3/8/2021 Kings Park Central School District Learning Through Technology Everyone Matters in Kings Park Special Meeting Secondary Instructional Model: Expanding to 5-days of In-Person Instruction March 9, 2021 Overarching RARE Goal (unprecedented times called for a RARE goal) ⚫ Re-Enter ⚫ Assess (both academic and mental health) ⚫ Remain (2/25 was our 100th day of school) ⚫ Expand – This evening we will be discussing our secondary instructional model (grades 6-12), and how we intend to expand to 5-days of in-person instruction. 1 3/8/2021 Risk Management ⚫ During the pandemic, it is the responsibility of the District to provide the highest quality education possible, while also balancing risk, including health and safety risks, as well as litigation risks. ⚫ The presentation and plan this evening is the result of review, analysis, and collaboration with the following: ⚫ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ⚫ New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) ⚫ Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) ⚫ State and local Fire Marshalls ⚫ Legal council (Ingerman-Smith) ⚫ New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal (NYSIR) ⚫ Suffolk County School Superintendents Association (SCSSA), Huntington-Smithtown Supts. Cluster, and WS BOCES “And being prudent is both critical and responsible.” February 12, 2021 CDC Guidance ⚫ Established a “Continuum of Risk” for schools Operating schools during COVID-19: CDC's Considerations | CDC ⚫ Lowest Risk – virtual only classes and activities ⚫ Some Risk From September through the present ⚫ Medium Risk day, we have operated in this area. ⚫ High Risk Deviating from the A/B cohort model and ⚫ Highest Risk increasing student density raises the risk level. 2 3/8/2021 Enduring Challenges? ⚫ Specific challenges with additional in-person instruction on the secondary level include: 1. Instruction, when classroom space is an issue 2. Dining, when students eat without a mask 3. Transportation, when traveling to and from schools ⚫ Specifically physical/social distancing, and the mitigation of distancing when 6 feet is not possible, is the single greatest challenge. Relevant Factors ⚫ Infection rate and local COVID-19 metrics ⚫ Employee/community vaccination rollout ⚫ Weather ⚫ Barrier (polycarbonate) fabrication, ordering, and install (desks and cafeteria tables) ⚫ Classroom and learning space preparation and scheduling ⚫ Wi-Fi accessibility ⚫ Ventilation 3 3/8/2021 1 - Transportation/Busing ⚫ Social distancing recommendations include one student per seat. ⚫ Ridership data was collected and analyzed for WTRMS and KPHS. ⚫ On most days, KPHS is not an issue. ⚫ Despite many more parents driving their child to school this year, deviating from the hybrid model will increase ridership at WTRMS above the recommended student density on about half of the buses. ⚫ Barriers are not permitted on buses. ⚫ Some students will need to be seated two in a seat. This is important, because the parents of 66 students told us (survey) that they are not comfortable with this, and they do not have another alternative to get their child to school. 2 - Dining/Lunch Challenges ⚫ In keeping with all guidance on dining, our current model provides for 6 feet of social distancing while students are eating lunch at an open table without a mask. ⚫ Unlike some of our surrounding districts, each of our secondary schools only has ONE lunch room. ⚫ KPCSD received a violation at a recent fire inspection (February) for placing lunch tables into hallways. ⚫ On the elementary level, we can “overflow” into classrooms. This is not possible on the secondary level, and we quickly run out of spaces to feed students at WTRMS and KPHS. ⚫ Lunch is a limiting factor on the secondary level, especially during the winter months and on poor weather days. 4 3/8/2021 Dining/Lunch Solutions ⚫ Earlier this winter, the district ordered about $30,000 of Lexan (polycarbonate). This material is clear plastic, but meets all local and state fire codes. This is the same material that was used to create the clear barriers at FS, PV, and RJO. ⚫ Our maintenance staff has been fabricating lunch barriers for installation at KPHS and WTRMS for a few weeks. Some of these barriers have already been installed. ⚫ Barriers are a necessary mitigation component when students are eating, not wearing masks, and seated closer than 6 feet. ⚫ The barriers support an increase lunch room capacity. ⚫ We have also expanded into a few additional areas within the schools (ex. Room 101 at KPHS). ⚫ The district also purchased several outdoor picnic tables, which were used in the fall and will be used again this spring once the weather improves. Dining/Lunch - KPHS Solutions Rectangular Table Custom Table Round Table White protective coating is still ON. 5 3/8/2021 Dining/Lunch - WTRMS Solution – all rectangular tables 3 - Instructional Space Challenges ⚫ Based on initial guidelines, depending on the activity, students needed between 36 – 144 square feet of space to abide by COVID- 19 physical/social distancing guidelines. ⚫ Unlike some surrounding districts, our middle school does not have a large auditorium for potential student “overflow.” ⚫ At KPHS, our BOCES Tech students are utilizing our library. ⚫ Our middle school and high school classrooms vary in size, ranging from about 600 – 840 square feet of floor space. ⚫ Most rooms are about 700 square feet, with approximately 550 square feet of student space. ⚫ Thus, under original guidelines, secondary classrooms could only support about 15 students max on average, and still abide by 6 feet of physical/social distancing. 6 3/8/2021 Instructional Space Solutions ⚫ Clear polycarbonate “Lexan” barriers will be installed on desks in grades 6-12. These will be “L” shaped and affixed to the desks via adhesive and anchors. ⚫ Desks will be spaced as far apart as possible, but will certainly be within 6 feet in most instructional settings. ⚫ Some minor construction and removal of partition walls may be necessary. ⚫ Mask breaks will no longer be permitted in classrooms when 6 feet of distancing can not be maintained. ⚫ Some classrooms will need to be relocated to larger spaces to accommodate student enrollment in a safer manner. ⚫ In a few unique and limited instances, a small number of students may need to learn remotely from inside the school. If necessary, this will be kept to an absolute minimum, and students would be rotated for equity purposes. Instructional Space Solution – barriers (1/8” polycarbonate) Standard Size (L x W x H): 23.75” x 23.75” x 18.875”; Taller Version: 23.75” x 23.75” x 23.75” 7 3/8/2021 Instructional Space Today WTRMS KPHS Anticipated Instructional Space NOTE: These pictures were supplied by our vendor. Most KPCSD student desks resemble those shown on the previous two slides. Spacing may also be tighter than shown here. 8 3/8/2021 Quarantine Rules Unchanged for Students KPCSD (Hybrid) KPCSD (More In-Person) ⚫ 6-period block schedule ⚫ 6-period block schedule ⚫ Positive student ⚫ Positive student ⚫ 48-hour look back period ⚫ Need additional to determine “close information from bus contacts” in need of driver, teachers, and quarantine for 10 days. cafeteria supervisors to ⚫ Because we are practicing determine close contacts. 6 feet or more in most ⚫ Students within 6 feet are situations, very few, if any, identified using seating close contacts result. charts and staff input. ⚫ School attendance ⚫ More student quarantines remains predictable. will result. Hybrid Seating Chart ⚫ Class of 24 students (2 fully remote) A-Cohort: 10 students / B-Cohort: 12 students 9 3/8/2021 Higher Density Seating Chart ⚫ Class of 24 students (2 fully remote) 22 students now in-person daily Monitoring and Triggers ⚫ As we look to expand, a spike in cases in Kings Park would force us reevaluate and take a step backwards (ex. recent issues in Wantagh and Manhasset) ⚫ Potential OSHA ventilation regulations (March 15, 2021). ⚫ Steps backwards might include: ⚫ Return to hybrid instructional model ⚫ Full remote instructional model ⚫ Important trigger points include: ⚫ Infection rate > 5% (no longer in CDC blue zone) ⚫ Local presence of COVID-19 variant(s) ⚫ Local spike in cases and/or “spreader” event(s) 10 3/8/2021 Parent/Guardian Survey Results ⚫ Question 10: If student density were increased and social/physical distancing reduced (i.e. from 6 ft. to approximately 3-4 ft.), which instructional model would you select for your child? Response Average Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade / Grade 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Remote 9.62% 4.38% 9.56% 10.74% 9.70% 8.96% 12.03% 11.43% Hybrid 16.30% 13.14% 19.12% 11.41% 18.66% 20.15% 20.89% 10.71% In- 74.09% 82.48% 71.32% 77.85% 71.64% 70.90% 67.09% 77.86% Person ***As of March 3, 2021 Timeline for Return, 5-Days ⚫ Grades 6 & 12 Monday, March 22, 2021 ⚫ Grades 7 & 9 Thursday, April 8, 2021 ⚫ Grades 8 & 10 Friday, April 9, 2021 ⚫ Grade 11 Monday, April 12, 2021 See calendars for April and March on the next two slides. For additional clarification, the grade levels will remain on the hybrid model with their cohort until the date indicated above. 11 3/8/2021 12 3/8/2021 Next Steps ⚫ Parent instructional model request (SurveyMonkey) ⚫ 100% remote ⚫ Hybrid (A/B), with anticipated higher student density ⚫ In-person ALL days, following phase-in dates on previous slides ⚫ Parents should: ⚫ Review this presentation and supporting materials in order to make an informed choice ⚫ Submit a separate request (survey response) for each child, grades 6-12 ⚫ It is critical for consistency, planning, and preparation purposes that parents and students commit to one model at this time. ⚫ The students of parents that do not complete the survey will be scheduled in accordance with their current model. Full Remote Requests AFTER Implementation ⚫ Some parents may wish to have their child flip to a full remote model later this spring due to unique circumstance (ex. college visit) for a limited period of time. ⚫ This is the process that should be used: ⚫ For a 1-2 day flip to remote instruction, call your school’s attendance office. The attendance office will notify your child’s teachers of the short-term change. ⚫ For a change to remote instruction greater than 2 days, contact your schools guidance office. ⚫ Attendance will be coded Present, Present Remote, or Absent. 13 3/8/2021 Health Office Updates & Reminders ⚫ Students and employees should submit the WorkBadge Health Assessment on a DAILY basis each morning. This is a Team effort, and helps us to maximize student class time each morning. ⚫ The district reserves the right to request a student exhibiting COVID-19 like symptoms to present a negative test (either rapid or PCR) prior to returning to school. ⚫ Any student awaiting test results must stay home. It Takes A Village • Our primary goal today continues to be to keep our schools open for in-person instruction, with a model that is driven by updated CDC guidance and risk assessment, and the unique space constraints in our schools. • This is simple. If we want the best chance of ensuring continued and expanded in-person school, the Kings Park community needs to continue to make good choices. Cases spike in areas where people make poor choices. • The most common cause of COVID-19 spread in our area continues to be small indoor gatherings and family spread. • Moving forward, we still need to stay vigilant in practicing the 4 W’s in school, at home, and in the community. 14 3/8/2021 COVID-19 Information ⚫ Website: www.kpcsd.org Health and Safety Department (drop down menu) NEW: KPCSD Spring 2021 Secondary Expansion Plans KPCSD September Re-Entry Plans 2020 Coronavirus Guidance and Reference Materials COVID-19 Letters and Notifications Safe PRIDE Re-Entry Committee Documents kpHS Transportation Teachers Clericals Heritage TA’s & Nurses Museum KPCSD PRIDE PTA Athletics Aides & Fort Security Salonga Special WTRMS Education 15
Enter the password to open this PDF file:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-