During the planning process for re-opening our schools, the Fairview Park City School District has relied on information and guidelines provided through state and national resources, consortium districts, informed local medical experts, and feedback gathered from parents, staff, and community members via surveys and the ‘Reimagine Schools Community Task Force’ and its subcommittees.
Below is a general summary of our primary considerations, concerns, and plans for when re-opening our school buildings.
Provide a 100% Remote Learning Option for K-12 Students
We know that some parents want their children to continue learning at home. There will be an option for K-12.
Be prepared to return to remote learning at any time due to widespread illness. – All staff and students prepared to return to remote learning. We are designing structures and systems to deliver remote learning using effective practices, as well as making high quality professional learning available to our teachers and staff.
Health and Safety: Continue to follow guidance from Governor, ODE, ODH, OHSAA, and Cuyahoga County Health Department. According to ODE’s RESET/RESTART, “Health practices will require new LEARNED BEHAVIORS by students. Schools should provide specific, age-appropriate INSTRUCTION regarding routine practices for students. This should be ongoing to reinforce the importance of hand washing, physical distancing, appropriate use of face masks, cough and sneeze etiquette, appropriate use of face masks…”
Social Emotional – Support Social Emotional Learning and interaction in spite of physical distancing. In K-5, utilize the PRIDE houses. In 6-12, strengthen mentoring and reinforce “Habits of Success.” The Family and Community Engagement Coordinator will work to assure that each grade band has specific resources and guidance to respond to student needs.
Resources: Utilize current budget and staff to fullest extent possible while serving the needs of all students. Keep disruptions to building assignments to a minimum while ensuring safety protocols. Maintain commitment to fiscal responsibility. Maximize use of temporarily available state/federal resources.
Transportation – Continue to follow guidelines of state agencies. This may impact capacity (at any time) and could require state minimum busing.
Family Needs – We know our families need childcare. We understand that families need to know the structure of school for the fall ASAP to give them time to plan accordingly.
Communications – We are committed to regular updates to our families, staff, and community delivered through the district website, social media, email, etc.
According to the Ohio Department of Education’s “RESET AND RESTART Education” (July 2, 2020), schools and districts are expected “To ensure each student is challenged, prepared and empowered for his or her future by way of an excellent prekindergarten through grade 12 education. This means the commitment to Ohio’s Learning Standards and the four learning domains described in Ohio’s strategic plan for education, Each Child, Our Future, must continue to be strong. These domains include foundational knowledge and skills, well-rounded content, leadership and reasoning skills and social-emotional learning.”
From the American Academy of Pediatrics: “With the below principles in mind, the AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school. The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closures in the spring of 2020. Lengthy time away from school and associated interruption of supportive services often results in social isolation, making it difficult for schools to identify and address important learning deficits as well as child and adolescent physical or sexual abuse, substance use, depression, and suicidal ideation. This, in turn, places children and adolescents at considerable risk of morbidity and, in some cases, mortality. Beyond the educational impact and social impact of school closures, there has been substantial impact on food security and physical activity for children and families.
April 2020: Planning for 2020-2021 School Year Begins
May 4 – July 20: Reimagine Schools Task Force Meetings, biweekly with subcommittees meeting in the off-weeks
June: Family/Teacher Survey Distributed
July 2: Guidance for Schools Released by Governor DeWine: July 2, 2020
July 13: Task Force Meeting – Review Draft of Comprehensive Re-entry Plan
July 14: Draft of Reopening plan presented to Board of Education
July 15: Draft of Reopening plan shared with staff
July 20: Task Force Meeting, Review Final Draft
July 21-22: Send to Board of Health for Feedback
July 23: Final Board review of re-entry plan
July 24 – 28: Finalize re-entry plans
July 29: Send re-entry plan all parents and staff, include parent enrollment form for Remote Learning Option
Aug 3: Release of District Re-entry Plan video
Aug 10: Release of Building Re-entry Plan videos
August 12: Remote Learning Option Enrollment Deadline
August 13-28: District finalizes staffing, makes class assignments, logistics, etc. and sends out communications to parents.
August 27 – September 4: Staff Meetings/Training/Planning, and preparations for student arrival
September 8-9, 10-11: Student Re-entry Days (See below for schedule)
September 14: Classes begin for students based on Ohio Public Health Advisory System level
Reset and Restart: Planning Guide for Ohio Schools and Districts
COVID-19 Health and Prevention Guidance for Ohio K-12 Schools
American Academy of Pediatrics
Re-opening Research Resources (ESC of Northeast Ohio)
Reimagine Schools Task Force Meeting Agendas
Parkview Subcommittee Information
Daycare Re-opening parent handbook
Gilles-Sweet Subcommittee Information
MS/HS Subcommittee Information
EEC parent responses / open responses (86)
GSE parent responses / open responses (324)
MMS parent responses / open responses (184)
FHS parent responses / open responses (248)
FPCS teacher responses / open responses (106)
CASEL – Initial Guide to Leveraging the Power of SEL as you Prepare to Reopen…
NEA Initial Guidance Regarding Reopening School Buildings: “All Hands On Deck”
AASA Guiding Principles and Action Steps for Reopening Schools
Cuyahoga County Board of Health Employee Health Policy Guidelines for COVID-19
American Enterprise Institute: A Blueprint for Back to School
AASA, School Superintendents Association: Guidelines for Reopening Schools
Council of Administrators of Special Education: Considerations for Special Education
Education Resource Strategies: Decision Points for COVID Comeback Models
NEA: All Hands On Deck: Initial Guidance
American Academy of Pediatrics: COVID-19 Planning Considerations
Ohio Parent Survey on Opening Schools in the Fall
Ohio Parent Survey on Requiring Protective Masks in Schools
Ohio Parent Survey on Having School Employees Take Student Temperatures Before School
CDC – Considerations for Schools
Posters and Fact Sheets from CDC for Handwashing
When and How to Wash Your Hands: Guidance from CDC
CDC’s criteria can help inform when employees should return to work:
Dr. Julia Bruner (Fairview Hospital/Fairview Park Resident) Recommendations to Reimagine Schools Task Force
Recommendations:
We will provide our students with the Fairview Advantage, a framework for student success, by delivering exceptional services and academic programs that challenge the mind and instill the joy of learning and responsible citizenship.
Please contact the Communications Department at (440) 331-5500 x 1118 or via email to notify FPCS about online information or functionality that is currently inaccessible, or if you experience difficulty with the accessibility of any web pages or documents on this web site.