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Lawrence County Schools Return to school plan 20-21 INCLUDING arp esser Addendum 2021

With the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year approaching, it is the desire of Lawrence County Schools to provide guidance and information for the upcoming year. Lawrence County Schools is committed to providing a safe learning environment, high-quality instruction, and emotional supports for all students. We are looking forward to this school year, and we are working diligently to create a plan that meets the needs of each student and every staff member.

We realize we cannot anticipate every challenge our school system will face in the coming year, but we are working closely with health system employees, state officials, school leaders, industry specialists, community members, and other stakeholders to be prepared. With our combined effort, we will have an awesome school year. Our Return to School Plan has been created as a plan that ensures safety is our number one priority. We thank you for your continued support, and together we will make this a successful school year!

Jon Bret Smith, Ed.D.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this document does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Instead, information is for general purposes only and does not constitute the most current legal regulations. All liability with respect to action taken or not taken based on the contents of this document are hereby disclaimed. The content in this document is provided “as is”. No representations are made that the content is error-free. The document is not an exhaustive list of every action that Lawrence County Schools will need to return to school or to remain at school. We will follow the guidance of the Alabama Department of Education and the Alabama Department of Public Health and hope to be able to meet the needs of our community and be responsive to those needs.

Academics

Traditional Students

The traditional school day will look much as it has in the past. Students will receive face to face instruction Monday through Friday during normal school hours (in-person instruction is required for all First Class Pre-K students unless a significant medical condition is documented and shared with the Regional Director).

There will be some noticeable changes to the school routine. These changes may include:

  • Designated entrances and exits with traffic flowing in one direction
  • Breakfast and lunch occasionally served in the classroom
  • Smaller physical education classes
  • Social distancing in the classroom
  • Teachers moving from room to room to deliver instruction (departmentalized situations)
  • Dismissing in small groups/phases
  • Assigned desks for students
  • One-way hallways
  • Adequate space between lockers

Lawrence County Schools will offer parents three options:

  • Traditional
  • Blended
  • Virtual

For a description of each, click here.

Formative and State Required Assessments- All students will participate in all state-required and formative assessments. (example- virtual K-3 students will participate in literacy assessments)

Field Trips- Lawrence County Schools recognizes the educational and cultural values of field trips. The decision has been made to pause all field trips for the 2020-2021 school year.

This does not impact athletic or extra curricular events such as scholar’s bowl, robotics teams, career tech competitions, etc.

Code of Conduct- The Lawrence County Board of Education’s Code of Conduct is in effect, which includes attendance policies and procedures.

Devices- Students will be assigned devices during the first week of school. Plans are in place to continue learning virtually, if needed.

Preparation for Remote Learning-

In the event of extended school closure Lawrence County Schools will implement Remote Learning Framework. This document will serve as a guide.

Transportation

  • All active buses will be sanitized at the completion of the final morning and afternoon routes.
  • Members of the same household must sit on the same school bus seat or together.
  • Routes will be assigned a target arrival time. This should minimize children having to wait on the bus before being allowed to unload.
  • Bus drivers and students will follow guidelines and any mask order by Govenor Ivey. Masks or face coverings are encouraged while riding the bus.
  • When appropriate, buses will travel with windows open.

Health and Wellness

COVID-19 Guidelines

  • Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) Guidelines will be followed as closely as possible for the school setting in the best interest of students and employees.
  • Parents must be available to contact/pick-up their child if illness develops during school. Parents should communicate with the School Nurse before their child can return to school.

Vulnerable Population

  • Students at high risk- It is the responsibility of the parent to contact the student’s healthcare provider for guidance in deciding the academic path that is best for the health of the student. (Traditional, Blended, or Virtual). Parents should communicate all student healthcare needs to their School Nurse.
  • Employees at higher risk: it is the responsibility of the employee to consult with their healthcare provider in making a decision regarding their work environment and necessary individual precautions such as facial coverings. Employees should communicate with their administrator

Wellness Screening/Self-Monitoring at Home

  • Parents, students, and employees are all an integral component of wellness screenings. It is imperative that everyone takes responsibility for their own preventive health measures and that all work together to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
  • Parents, students, and employees should monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and check temperature before school each day, including before boarding the bus.
  • If students or employees have a fever of 100.0 degrees or higher, they cannot attend school.

Face Coverings and Masks

  • Face coverings/masks are encouraged. Any required use of masks will be governed by an Alabama Department of Public Health Order as directed by Governor Kay Ivey. Lawrence County Schools/ ALSDE will provide a cloth mask for students and employees.

Hand Hygiene

  • Hand hygiene is a vital infection control measure to be implemented by all students and employees. Handwashing and Hand Sanitizer Stations will be available for all students and employees. Hand hygiene supplies will be maintained (hand sanitizer, hand soap, and paper towels).
  • Students will be taught basic wellness practices to protect themselves.

Visitors and Guests

  • Guests will not be allowed on Lawrence County School campuses unless they are checking in/out a student.

Water Fountains

  • Water Fountains will be turned off. Students can bring a personal water bottle from home. There will be no sharing of water bottles.

Restroom Use

  • There will be scheduled restroom breaks monitored by teachers. Students will use the restroom closest to their classroom.

Lockers

  • Academic lockers will only be issued or used when social distancing measures can be met.

Professional Development- Sanitation

  • Professional development will be provided to custodians on COVID-19 sanitation techniques and equipment.

Child Nutrition Program

Traditional Students

  • All meals will be served in areas designated by principals.
  • Meal seating could vary, utilizing classrooms, 50% cafeteria occupancy, or other less confined areas. This decision will be made by the principal at each site.
  • Hand sanitizer will be provided for students and staff members.
  • Breakfast in the Classroom will proceed as usual.
  • Discontinue self-serve of open-food serving lines.
  • Meal components will be in disposable containers.
  • Individually wrapped Al a Carte items will be available.
  • Special diets and food allergies will be accommodated.
  • Parents may not bring food to the school building.
  • Students who bring meals from home will need to pack items that do not require heating or reheating.

Virtual Students

  • Students will have access to Google Forms for preordering and opting out of meals.
  • Parents will be able to pick-up meals for qualifying children in our school system. The student's lunch number will be required.

Blended Students

  • Blended students meals will be delivered to the appropriate location.
  • Elementary blended students who attend the morning sessions will eat breakfast and take home lunch for that day and meals for the next day(s).
  • Elementary blended students who attend the afternoon sessions will eat lunch and take home breakfast for that day and meals for the next day(s).
  • High school students who are using the open campus policy will have meals ready for Grab N Go.

Athletic and Extracurricular Events

  • Lawrence County Schools will adhere to guidance as disseminated by governing and organizational entities (i.e. Alabama High School Athletic Association, State and National Beta Club)
  • When traveling to other locations, Lawrence County Schools will adhere to municipal and state directives (i.e. LCS is participating in an event in a certain city and that city requires all persons to wear a mask; LCS persons will wear a mask.)
  • All concession stands will adhere to the Alabama Department of Public Health guidance (i.e. local city/restaurant rules apply).
  • Pep rallies will only be permitted if held outside and students are socially distanced.

American Rescue Plan ACT of 2021 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief

1. The extent to which and how the funds will be used to implement prevention and mitigation strategies that are, to the greatest extent practicable, in line with the most recent CDC guidance, in order to continuously and safely operate schools for in-person learning.

  • Train all faculty and staff in CDC guidelines and reporting
  • Hire additional nursing staff to ensure proper contact tracing and identification
  • Hire additional custodial staff to properly clean building
  • Provide visuals for students and staff with proper handwashing and respiratory etiquette
  • Coordination with State and local health officials to provide vaccinations to school communities.
  • Purchase supplies to sanitize and clean facilities

2. How the LEA will use the funds it reserves under section 2001(e)(1) of the ARP Act (totaling not less than 20 percent of the LEA’s total allocation of ARP ESSER funds) to address the academic impact of lost instructional time through the implementation of evidence-based interventions, such as summer learning or summer enrichment, extended day, comprehensive afterschool programs, or extended school year programs

  • Summer learning programs for K-8 supporting unfinished learning in Math, ELA, and STEM
  • Employ High Dosage Tutors as interventionists to identify and address learning loss
  • Purchase high quality intervention supports and materials
  • Provide high-quality PD on unfinished learning strategies

3. How the LEA will spend its remaining ARP ESSER funds consistent with section 2001(e)(2) of the ARP Act.

  • Improve facilities to reduce the risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards. - HVAC units, windows, air quality, Career Tech facility
  • Provide high quality technology and remote learning PD for teachers
  • Purchase educational technology to support virtual learning
  • Purchase technology equipment for virtual learning
  • Staff to provide meals during long-term closures

4. How the LEA will ensure that the interventions it implements, including but not limited to the interventions under section 2001(e)(1) of the ARP Act to address the academic impact of lost instructional time, will respond to the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of all students, and particularly those students disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including students from low-income families, students of color, English learners, children with disabilities, students experiencing homelessness, children and youth in foster care, and migratory students.

  • Diagnostic and screening testing- Renainssance and Performance Series benchmark testing,
  • Mental Health Supports- Rhithm social, emotional, and mental health data
  • Additional IDEA local units
  • Family engagement liaison for all students

Credits:

Created with images by Hope House Press - Leather Diary Studio - "notebooks-cambridge" • Austin Pacheco - "Schools Out" • Fran Jacquier - "handwashing" • Sara Cervera - "Apples" • Dave Adamson - "untitled image"