day in the morning.
While the state’s guidance allows for desks to be placed within three feet of each other, the HRSD plan proposes placing desks facing the same direction between 4 ½ and 6 feet apart and students would have assigned seats. Schools would divide students into small groups that remain with each other throughout the day, with smaller cohort sizes preferred. Schools would be instructed to attempt to isolate the cohorts of students and prevent contact between groups whenever possible. Teachers would be required to be separated from students in an “instructional zone” and there would be an emphasis on individual work as opposed to group work.
The proposal also calls for limitations on the sharing of supplies, eating lunch in smaller areas such as classrooms as opposed to cafeterias or staggering lunch schedules, and opening windows and doors to increase ventilation when possible.
Recess and outdoor activities would be permitted and conducted under adult supervision. Students would be allowed to remove their masks if they are able to remain socially distanced and playgrounds and fields would be sectioned off according to student cohorts.
Each school would have a designated COVID-19 isolation room. In the event an adult or student became ill, they would be isolated and the nurse would complete the Suspected COVID19 Case Form and contact the local health authority. Those who are suspected of being sick would be sent home and the nurse and administration would identify those who would have been in contact with that person.
Those who test positive would not be allowed to return until at least three days after their recovery and 14 days after their initial symptoms appeared.
Outside organizations would not be allowed to utilize school buildings and fields and playgrounds would be addressed on a case-by-case basis. All travel, including conferences, workshops and field trips would be discontinued.
Schools would be regularly cleaned and disinfected and deep cleaning protocols would go into effect in the event of a positive COVID-19 test.
All students utilizing school transportation would be required to use face coverings. In order to maintain at least three feet of distance, students would be required to sit one to a seat in an alternating pattern. Bus windows would be required to remain open to ensure proper ventilation. Parents would be asked to confirm the need for transportation with the district; school choice busing may no longer be an option under this plan, depending on in-district need.
Hybrid Learning
In the event of the need for hybrid learning, the district would separate students into A/B cohorts and engage in two days of in-person instruction and three days of remote learning for each cohort. Cohort A would attend in-person classes on Monday and Tuesday; Cohort B would have in-person instruction on Thursday and Friday. Remote learning would not require all students to be online simultaneously for instruction, but teachers would be available on Wednesdays to check in with students and provide additional guidance and instruction.
High-needs students receiving special services would attend school in person Monday and Tuesday and Thursday and Friday.
Remote Learning
Remote learning would be made available to students who are unable to return to school and would also serve as a fallback option for the district in the event that schools were not able to reopen or were forced to close.
Remote learning would include live or scheduled class activities as well as recorded or self-paced activities utilizing resources including, but not limited to, Zoom, Google Classroom and SeeSaw.
The full draft plan is available at https://www.hr-k12.org/re-opening-fall-2020-e6f48ce4#.