SDOW Board Approves Transition to Hybrid 7-12; Grades K-6 Move to Five Days In-Person
The School District of Washington’s Board of Education held a meeting on Wednesday evening, Sept. 23.
Among items on the agenda were revisiting the District’s current hybrid plan, which started the school year in Scenario 3 (Yellow) - Hybrid K-12 model.
During the meeting, the Board unanimously approved transitioning from Scenario 3 (hybrid K-12) to Scenario 2 (hybrid 7-12 only), effective Monday, Sept. 28.
Click here for the Return to School Re-Entry Graphic.
Scenario 2 states: Secondary schools only; students attend on a modified schedule designed to reduce class sizes (on-campus two days, e-learning three days) on A and B days. (A days last name A-K, B days last name L-Z).
This means that secondary students (grades 7-12) will remain in the same hybrid schedule and elementary students (grades K-6) will go to in-person five days starting Monday, Sept. 28, under the following conditions:
*Families must be prepared to have a plan when a classroom may need to quarantine for 10-14 days due to close contact (this can’t be avoided and is in everyone’s best interest to contain spread and mitigate further problems). This may also require the teacher to quarantine. If the teacher doesn’t have symptoms but has to be quarantined, the class may have to be converted to “on-line” during that time.
*There is no way for the District to know when these things may occur or how often; however, we will follow the direction of the health department and cooperate fully.
*Students and staff must stay home when ill and speaking with our nursing department and their physician will become increasingly more important as we approach flu season, etc.
*It is not out of the realm of possibilities that the District or the bus company will have a shortage of subs/staff (this will be due mainly to quarantines, either self-directed or as directed by the health departments). Therefore, we need families to know that we are continuing to do our best, but this concern remains at the forefront of our minds.
*Although not a desire, families also need to have a plan for any additional changes to our schedule, whether green, yellow or red as defined in our Comprehensive Return to School Plan.
* Anyone not agreeable to Scenario 2 may still utilize the Parent Choice: Virtual Learning from Home option by contacting their building principal’s office for information.
It is not the Board’s recommendation to transition to full attendance at the secondary level at this time, although the schedule will continue to be re-evaluated. The inability to follow several CDC guidelines such as cohorting students, managing large crowds, social distancing and implementing transitions throughout the course of an entire school day remains a concern. This recommendation is the next logical step, but further consideration will be given to schedule changes in an on-going manner.
A reminder that face coverings are required for all students in grades 4-12 and strongly encouraged for grades K-3.
Current Reality
COVID hasn’t gone away. We will have individuals test positive and quarantined, regardless of whether we are in a hybrid (yellow) or full attendance (green) schedule.
We know that we may have more exposure and close contacts as we change schedules, and increase class sizes, thus one can expect more quarantines under certain given circumstances.
We do not believe that transmission is occurring at school, as those testing positive seem to contract the virus outside of school at this time.
Students and staff appear to be staying home when ill, as directed. Self-quarantining in some instances, as well. This is helpful in preventing the spread and will be critical going forward.
Face coverings do limit one’s risk of contracting or spreading the virus, and play a major role in containing and/or keeping people well. Face coverings do not disqualify anyone from being considered a “close contact” that has to quarantine.
The District requirement of face coverings in grades 4-12 is effective and students and staff are doing a good job with this expectation during the school day. We strongly encourage face coverings in grades K-3 as well.
Cleaning protocols are being followed and will continue to be monitored closely over the next few weeks for efficiency, effectiveness and improvement planning.
Student positivity rate is minimal with 7 of 11 schools not having any positive students during the week of 9/09/20.
The District as a whole had only 4 positive cases out of an enrollment of 3,550. In all cases, contact tracing quickly occurred, quarantines enforced and each situation contained. The previous week there were 0 positive cases district-wide.
Students quarantined (either self-quarantined or as directed by the health department) for the period of August 31-September 8 totaled 89 students. For the period of September 9-14, this number was 83, with the majority (53) being at our 3 secondary schools as opposed to our 7 elementary schools or our Early Learning Center.
Staff positivity rate has been manageable, but does occur. During the week of September 14-18, of 14 buildings in which we employ staff, 11 of the 14 did not experience a COVID positive staff person. Meaning, three positive staff cases district-wide have been recorded for the same time period.
The same can’t be said for “staff quarantined for close contacts” to individuals in or out of school. Staff quarantined is ranging from 6-29 each week.
As mentioned many times, staffing during illness or quarantines remains a concern. Currently, the district is managing the sub fill rate relatively well. The data isn’t necessarily reflective of that in all instances because it only reflects the fill rate using our substitute teacher pool. It doesn’t reflect other creative ways in which absences may or may not be filled.
Bus ridership is low as parents assist the district in transportation to school in many cases. The face covering rules set by the school are to also be followed on the school busses.
Franklin County has experienced an increase in COVID positive cases in the last few weeks following the holiday weekend. The county and school district continue to ask people to wear face coverings in public, social distance, frequently wash hands, and to stay home when experiencing symptoms that are not typical of their normal conditions. Our ability to be proactive will serve our community well.
The hybrid schedule of learning adopted by the School District of Washington likely has helped keep our situation manageable.
Schedule Transition
The transition to Scenario 2 will allow for the following:
*Increase instructional time (especially for grades less familiar with technology and for grades less likely to successfully work well independently or online unless closely supervised).
*Analyze any changes in data as it relates to COVID related attendance due to positivity rates or quarantines.
*Analyze the District’s ability to adequately staff classrooms at the K-6 level.
*Analyze the District’s cleaning protocols due to more building use.
*Continuation of cohorting concept (keeping students with their class), limiting interactions, transitions, etc.
*Improve parents’ ability to work outside the home.
For additional information or to have questions answered, please contact your building principal’s office.
