BMR releases reopening plan
BLACKSTONE - The %lackstone-Millville Regional School District has released its preliminary plan to reopen schools in the fall with students in kindergarten through *rade 3 returning to in-person learning five days a week and students in *rades 4-12 participating in a hybrid model of in-person instruction and remote learning.
The district submitted its draft reopening plan to the Department of (lementary and Secondary (ducation on Monday, according to Schools Superintendent Jason DeFalco, who hosted a Facebook live session that same day to review the plan with parents.
“These plans are preliminary,” he said. “At this stage we’re just processing out what our initial thinking and ideas are on how to get our schools reopened in the fall as safely as possible.”
DeFalco says the administration will recommend a final reopening plan to the Regional School Committee Aug. 6 before submitting to the state on Aug. 10.
The preliminary plan was developed by a return and recovery team, which was assembled in May to begin the task of coming up with a document that includes an in-person plan, a remote learning plan, and a hybrid option for both.
The district’s preliminary plan calls for all students in kindergarten through *rade 3, as well as special student populations, to return to classrooms five days a week. All kindergarten through *rade 3 classrooms will be reassigned to two adjoining classrooms so that students can be safely distanced in groups of between 10-12. (ach classroom
teacher in Grades 1-3 will be assigned a temporary teacher to assist in supporting half of the class while the teacher is working the other half of the class. This teaching model will be supported through grant funding for the first 6090 days, DeFalco said.
To accomplish that part of the plan, the district will have to move all kindergarten and Grade 1 students to the Millville Elementary School and all students in Grades 2-5 to the JKF/AFM complex, otherwise there will be no room to double the classroom numbers for kindergarten through Grade 3.
DeFalso said relocating the students would require that the district use the emergency provision in the regional school agreement.
The plan is also recommending a hybrid model for students in Grades 4-12
“We are recommending two days of in-person learning two days of remote learning and one day where everyone is remote,” DeFalco said.
DeFalco said students in Grades 4-12 would return in September as part of a 2-12 model. For example, on Monday and Tuesday, students in Group A would meet in person, while students in Group B would be remote with optional tutoring. Then, on Thursday and Friday, students in Group B would meet in person, while students in Group A would be remote with optional tutoring.
Wednesdays would be an all-grades remote learning day, he said.
During remote learning days, the district will offer students in Grades 4-8 an opportunity to attend the Boys and Girls Club in Blackstone where school staff will be on hand to assist with academics. Students in Grades 9-12 will be offered the same opportunity at the high school in a designated space by grade.
DeFalco said the district anticipates hiring an additional 10 long-term substitute teachers for the first 60 to 90 days to staff the community sites.
The plan also includes a remote model for students who cannot return to school due to medical concerns or whose parents opt for that model. It will also be used in the event of a school closure due to any COVID-19 outbreaks.
According to DeFalco, students in the remote model will participate using the Google Classroom platform and will follow a regular day schedule. Assignments will be graded and students will receive traditional report cards.
The reentry plan calls for having developing groups to divide students into smaller groups that they can remain with throughout the day, and to change school schedules to allow for less movement throughout the school day. The district is also recommending staggering times during the day when students would move between classes.
The state is also asking schools districts to have an isolated space available for students displaying COVID-19 symptoms, and to have an adequate inventory of standard healthcare supplies like masks, gloves and sanitizer.
As for transportation, students riding school buses will have assigned seats and there will only be one student per seat. All students and staff on buses will wear masks.
“We must continue to watch the evolution of the spread of the virus,” DeFalco said. “We have very specific protocols in place if there is a positive or suspected case in the school district. We will need to keep a flexible mindset as we move through the school year.”