COVID-19 Roadmap to Re-Entry

Yes. Our re-entry plan does call for students to be back in our brick and mortar schools; however, it will not be “business as usual.” We have missed our students and are eager to see them but as always, student and staff safety is our top priority. Instructional plans have adjusted with guidance from the CDC along with the State and Fond du Lac County Health Departments and will be fluid.

Three different learning models will be used: In-Person Learning, Virtual Learning, and Blended Learning. Families should anticipate that at some point it will be necessary to move between models. Students may need to switch to virtual learning as an individual, as part of a class or cohort, or the entire district may need to switch to virtual. It is likely that this change would happen quickly. Families should be ready to pivot to a different learning model. Please discuss how your family would respond should we need to shift to virtual and make an action plan.

In early August, parents will be asked if they wish to have their child back in school for In-Person Learning or Virtual Learning for Early Childhood- Grade 5 or Blended Learning or Virtual Learning for Grades 6-12.

 

1. In-Person Learning Model  (Elementary students will begin the year in this model)
   • The goal of this model is to provide face-to-face instruction with students while containing student learning to take place primarily with students in their classroom thus limiting closer contact with others
   • Students and staff return to the classroom and practice operational safety procedures to reduce the spread of COVID-19
   • Staffing may be reassigned to support distancing and safety procedures enabling students to return to the classroom
   • Daily schedule modification (ex. lunch, recess) as necessary
   • Social and Emotional Learning foundations will be used for reboarding students and staff
2. Blended Learning Model (RMS & RHS students will begin the year in this model - a combination of In-Person & Virtual)
   • The goal of this model is to limit the number of students and staff in the RMS/RHS facility at any given time while still providing consistent instruction and support of students
   • Students will be assigned to one of two Cohorts:  Cohort A (students with last names beginning with A-L) and Cohort B (students with last names beginning with M - Z)
   • Cohort A Schedule will be:
     • In-Person Learning on Monday & Thursday with Cohort B attending virtually
     • Virtual Learning on Tuesday & Friday with Cohort B attending In-Person Learning
     • Wednesday - student learning day at home - teacher prep and/or professional development.  * Additionally, on Wednesdays, facilities will be deep cleaned. 
   • Cohort B Schedule will be:
     • In-Person Learning on Tuesday & Friday with Cohort A attending virtually
     • Virtual Learning on Monday & Thursday Cohort A attending In-Person Learning
     • Wednesday - student learning day at home - teacher prep and/or professional development.  * Additionally, on Wednesdays, facilities will be deep cleaned. 
   • In the interest of safety for all students and staff RMS/RHS will switch to a closed campus for lunch.
   • Students use district device and hotspots provided to those who need assistance with internet access to work virtually
3. Virtual Learning Model Connected to the Brick-and-Mortar School Building (Could be by classroom, by cohort of students, by building, or district-wide based on recommendations from county health officials)
   • May be targeted or used district-wide for short or long-term needs as based on recommendations from county health officials
   • The goal of this model is to provide student(s) the ability to learn at home under the guidance of their family with school staff support
   • Students use district device and hotspots provided to those who need assistance with internet access

Elementary students will begin the school year using the in-person learning model with the ability to transition to the virtual learning model should it be necessary to do so  based on recommendations from county health officials. Families who choose virtual learning within an in-person classroom  for their child should reference the specific school charts available on our website that lay out what virtual learning will and will not include this school year. Consistency of instruction provides the best environment for education, therefore parents are encouraged to choose the best long-term option for their child.

Elementary Schedule Changes- First Week of School
Students will be split into two groups, with each group attending two days the first week.  This is to allow time for students to learn and practice safety procedures related to COVID. After the first week all students will attend five days per week beginning September 8.

First Week Groups:
Students with last names beginning with A-M will attend on Tuesday, September 1 and Wednesday, September 2.   Students with last names beginning N-Z will attend on Thursday, September 3  & Friday, September 4.

Elementary Schedule Changes- Additional Days Off
Elementary students will not have school on the last Friday of each month to allow staff time for prep/planning/collaboration, professional development, and individual connections with students using a virtual platform. 

Fridays off include:

• September 25
• October 30
• November 20
• December 18
• January 29
• February 26
• March 26
• April 30
• May 28

Elementary Schedule Changes- Changes in Daily Schedule
Changes have been made to the daily schedule for additional cleaning and to allow staff time for prep/planning/collaboration, professional development, and individual connections with students using a virtual platform. 

Changes Include:

• No Wednesday Late Starts
• School will end early each day
• K - Gr. 2 at 2:35 p.m.
• Gr. 3-5 at 2:32 p.m.
• After school supervision will be available until 3:30 p.m.
• BRAVE programming will run approx. 3:15 - 5:15 pm

Middle school and high school students will begin the school year in the blended learning model. This means learning will take place by blending instruction between in-person and virtual. Families may choose to start the year in an all-virtual option as well. The models have been designed to give the ability to transition between the models should it be necessary to do so based on recommendations from county health officials.  

Two Cohorts:
To reduce the number of students and staff in the combined facility and adhere to health department social distancing guidelines, students will be assigned to one of two cohorts.

Cohort Groups:
Cohort A  for students with last names beginning with A - L
Cohort B for students with last names beginning M - Z

Cohort Weekly Schedules 
Cohort A Schedule will be:

• In-Person Learning on Monday & Thursday with Cohort B attending virtually
• Virtual Learning on Tuesday & Friday with Cohort B attending In-Person Learning
• On Wednesdays custodial staff will deep clean the building while instructional staff prep/planning/collaboration, professional development, and individual connections with students using a virtual platform. 

Cohort B Schedule will be:

• In-Person Learning on Tuesday & Friday with Cohort A attending virtually
• Virtual Learning on Monday & Thursday Cohort A attending In-Person Learning 
• On Wednesdays custodial staff will deep clean the building while instructional staff prep/planning/collaboration, professional development, and individual connections with students using a virtual platform. 

Other Changes

• Closed campus for lunch
• After school shuttle buses will only drop off at shuttle sites due to limited routes. Shuttle buses will not travel from RMS/RHS to the elementary schools 

 

Running a “back-to-back days” schedule was originally considered. After much thought and discussion with teachers it was determined that alternating days would allow for the best learning opportunities for students. The “alternating-days'' schedule was viewed as better for student learning because it would reduce the number of days in between students having in-person contact with their teachers. Providing that consistent interaction would be better academically. The custodial team reviewed the “alternating-days” plan and determined that they will have time after school to complete cleaning protocols.

Operational & environmental changes will be made to maximize safety and minimize exposure at all schools. 

• Increased daily and weekly cleaning & disinfecting protocols
• Symptom screening and temperature checks daily 
• Sanitation stations with instruction on proper handwashing and hygiene
• Students will use individual supplies rather than communal as much as possible. Sanitation protocols will be followed if any materials are shared
• Staggered use of communal spaces and increased cleaning
• Adjusted student pedestrian patterns and relocation of classrooms within buildings to provide distancing 
• Creating space for distancing by removal of furniture, reconfiguring workspaces, and reconfiguring teaching spaces
• New procedures for accessing lockers by either rotating groups or using backpacks to carry supplies
• Water will be available only through bottle-filling stations. Disposable paper cups will be available to those who do not have their own refillable water bottle.
• 6-foot separation signage in high traffic areas
• Plexiglass barriers in public spaces
• An identified isolation area and PPE (personal protective equipment)
• Increased safety signage
• Ventilation - increased circulation of fresh air into schools

Changes in day-to-day operations at all schools

• Entrances and exits will be regulated for access and directional flow
• Nonessential visitors and visits will be limited
• Staff will be reassigned to cover daily operational needs prioritizing student learning and safety
• Limited exposure and alternatives for high-risk staff and students

Per Governor Ever’s Emergency Order 7/30/20. Individuals age 5 and older are required to wear a face covering when indoors.

Yes, bussing will still be provided although modifications are necessary to minimize the risk of exposure to students and our bus drivers. Where possible, we are asking families to consider transporting their student(s) to school to reduce contact with others.

What Changes Should I Expect In Bus Transportation?

• All students and drivers are required to wear a mask
• Fewer students per seat where possible (Students will be assigned seats with students from the same household sitting together.)
• Students will be instructed to sit alongside the window to improve physical distancing 
• Buses will be disinfected following each route.
• The after-school routes will originate from each elementary school with pick up at RMS/RHS to follow before students are transported home. This means there will not be shuttle services available from RMS/RHS to the elementary schools.
• At dismissal, half of the school buses will begin at each elementary building. Buses will move from one elementary building to shuttle sites at Hall/Spaulding Ave. and Ceresco Park before arriving at the other elementary school and then the middle school/ high school building. 
  • Depending on the individual bus schedule, elementary students will either load a bus immediately at the end of the school day or wait for approximately 15-20 minutes with staff supervision before the bus arrives.
• On Wednesdays, elementary students will arrive at home earlier than other days of the week because there will be no students in grades 6-12 to pick up or drop off. Please plan accordingly.  
• Elementary students will be able to ride a bus to the other school buildings at the end of the day. 
• Middle school and high school students will be unable to ride a shuttle bus to the elementary buildings at the end of the day due to modified bus routes. They will be able to ride to a shuttle site (Hall/Spaulding Ave. and Ceresco Park).
• For students with special needs: IEP transportation accommodations will be prepared in consultation with families
• High School student parking fees are waived for the year
• Avoid use of school buses if possible to minimize total contact with others

Will there still be shuttle buses?
Yes, shuttle buses will be provided. Due to the nature of shuttle transportation, we recommend signing up for a shuttle only if your child will be using this service almost every day. 

Morning Shuttle Busses
After the main morning routes are complete, buses will be disinfected prior to shuttle students boarding the bus. This may cause two shuttle buses to arrive late to school. RMS/RHS students will have shuttle service from the Ceresco Park location in the morning. Bus routes do not allow for space to offer a shuttle to RMS/RHS from the Hall/Spaulding location.

Afternoon Shuttle Busses
To minimize exposure and contact with others elementary students will be picked up first after school so there will be no afternoon shuttle from RMS/RHS to either elementary building. There will be afternoon shuttle service from RMS/RHS to both shuttle sites  (Hall/Spaulding Ave. and Ceresco Park).

I'm hoping to provide transportation, but what happens if I need the rural bus or shuttle bus here and there?
We are asking families for their help to reduce adding an “occasional rider” into the mix. Families who choose this arrangement should be aware that if a positive COVID case is reported for a student that rides a bus, out of an abundance of caution EVERYONE who is scheduled to ride the bus involved will be required to quarantine regardless of whether they rode the bus on the exact day the the COVID-positive rider was on the bus. All scheduled riders will remain in quarantine until health officials and district staff are able to sort through and trace exactly who was on the bus during that time. We are not able to guarantee that this process can be done within one or two days and in the meantime, your student would not be allowed to attend school in-person.

Yes, the state has allowed for the attendance policy to be adjusted this year to allow additional days for students who are quarantining or perhaps recovering from COVID. Some students will be attending virtually so their attendance will be marked based on their engagement rather than seat time in school. 

We want to help parents understand the differences between learning virtually through Odyssey Academy of Virtual Learning charter school and Virtual Learning Within an “In-Person” Classroom. Odyssey Academy of Virtual Learning is a stand-alone school, so when a student enrolls into Odyssey they are removed from the RASD roster just like they would be if they open enrolled into a neighboring school district. 

Odyssey is certainly a viable option for some students and their families, but please be aware that it is a very different style of virtual learning than what was offered through our brick and mortar schools this past Spring and what will be provided in the upcoming school year. Please see this helpful comparison guide between virtual learning with Odyssey compared to Virtual Learning Within an “In-Person” Classroom.

Because Odyssey is a stand alone school and not a “program” within RASD, a current RASD brick and mortar charter school student who enrolls into Odyssey would forfeit their current charter “spot”. This is important to know should you enroll into Odyssey and then change your mind and want to re-enroll back into RASD. If there is a waiting list for the charter school that your child currently attends, your child’s name would be added to that waitlist and enrolled into one of the legacy schools.

Cohorts for elementary will be their classroom. It is easier to make smaller groups with limited interaction at the elementary than at middle and high school because they switch for classes. Elementary will not be switching for classes.

We are fortunate that the school board has committed to keeping our class sizes low, especially at elementary level. Some grade levels will be under 22 just due to the number of students enrolled at that level. These numbers are in line with open enrollment caps placed by the school board.

Students will stay in their cohorts for the entire day. They will eat lunch in their classrooms. They will be separated on the playground by cohort. The only time students will be together will be if parents decide to send their children on the bus or BRAVE. With each additional service comes additional contact of students.

We are making use of all of the space available in our building. With more spaces outside comes a need for more staffing and safety procedures.

If a student selects the virtual option, is quarantined or home ill, all lessons would be virtual. This will help with our required contract tracing protocols.

Anywhere from 10-16

Advisory is right after 2nd hour.

Desks will be sprayed down with disinfectant at the conclusion of classes. This way the dwell time will coincide with the time of passing classes.

If your child is working virtually, there will be some opportunities to connect with the classroom teacher virtually in small group or 1:1 conferences through Google Meet during that 2:30-3:30 time each week.

When children are working in a small group within their classroom or 1:1  we may have partitions available. While the desks will be spread apart, we have not added partitions to each individual desk.

Elementary teachers are providing back-to-school conferences which will offer families the opportunity to come into school and meet their teacher prior to school starting. Information about the dates of the conferences will be sent to families from their child’s school. Our staff is very excited to get to know their students and families for this school year! Safety procedures and expectations will be taught regularly for all students and will be reviewed more intensely after the semester for any of our students rejoining the in-person learning at semester.

Students may need to switch to virtual learning as an individual, as part of a class or cohort, or the entire district may need to switch to virtual. It is likely that this change would happen quickly perhaps as soon as a few hours. Families should be ready to pivot to a different learning model. Please discuss how your family would respond should we need to shift to virtual and make an action plan in order to ensure you have daycare arrangements.

• Anyone who was within six feet of a person who tested positive for at least 15 minutes in a 24-hour period, starting from
  • Two days before the individual developed symptoms.
  • Two days before their positive test, if the individual did not have symptoms. 
• Or someone who
  • Had direct physical contact with the person who tested positive, including but not limited to a hug or a handshake.
  • Came into contact with the person’s respiratory secretions, including but not limited to exposure to cough or sneeze droplets; contact with a used tissue; or sharing a drinking glass, towel, or other personal item.

Yes, all children and staff will be required to wear a mask.  The district will provide 2 masks and a lanyard for each elementary student. Middle school and high school students will be provided one mask and one gaiter face covering. Families will be responsible for laundering face coverings, preferably daily. Families should send their child to school each day with their face covering. Students who wear their own personal masks must adhere to their school dress code.

Elementary students will not be required to wear their mask during recess, but can choose to wear masks, if they would like to. Students will be grouped on the playground by their cohorts or classrooms. 

No. Middle School and High School staff will connect with students through advisory on the first day of school. Elementary students will have individual conferences with their teachers. Information about the conferences will be sent directly to families from the elementary schools.

Yes, students’ temperatures will be screened at the school entrance. A second check will be done in their classrooms and recorded. Afternoon temperature checks will be done after lunch at the elementary schools.

Since middle school and high school students move from classroom to classroom, assigned seating will be used at the middle school and high school to assist with contact tracing. Elementary students will only be with their classroom peers so assigned seating will not be necessary.