REOPENING MEASURES
Rensselaer City School District superintendent discusses latest plan
TROY, N.Y. » Rensselaer City School District Superintendent of Schools Joseph Kardash joined Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin’s press conference earlier this week to discuss some of its reopening measures.
“As we’re coming into this, we had a great group of reopening stakeholders that put together a team. We had to look at the DOH guidance and the CDC guidance and the state ed. guidance and triangulate what it all means,” Kardash said on reviewing constant different incoming information.
Kardash also mentioned some of the new challenges presented amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The biggest challenge is you have anywhere from somebody who’s afraid to leave their house to somebody who refuses to wear a mask and try to get somewhere in the middle where there’s a productive way to operate school with a healthy skepticism that keeps you safe,” Kardash said.
“What’s new to us is immuno- compromised people and the number of health-related things that we’ve had to learn because this wasn’t our expertise. The partnership has really helped to have [ Rensselaer County Public Health Director] Mary Fran [ Wachunas] as the expert in trying to guide us and trying to guide our nurses, all of our in-house experts. This is where we get out information,” Kardash noted on the solid communication between the county health department and school district.
Kardash also lauded the county’s ability to help deliver PPE supplies to the school district as well.
“For all the people out there that are looking and seeing one doctor said this and one study said that, when we come back to how things are operating and there’s something right about how things are operating because our current infection rate has gone down to less than one percent. So, I have to believe something that’s being done is being done right. With any other study if we follow along with the processes that are happening I think we’re probably in good hands with listening,” Kardash added on how they’re streamlining information and following guidelines.
Kardash also sought to reassure parents their children would be taken care of.
“Parents should know that it’s the same people that were taking care of your child last year, we’re not going to be any different. We’re still caring of every child that’s there. Every school district and every superintendent and administrator and support staff, we care for the children deeply,” Kardash explained.
The two also looked to alleviate fears and rumors circulating around social media.
“If you’re seeing stuff on the internet that maybe doesn’t quite ring true, check with us, we’ll tell you,” McLaughlin said.
“I can guarantee you CDC is not picking up your child
at school, they’re not taking them anywhere. We’ll get the call that something’s potentially happening but you’re going to get that call first. Go pick up your child just like you would [ have] done last year or the year before, the child gets sick, you gotta go pick them up, that’s the way it’s gonna go,” McLaughlin added.
Additionally, Kardash noted some other changes that will likely transpire this school year.
“Our intention would be that we transition right into remote learning. My thought is the continuity or learning is more useful that way than taking that day off and having a giveback day some other day that disrupts the lesson planning, the continuity, so you learn from home,” Kardash noted on how the school district would likely shift on days that otherwise
would’ve been snow days off from school.
With in-person learning, Kardash said students will be wearing masks but they intend to have mask breaks and try to get outside as much as possible, along with teaching kids when it’s respectful to wear a mask. Students are asked to bring their ownmasks but the district will also supply them if need be. Physical education classes are expected to take place with activities 12 feet apart.
Students with a 100- degree temperature or above will have to do remote learning. School nurses will exact judgment on allergies and new symptoms displayed by students.
Students riding the bus to school must wear masks and bus windows must remain open when the temperature is 45 degrees and above.
A survey was also sent out to parents for those students learning at home to receive meals. Meals will likely either be available
for pick up or delivery once a week for a week’s worth of meals.
“We need to provide con
stant communication and stability so that the change isn’t as scary,” Kardash added.