Fairfax County school officials provide more details on return-to-school alternatives
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| An FCPS town hall with (from the left) Manager of School Health Services Lorraine Trouton, Superindent Scott Brabrand, and Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Platenburg. |
Fairfax County Public School officials have provided more information on options for the 2020-21 school year.
The following information is from two recent virtual town halls – a session on June 17 with school board chair Karen Corbett Sanders (Mount Vernon) and at-large school board member Rachna Sizemore Heizer and a town hall on June 16 with Superintendent Scott Brabrand, Assistant Superintendent for Facilities and Transportation Jeffrey Platenberg, and Manager of School Health Services Lorraine Trouton.
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| Classroom layouts will be revised to accommodate social distancing. |
FCPS is considering three return-to-school scenarios: virtual learning for all, in-school learning with social distancing, and a hybrid option with virtual learning for students with health risks.
A decision on how to proceed will depend on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and whether it’s safe to have in-person learning based on guidance from the Virginia Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control.
In-person learning
If FCPS goes with the in-school option, students would have to be placed six feet apart in classrooms to ensure social distancing. That would require a split schedule, with some students at school and others learning at home.
That’s necessary because schools now have only about 18 inches between student desks, and 75 schools are at or above capacity.
There are two options. Under the 50 percent capacity alternative, students would be in school with face-to-face instruction two days a week, Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday.
Under the 25 percent capacity option, students would be in school one day a week.
Under both options, Fridays would be set aside in all grades for independent study, teacher planning, and extra interventions for high-need students, such as English language learners and special education students.
FCPS is working with principals to determine if there is extra space, such as in gyms or trailers, that could be used as classrooms.
On the days when students are at home, they would have asynchronous learning, such as prerecorded lessons from their teachers.
PPE will be provided for special education students that need to participate in high-touch activities.
Face masks
Teachers will be required to wear face masks whenever they are closer than six feet from others. There’s a possibility they could use clear shields instead.
Face coverings for students would be encouraged when developmentally appropriate and would be required if students can’t maintain social distancing, such as when they are passing in hallways.
Schools will make sure students have hand-washing breaks and face masks if they don’t bring them.
School buses
FCPS is expected to allow just one child per seat on school buses. That would require additional buses, a change in the bell schedule, and built-in time to clean buses between runs.
Athletics
Physical conditioning will start June 22. Each session will be limited to individual work on FCPS outdoor facilities. There will be no group or scrimmage activities.
Virtual learning
If all learning continues to be virtual, students would spend at least two and-half hours a day in virtual classes four days a week.
A sample schedule for students in prekindergarten through second grade calls for teacher-directed instruction 8:30-9:30 a.m. and noon-1 p.m.; specials, such as art or music, 9:30 a.m.-10 a.m.; interventions for English language learners and special education students 10-11 a.m., and student choice activities 1-3 p.m.
Students in grades 3-6 would have teacher-directed instruction 8:30-10 a.m., 10:30-11 a.m., and noon-1 p.m.; specials 10-10:30 a.m.; and English language instruction, special education, advanced academics, or student choice activities 1-3 p.m.
Secondary schools would have a 9:15-2:30 p.m. day with 45-minute classes and teacher office hours 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
For all grades, Fridays would be reserved for independent or collaborative work for students and dedicated planning time for staff.
Virtual learning for those who need it
Students unable to come to school due to medical issues would have full-time, synchronous learning with FCPS teachers four days a week and one day of individual learning on demand. If parents choose this option, it will be for the entire year.
Screening
Schools are required to conduct daily screening of students and staff, but there has not been a decision on how this will be done.
FCPS is not likely to require temperature checks at the door, because temperature isn’t a reliable indicator for children. Many children with a high temperature don’t have COVID, and some who are infected don’t have a high temperature.
If there is a positive case in the school system, families will be notified. Outbreaks could lead to school closures.
Childcare
Distance learning, whether it’s full time or a couple of days a week, poses problems for working parents who need childcare.
The school board is expected to work with the county government, which oversees SACC (School Age Child Care), and nonprofits to develop creative ways to provide childcare with an equity lens in keeping with the One Fairfax policy guidance.
Cleaning
FCPS budgeted an extra $2.3 million for custodial staff and cleaning supplies. FCPS ordered 30,000 bottles of hand sanitizer and plans to order 15,000 more.
Custodians use Virex, a disinfectant that kills viruses. External contractors can be brought in if someone tests positive for COVID-19 and a deeper cleaning is needed.
Timing
The return-to-school plan will be discussed at a school board work session June 23. A plan will be approved by June 26.
If there will be in-school instruction, parents will be informed by Aug. 20 which days of the week their children will be in school. The first day of the 2020-21 term is Aug. 25.
A return to full-time school
There is no guidance yet on when it will be safe to reopen schools at full capacity. FCPS will depend on recommendations from the state and county health departments.
Long-term implications
With the increased use of virtual learning, “students are taking more ownership in how they engage in the virtual experience.” Corbett Sanders says. “Our students will have a different set of skills than previous graduates of FPCS.”
Very interesting that there is no mention of split school times (early and late). That would disrupt the teachers schedule and we can't have that. Shame on you FCPS and parents for not voicing outrage.
10:06: Why in the world would that be a good idea? The cost of implementing that would be enormous because of the extra cleaning and extra bussing involved. The options outlined consist of a sensible range to me.
10:06 – LOL! So, so far you've blamed and shamed FCPS, parents, and teachers. Next: students!
Man, fall is going to suck. I have no idea who is going to watch my kid 3 days a week.
Childcare is a really legit issue. In the same boat myself. Hoping the county uses some of federal funds to temporarily lease some commercial space and create some flex SACC space – or something!!!
While I applaud the efforts, as outlined this is overly broad and vague. It is good that they are planning now. They have to. But they also need to plan if things get better or worse. Also, the one size fits all approach is untenable. A school over capacity has different needs than a school with lower enrollment. And the mask requirements/guidelines/ when they have to be on and off are arbitrary. I see school districts around the world with varying levels of infection and politics are looking to open regularly this Fall with fewer restrictions. I hope FCPS looks at some of that including the arbitrarily-designated 6 foot rule. Before folks have a conniption, please understand that the CDC admits that the 6 foot rule is arbitrary to keep people twice as far away as the 1 meter rule developed by WHO based on science.