More details emerge on FCPS return-to-school plan
 |
| Annandale High School is preparing for the return to school with newly painted classrooms and new furniture. [AHS] |
As of July 13, 59 percent of Fairfax County students want to go to school in person, and 41 percent want to continue with virtual learning for the 2020-21 school year, according to information shared at a July 13 school board work group.
Teachers were evenly split, with 50 percent choosing in-person, and 50 percent choosing online learning.
Today is the deadline for selecting one of those two options. Those who don’t respond will be assigned to in-person instruction.
Parents aren’t allowed to make changes because of the logistical challenges of staffing, transportation, and scheduling. Emergency changes would be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Both options have advantages and disadvantages, said school board member Karl Frisch (Providence) at a town hall he co-hosted with at-large school board member Rachna Sizemore-Heizer. “It’s like Swiss cheese; no matter which piece you pick up, there are holes in it.”
Related story: Annandale students featured on news program
There is more learning time online, but the classes are larger, Sizemore Heizer says. She urges parents to choose “the learning experience that best fits your child’s needs and your own comfort level.”
FCPS officials have gotten national attention for defending their choice-based return-to-school plan after it was attacked by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
DeVos has repeatedly demanded all schools reopen full time. Superintendent Scott Brabrand said limiting the number of students in class at one time is the only way the school system can comply with the CDC guidelines on social distancing.
The following details about the return-to-school are from the school board work session and town hall.
Masks – Face coverings will be required for all students over age 2, staff, and essential visitors inside schools and on school buses. Kids who come to school without a mask will be given one and will have their temperature checked.
FCPS is developing policies to deal with students who refuse to wear a mask. Sizemore Heizer says her personal view is wearing a mask is like wearing pants; “if you don’t wear pants, you can’t go to school.”
COVID cases – If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 at a school, the individual will be isolated and interviewed to determine possible exposures to other people. An isolation room, separate from the school clinic, will be available in case anyone has potential COVID symptoms.
At home, the infected person will be isolated and monitored by the Health Department. Anyone who had close contact with that person (as close as six feet away for more than 15 minutes) will be quarantined and will be tested between five and seven days after exposure.
School closures – Decisions on whether to close a classroom or school will be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Health Department. Factors to be considered include the size of the class, the extent of social distancing in place, the extent of interactions, and the potential risk to others.
Bell schedule – Middle schools: 7:15 a.m.-2 p.m.; high schools: 8:10 a.m.-2:55 p.m.; elementary schools: 9:10 a.m.-3:55 p.m. or 10:05 a.m.-4:50 p.m.
In-school schedule – Students with last names beginning A-K will attend school Tuesday and Thursday. Students with last names L-Z will attend Wednesday and Friday. Families with children with different last names will follow the name of the oldest child.
In-person vs. online – The same school programs will be available to online and in-person students. Students will have the same amount of instruction. In person and online teachers will plan together in collaborative teams every Monday afternoon. Teachers will have more control over their virtual classrooms than in the spring.
Courses offered – English as a second language, immersion, art, music, advanced academics for elementary students, AP and IB courses for high school students will be offered in both online and in-school settings. Middle and high school students will have electives, but specific course offerings depend on enrollment and staffing.
Courses and programs not offered – Elementary school chorus will not be offered in the fall and might be considered for the second semester. Certain career and technical courses for high school students that require specialized equipment, such as ceramics and construction technologies, will not be offered online.
Block schedule – High schools will have an A/B block schedule with four blocks per day of 80-85 minutes. The benefits include longer instructional periods and fewer hallway transitions. The challenge is students attending school in person would only see their teacher once a week.
Cleaning supplies – Every employee will get a personal-size hand sanitizer bottle. Automatic hand sanitizer dispenser stands will be distributed to all schools – two per elementary school, four for middle schools, and eight for high schools. Each classroom will get a one-gallon hand sanitizer pump bottle, spray bottles, Virex disinfectant, and paper towels.
Protective gear – every employee and every student will get a cloth mask. All schools and centers will get disposable masks. Custodians, bus drivers, and food service workers will get gloves. Special education staff and bus drivers will get face shields and gowns. Schools will get one temporal thermometer for every 500 students. All schools and offices will get counter shields.
Air quality – Enhanced preventive maintenance will be done for all HVAC and plumbing systems. Buildings will be checked to identify areas of concern. High-efficiency particulate fan/filtration systems will used as needed.
Return to distance learning – FCPS can pivot to all distance learning for everyone if there’s a state mandate requiring that.
Special education – FCPS is exploring the possibility of having some students with disabilities attend school full-time four days a week.
Employee child care – FCPS is developing a plan to provide child care to essential school-based staff, such as teachers, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, and social workers.
Activities – After-school clubs and the middle school after-school program can meet in person and virtually.
School meals – FCPS hopes to continue the grab-and-go meals for children learning at home.
Extending the school year – “We would like to extend the school year but we just don’t have the funding for it,” Sizemore Heizer says, noting that “FCPS has $67 million less than what we expected in February. COVID is becoming an unfunded mandate.”
Appreciate the effort, but I am pulling my kids from FCPS. Private schools have better options for full-time in person learning. My kids just don't do well on line. I am disappointed that as primary educators of their children, parents don't get to decide how their children should be educated. Even more so in this case when there is an abundant amount of evidence to support the need for kids to be in school. In contrast, noone has made the public health case for kids staying home. Any why it has to be a county wide decision is beyond me. Let each school make its own determinations based on size, community preferences, etc. Lastly, I find it ironic that school teachers are not essential like grocery store workers, and other retail services. If those folks don't show we don't eat. Teachers are essential, too. If you are concerned about getting covid, that is obviously a personal decision that everyone should respect. But your job is to teach in person. Take medical leave if you can't do that.