HSSD readies three options for reopening
The Hot Springs School District plans to reopen its schools on Aug. 13 and give students three options of how they want to receive their education.
The reopening date will only change if the Arkansas Department of Health sends updated guidance for this requirement, but this is not anticipated, Adriane Barnes, communications and public relations coordinator, said last week.
“It is our job as a public school district to provide a safe, accessible and equitable opportunity to receive an education of the highest quality to all students and families. As educators and administrators, we are honored to be charged with this mission,” she said.
Barnes said the COVID-19 crisis has created unprecedented challenges for families and schools and district officials know there are many
complicated fears, concerns and needs from the families as they all make decisions together about how to move forward in the 2020-21 school year.
She said the three learning options for families in the fall will be traditional in-classroom learning; blended in-classroom and virtual learning; and virtual learning.
Barnes said traditional in-classroom learning involves full-time, face-to-face learning in classrooms on school campuses. For students who choose to return to school classrooms, all state-required safety protocols will be in place, including the use of social distancing and face coverings.
“All strategies for protocols will be published to the public in July,” she said.
Blended in-classroom and virtual learning would involve students learning in classrooms on school campuses for two days per week and virtual learning remotely three days per week, she said.
“For students who choose any form of a virtual learning option, the school will create a contract that explains in detail what the requirements and grading procedures will be; students and parents or guardians will be required to sign and follow the contract,” she said.
Virtual learning will be the students learning from a technology device at home, Barnes said, noting, “These learning options will be available for the entire 2020-21 school year.”
She said the Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education provided guidelines and resources through the Arkansas Ready for Learning initiative, which includes a playbook for reopening schools and addressing learning loss during the COVID-19 Alternative Methods of Instruction period.
Barnes said district administrators created the learning options for the next school year based on guidance from the Arkansas Ready to Learn Initiative and feedback from a parent survey sent out in May.
At the June 16 Hot Springs School Board meeting, the board approved the “assurances and application required by the DESE to request several waivers that will allow flexibility for blended learning that also fits into the curriculum and programs that are offered by our schools,” she said.
Learning options will be described in detail in the Trojans Ready to Learn plan, which will be published to the public in July, Barnes said.
“Classrooms will be arranged to provide more space between students. That might mean all desks are arranged in rows facing in a single direction,” she said.
She said that currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Arkansas Department of Health are recommending that all individuals 10 years old and older wear a face covering.
“We are strongly recommending that adults and students age 10 and up wear face coverings when physical distancing cannot be achieved particularly on school buses,” Barnes said.
“The ADH has not issued a directive to require face covering; however, this does not downplay the importance of this additional safety measure,” she said.
Barnes said that students younger than 10 years of age, those with health issues and special needs, would not be asked to wear face coverings.
“Students will be highly encouraged to wear face coverings in areas with a high concentration of students where social distancing cannot be maintained,” she said.
Barnes said the district has purchased three washable face masks for each student. In addition, two washable face masks and one face shield have been purchased for all staff members.
She said the district will also provide bus transportation for all students. Based on current ADH guidance, students age 10 and older will be required to wear face coverings when riding the bus.
Barnes said social distancing will be observed as much as feasibly possible, but at times students will be closer than the recommended 6 feet apart. When social distancing requirements cannot be maintained, such as class exchange time, etc., students will be expected to wear face coverings.
“Our schools are working to create classrooms and cafeteria spaces that reflect an increase in the space between students but cannot always guarantee it will be 6 feet,” she said.
Based on current guidance, the ADH is recommending cafeterias limit the capacity of students in one setting, she said.
The district anticipates this may either mean they will be required to adjust lunch schedules or use alternative areas, such as large gathering spaces or potentially have lunch in their classroom on a very limited basis, she said.
Proper sanitation of all areas will be completed after each meal. Procedures will not allow students to pick up utensils, self-serve or share food, Barnes said.
“Parents are encouraged to send a water bottle with their students since water fountains will not be available. Outside drinks will not be allowed on any campuses,” she said.
The district will modify class parent lunches at the elementary schools, Barnes said.
“The HSSD will continue to provide free meal access, as well as free technology devices and Wi-Fi for families who did not have prior access, for all that choose this option,” she said.
Superintendent Stephanie Nehus said the district encourages all key stakeholders to remain connected to the district and schools, noting they will release information as it is finalized.
The district is working tirelessly to ensure a high-quality education continues while keeping everyone safe, she said.
“Blended and virtual learning will be very different from the AMI learning experience that took place” during the fourth quarter of the 2019-20 school year, she said.
For the families that choose the learning options, a contract will be signed with explicit expectations outlined and agreed upon. Students will be held accountable for their participation and learning, Nehus said.
“We are all in this together, and HSSD is excited for the future,” she said.
“This pandemic has provided us with an opportunity to shift the way we educate our students and provide multiple learning experiences. As we strive to return to normal, we at the HSSD are committed to ensuring our new normal is more engaging for all,” Nehus said.
Barnes said anyone wanting to see the FAQ for the learning options can go to the main website, https://www.hssd.net/, and choose the fall reopening tab.