Old Bridge Township Public School District THE PATH
Old Bridge Township Public School District THE PATH FORWARD July 28, 2020
What we will cover: • • • Process, Teams and Timeline Survey Results Our Goals Proposed School Plan Health and Safety Protocols Next Steps
The Road Back. . .
Answering Your Questions • During and after the forum, please send questions to: covidreentryquestions@obps. org • If time allows, via Zoom Chat enter your questions AT THIS TIME, EVERYTHING IS TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE. All Plans still require BOE & DOE approval
Teams and Process • Teams: § Re-Entry Task Force § Remote Learning Team § Leadership Team • Process: § Survey & research § Teams meet weekly § Staff and administration continue during the week • State Guidelines: § 6/26 State Released Guidelines for opening schools § 7/24 Updated guidelines allowing for remote only option for families
SURVEY RESULTS
Family Survey Highlights ● Number of Reponses ○ 3618 Families Responded ○ Representing 5486 Students ● Mixed results Returning to school ○ 48% of families feel somewhat or very uncomfortable returning to school in the fall ○ 43% of families feel somewhat or very comfortable returning to school in the fall ○ 9% neutral Approach to learning ○ 41 % of families would like to return to 100% in-person learning ○ 37% of families would like a hybrid approach ○ 22% of families would like 100% remote learning ● Top three concerns regarding re-entry to school 1. Children and staff coming to school sick 2. Cleaning and disinfecting 3. Social distancing in classrooms *Full survey available on the District website
Staff Survey Highlights ● Number of Reponses ○ 1018 Responses ● Mixed results ○ 53% of staff members are somewhat or very uncomfortable returning to school ○ 36% of staff members are somewhat or very comfortable returning to school ○ 11% neutral ○ ● 92% of staff would feel more comfortable returning to school if both students and staff were required to wear masks Top three concerns regarding re-entry to school 1. General health and safety guidelines 2. Screening, PPE & response to student and staff presenting symptoms 3. Student flow, entry/exit and common areas *Full survey available on the District website
PROPOSED SCHOOL PLAN
Goals for the Path Forward Old Bridge Township Public Schools has established four (4) goals when planning for a return to school. Maintaining the health and safety of students, staff, and the community. Maximizing and individualizing student learning. Supporting teachers and staff with appropriate professional resources to maximize students learning and interaction. Establishing a sound operational and financial foundation for the district for the 2020/2021 year and beyond.
Guiding Principles for Hybrid Model: • Align with the district's four (4) goals for opening • Scalable, hybrid model that can increase days in school as health guidelines allow • Provide a Fulltime Remote Learning option for parents as outlined by New Jersey Governor
Old Bridge Public School: Hybrid Plan An Outline ● ● ● Students will be attending school inperson at a 33% capacity district-wide Students will be in one of three cohorts (A, B, or C) Students will attend school one (1) day per week with their assigned Cohort All in-person days will be a half-day schedule for all grade levels All Tuesdays and Thursdays will be a District-wide Remote Learning Day for students and staff Students will be paired with their siblings in the same Cohort to the greatest extent possible
Advantages to OBPS 33% Hybrid Plan: Advantages: ● Allows schools to start in-person learning with small class sizes ● All students receive a minimum of one day of in-person instruction weekly ● Limits number of staff and students inside buildings facilitating social distancing ● Allows for maximum cleaning and sanitizing between student groups (always at least one day and a weekend) ● Reduced class sizes allows for increased personalized teacher instruction ● Reduced number of students potentially allows for specialized populations to attend in-person more frequently ● OBPS can move from 33% capacity to 66% capacity with limited additional planning based on health trends in New Jersey (scalable increase) Advantages to half-day schedule for in-person days: ● Appropriate/tolerable amount of time for students to wear a mask (four hours vs. Six and a half) ● Allows for additional teacher preparation time to facilitate remote instruction days for cohorts not receiving in-person instruction ● No in-person lunches for the students ● Provides concentrated and direct instruction in English, Reading, and Mathematics, as well as, other core content areas necessary for elementary skill building through high school graduation requirements
Tentative Schedule: 33% Hybrid Week* GROUP Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Cohort A In School Remote Cohort B Remote In School Remote Cohort C Remote In School Cohort D (FULL REMOTE) Remote Teachers/ Staff In School Remote Remote * All proposed plans are tentative samples no plan is final until approved by NJ Dept of Education and based on changing factors.
Available Options to Families Hybrid model: In school and remote 100% Remote All will have in some form of: Check-in “live” with teacher Teacher led recorded video remote small lessons group activities Online, selfdirected learning activities Services for Special Education/RTI/ ESL students
Impact of 100% Remote Option: Current district plans are based on full student participation in Hybrid program. If a significant number of parents opt for Fulltime Remote Learning, this potentially could change the overall plans of the district. Currently two options for Remote Instruction: Option 1 A Option 2 B C Three cohorts: (A, B, C) • Student schedules dictated by their scheduled courses • Students/parents “opt-out” of their scheduled in-person day • Remote students integrated into a cohort A B C D Four cohorts (A, B, C, and All Remote) • Teachers assigned to remote cohort • Remote students in a unique cohort • Remote cohort students receive separate instruction from their classroom peers • Significant scheduling concerns across all grade levels
OBPS Delivery of Instruction: Next Steps 1 2 3 Create necessary checklist of teacher “must-dos” to start the year to ensure smooth transition to virtual learning platforms Create common resources for grade -level teachers to ensure a robust library of online teaching resources Establish the schedule for the two (2) district-wide all remote days (Tuesday and Thursday) 4 Finalize “all-virtual” option for all students/families requesting that option 5 Review district courses to determine viability of certain courses being run strictly online 6 Develop Elementary, Middle, and High Schools “Norms” for if the district must transition fully back to a remote platform E. G. Attendance, Assessment, Scope and Sequence of materials for Elem. , MS, OBHS
● Breakfast available in School Meals homeroom ● Students will receive grab and go multi day meals on in-person learning days ● Meals will be available for pick up at several district locations for remote learning students ● Snacks may be brought from home or provided to students where appropriate
Health and Safety Protocols
Wellness Checks • Prior to entering the building all staff and students will have a wellness check: § Survey questions § Temperature check • Screening Procedures for Students and Staff § All staff reporting to a work facility will self-check their temperature within the vestibule of the building. § Student temperatures will be screened prior to: • disembarking from a school bus • parent/guardian driving away at car drop off zone • the student entering the school from walking areas, designated entry ways (elementary only)
Protocol for Symptomatic Students & Staff • Staff reporting to work and self-screening • • an elevated temperature above 99. 9 degrees will immediately return to their car and contact their immediate supervisor via a cell phone. Students being screened prior to entering the school who exhibit a temperature above 99. 9 degrees will be escorted to an isolation tent for review by the school nurse. Students and staff exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will report to the designated isolation area for observation and in the case of students, transportation home. The symptoms that will lead to being placed in the isolation area are: 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
Mask-Up • All staff and students will be required to wear masks when on a school bus or when in a school facility. • Exceptions and modification will be in place for medical special circumstances • District will provide 2 washable cloth masks per student and staff
Facilities and All district facilities will be cleaned with an EPA-registered & Cleaning approved disinfectant to kill germs. OBTPS uses Diversey Disinfectant: Virex II 256 or Alpha HP. Daily Surface Disinfection of the following: • Door handles • Toilet fixture handles • Light switches • Elevator buttons • All desks & chairs • Café tables • Exercise equipment/ mats • Phones • Keyboards • Disinfecting wipes on electronic items that are touched often, such as phones and computers.
Districtwide air quality measure that are in place: ● ● ● Replaced all HVAC filters that were in service prior to our closing. Assessing all equipment to determine our capability of increasing the efficiency rate of all our filters. Assessing all equipment to determine our capability of increasing fresh air make up, to the highest extent possible, without impacting our ability to heat or cool as necessary. ● ● ● Proactive maintenance, including but not limited to, cleaning coils where needed, greasing bearings and replacing belts where necessary as well. Working collaboratively with Aramark in ensuring all uninvents, in all classrooms, are free of any obstructions; that could interfere with proper air circulation in the classrooms. Extreme temperature days that may impact student & staff respiratory quality when wearing a face covering, will be converted to remote only learning days.
Transportation • All occupants of the school bus are required to wear a face covering/mask. Individuals with health conditions documented by a physician that preclude them from wearing a face covering/mask will provided with accommodations and flexibility. • Students will avoid touching surfaces often touched by bus passengers. • Drivers will use gloves if required to touch surfaces contaminated by body fluids.
Transportation • Transportation will practice regular cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, including surfaces in the driver cockpit commonly touched by the operator between transportation runs. • Social Distancing on School Buses § Limit close contact of students by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible. § Students will avoid sitting within 6 feet of the bus driver.
Next Steps
Next Steps: Getting granular by learning needs By August 3 rd By Aug 7 th By Aug 21 By Sept 4 • Survey- Intent to select Remote learning only • Commitment to select remote learning only • Transportation completes bus runs • Devices ready for distribution • Notify parents of cohort assignments and calendar • Elementary, middle and HS teams continue working to establish norms, expectations & instructional resources • Launch professional development • PPE ready for distribution
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