Hoopeston Area Families,
Administration and HEA have updated the procedures regarding COVID-19 symptoms based on new guidance from IDPH released this week. The updated plan is being shared with families. We will continually update families as information is provided.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1exZwtB7adFfrTclnqAquF6LRbatFJIsNfc51uba87YU/edit
Hoopeston Area CUSD #11
Return to Learn Block Plan
Last Updated: 8/14/20
Introduction
This draft plan was created by a committee of teachers, administrators, and HEA. To assist in the creation of the plan, the committee:
reviewed the ISBE/IDPH Transition Joint Guidance
surveyed parents and staff
consulted with legal counsel and the district insurance carrier
The committee strived to balance the need to provide for the overall health of students and staff, viewing health as just not physical health but also academic health, mental health, social health, and emotional health.
The Return to Learn Block Plan was approved by the Board of Education at a July 28 special board meeting.
Primary Method of Instruction
The district will be utilizing a hybrid learning plan for all students as the primary method of instruction for the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year.
Maple & John Greer will utilize 5 days a week of in-person instruction with early dismissal (8:20 am - 1:05 pm).
M.S./H.S. will utilize in-person instruction (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri) early dismissal (8:20 am - 12:20 pm) with Wednesday as a remote learning day.
Families may select fully remote learning provided by the child’s school.
Families selecting remote learning will be provided information from their child’s school regarding the distribution of technology equipment and other resources.
The first day of student attendance will be on Thursday, August 20.
All schools will be on an early dismissal schedule through the END of the first quarter. This schedule will require 60 - 78 minutes of remote learning daily to meet the 5 clock hours of instruction required by ISBE to count as a full day of attendance.
Maple & John Greer Grade Schools: 8:20am-1:05pm
Students attend five (5) days per week with one hour remote learning daily.
Morning PreK will run from 8:10am - 10:40am
Afternoon sections of PreK will run from 12:10pm -2:40pm
Middle School/High School: 8:20am - 12:20pm
Students attend four (4) days/week with one hour remote learning daily.
Early Dismissal on attendance days (Mon., Tues, Thurs. & Fri)
78 minutes of remote learning required on attendance days (Mon., Tues, Thurs. & Fri)
Wednesday is designated as a remote learning day.
Rationale:
Students in-person instruction four (4) days per week.
Less time for students to wear face coverings as they acclimate to wearing them.
Less time in buildings that are not air conditioned.
Additional time for teachers to receive professional development and prepare remote learning materials.
Additional time for staff to disinfect high-touch surfaces.
A decision will be made in mid-September as to whether to continue the early dismissal schedule for the remainder of first semester or to revert back to a regular dismissal schedule beginning with the beginning of the second quarter.
Alternative Methods of Instruction
Students and their families may self select to participate in fully remote learning. Lessons will be provided that mirror the in-person learning option.
Students will have access to a teacher if students have questions or need support.
Parents must choose at registration if they are signing up for in-person learning or for remote learning. They will be permitted to make a change for the second quarter.
Parents not wanting their students to participate in either in-person learning or in the remote learning opportunities should unenroll their students from Hoopeston Area Schools by transferring them to a different school district or filling out a “Withdrawal to Homeschool Form.”
Face Coverings
Students and staff MUST wear a face covering that covers the mouth and nose at all times.
Exceptions:
At lunch when eating
Outdoors when able to maintain proper social distancing (defined as at least 6 feet apart from others)
While playing a musical instrument that requires breath
Face coverings include:
Face Masks
Neck Gaiters (worn around the mouth and nose)
Parents are encouraged to provide face coverings for their students. The district will have face coverings available should a student need one.
Students refusing to wear a face covering will not be allowed to attend school and will be sent home.
"As required by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education, all individuals present at or seeking entrance to any school building shall be required to wear a face covering. All individuals in the building shall wear face coverings at all times within the buildings, and no person shall be permitted entry without a face covering. Persons desiring entry at the school building or school bus who do not possess or refuse a face covering will be denied entry."
Students who regularly are removing their face covering and/or not wearing it properly will be addressed through the standard disciplinary procedure consistent with the student’s age and developmental level.
Daily Symptom Screening
Students that are sent to school will be DAILY screened for symptoms and have their temperature checked.
Symptom screenings/temperature checks will occur prior to getting on the bus (for bus riders) or prior to entering the building (for non-bus riders).
Any student with a temperature of over 100.4 F (regardless of what their temperature was at home) or with any of the above listed COVID-19 symptoms will not be permitted to board the bus (bus riders) or will be sent home (non-bus riders). They must remain out until symptom free, a MINIMUM of the remainder of that school day AND the next day (provided there is school next day). Once again, this includes 24-hour fever free without fever-reducing medication.
Under no circumstance should an elementary student be left unattended at a bus stop in the morning since they will not be allowed to board the bus if they have a fever or any COVID-like symptoms. An adult should be present with the student or the student may walk home provided they are with a sibling in junior high or high school.
Medical Guidance for Families, Students, and Staff
Medical Guidance for Families and Students
District Closure and Transition to Full-Time Remote Learning
The district will close and transition to full-time remote learning upon:
A state-order closing schools
An outbreak of COVID-19 cases, in consultation with local health officials
In order to improve on the effectiveness of remote learning, the following changes will be put in place:
Kindergarten through twelfth grade will use Google Classroom. Students will be provided with training on these platforms during in-person learning.
Reference Hoopeston Area C.U.S.D. #11 Remote Learning Plan and Contract
Parents should begin planning now for possible child care should the district have to close and transition to full-time remote learning.
Measures to Keep Students/Staff Safe
Classroom seats will be set up in rows facing the same direction and will be spread out as much as possible.
Students will be given assigned seats in classrooms and buses to more easily track exposure to COVID.
Hand sanitizer will be available in all classrooms. Students will be encouraged to use hand sanitizer upon entering and leaving classrooms and after using a shared object.
Drinking fountains will be turned off. Bottled water will be available. .
Grab n Go lunches provided to 6-12 students upon dismissal. K-5 students will utilize lunch in the classroom or cafeteria with capacity limits followed (50)
Lockers will be utilized with social distancing practiced through alternating times and groups.
Students utilizing school busses will be required to wear masks while on the school bus and social distancing will be practiced as much as possible.
Parents are encouraged to provide students with transportation to school as opposed to riding buses. This will mean less time wearing face coverings and less exposure to other students within 6 feet, making it less likely that a student will have to be excluded for 14-days for close contact with someone with COVID-19 or suspected to have COVID-19.
Visitors must wear face coverings and will not be allowed past the office.
Field trips will be canceled until further notice.
Increased cleaning of school buildings will take place, especially high-touch surfaces.