●Child Find and Evaluation

Caverna Independent Schools will continue to identify, locate, and evaluate students suspected of having a disability and needing special education and related services. At the same time, Caverna will be mindful that students have been displaced from their typical learning environment when initiating the referral process. Some evaluation procedures can be completed in remote learning situations. Some evaluations require in-person contact with students or observations of students in school settings. Caverna Independent Schools will conduct evaluations remotely and in-person while adhering to public health guidelines for the safety of students and staff.

●Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meetings

Caverna Independent Schools is committed to providing families an opportunity to have meaningful participation in the special education process. Whether in-person or an alternative format, such as videoconferencing or by phone, Special Education teams will partner with families to determine the most practical format to conduct IEP meetings and arrange for an interpreter if necessary.

●Delivery of Special Education and Related Services

Schools will continue to ensure that students with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). They will be working to incorporate new health and safety precautions that must also be enacted while providing FAPE to students with disabilities. Because FAPE must now be provided consistent with the need to protect health and safety, there may be disruptions, delays, and/or changes in how services are provided.

Even so, it is a District priority to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to the same opportunities as their non-disabled peers. IEPs will continue to be developed and implemented based upon each student’s unique needs and the learning environment chosen by the family. While families generally may choose between in-person or remote/online learning, there are some students for whom remote learning will not provide FAPE.

If a family chooses remote learning, an online/phone conference will be held between the special education teacher, regular education teacher and related service provider if necessary. At the meeting, the team will discuss whether remote learning is appropriate to meet the needs of the student based upon their unique circumstances and response to remote learning during the spring of 2020.

If a family chooses in-person learning, an IEP meeting may be convened to review and update the student’s IEP for the 2020-21 school year. If a family agrees, a student’s case manager may also communicate with the family and then follow-up with written confirmation (e.g., an IEP Amendment or a Prior Written Notice) regarding the plan for the 2020-21 school year. For students with in-person learning plans, student classroom groupings will be limited to the same classmates to the extent possible. At the elementary level, students generally will be with their same cohort of classmates during the day, while at the secondary level, students will be limited to six in- person classes during the day.

For students receiving in-person instruction in Caverna schools, staff will follow local health and safety guidelines. More specifically, students will be served with their assigned cohort of peers following social distancing precautions. Personal protection equipment (PPE), such as face coverings and plexiglas partitions, also will be in place.

●Progress Monitoring and Reporting

Special Education teams will have in place consistent data collection and service log procedures for use across learning environments. Collecting data and tracking the provision of services will assist educators and families in determining the effectiveness of instruction provided, student performance on IEP goals/objectives, and assist IEP teams in making any necessary adjustments to instruction. Periodic reports on the progress the child is making toward meeting the annual goals will continue to be provided.

Special Education and Related Service Providers use digital platforms approved by the district for secure access. Families may provide consent to participate in teletherapy sessions with providers when remote services are required. Families or other household members may observe or otherwise participate in distance learning opportunities. As with an in-person observation in a classroom, educators may set ground rules regarding non-students’ presence during virtual instruction.

We understand that any change to the learning environment has the potential to be a barrier for our learners. Consequently, we are training staff to identify and accommodate those students that would benefit from a 504 plan in the remote environment.

All 504 support and meeting protocols have been developed for both in-person and remote options. Decisions around meeting participation and communication will be made on an individual basis. 504 teams are encouraged to discuss accommodation needs for students in both learning environments—in person and remote.

We understand that some students with disabilities may not be able to wear face coverings for disability-related reasons. For these students, 504 teams will work together to determine reasonable accommodations. Additionally, we know that some students with disabilities are at higher risk of medical complications. On a case-by-case basis, 504 teams will convene to consider individual needs. As always, a parent may request a review meeting at any time.

Crisis Response and Suicide Prevention

○ For students who express concerning language or behaviors while in school, a mental health professional will administer an in-person suicide risk assessment and follow protocols established for in-person interactions.

○ For students who express concerning language or behaviors while remote, staff will follow remote suicide risk assessment protocols (provided to all school administrators and mental health professionals).

○ All crisis event responses will be made in collaboration with the Department of School Safety and building level administration using in-person or remote protocols as needed.

○ An emphasis will be placed on training all staff on recognizing signs of depression and anxiety across all learning environments.

○ Staff have always received training in mandatory reporting and recognizing signs of distress in students. Student Services will add sections specific to remote learning in order to make sure staff are trained to respond appropriately across all learning environments.

○ Student Services will resume Question, Persuade, Refer trainings for staff and community members, all in a remote environment.

●Social-Emotional Learning and Counseling

Caverna Schools is developing a comprehensive plan for supporting in-person and remote learning that includes: providing training to staff on Youth Mental Health First Aid, Trauma-informed classroom management, Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS), and supporting family-school partnerships that emphasize relationship building and engagement to enhance building climate and culture.

○Mental health counselors and school counselors will will support both in-person and remote learners by coaching teachers, directly delivering social-emotional learning curriculum, and individually supporting students as determined by building level team decision making.

○Schools will utilize their mental health resources as we return to school.

○Screeners will be established and utilized to inform levels of support for students.

Gifted and Talented services will continue to be provided to students during both models of instruction. The GT department will continue to support schools, gifted learners, and their families in either an in-person or remote environment. The GT Resource Teacher will be available to support families, staff, and students, both in-person and remote environments.

To maximize students’ face-to-face time with teachers, GT Services will continue to be provided remotely to the greatest extent possible in either an in-person or remote/online environment. We will continue to accept GT identification referrals and will review them as per the guidelines, though we may not be able to make determinations until we have a complete body of evidence. Universal screening and the gathering of this body of evidence may be delayed if we are in an in-person or remote learning environment.

Gifted Student Service Plans will continue to be implemented by the classroom teacher with support from the GT resource teacher.

English Language services will continue to be provided to students during both models of instruction. The EL department will continue to support schools, EL learners, and their families in either in-person or virtual learning.

Caverna is committed to equity and will continue to provide high-quality services and programs for English language learners (ELL).

○Communication with families will continue during this time period. Communication will occur in the parents’ preferred language

○ The EL resource teacher will continue to provide direct services to students in collaboration with the classroom teacher.

○ We will continue EL referrals and will review them per the guidelines.

○ EL service plans will be implemented in both models for instruction.

Caverna Independent Schools will follow all guidelines recommended by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association for sports and activities.

Caverna Independent Schools will follow all guidelines recommended by the Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control for cleanliness and sanitation of school facilities and vehicles. Caverna Schools is dedicated to providing a safe, sanitized environment that promotes educational activities. Protocols will be focused on cleaning for health by disinfecting high traffic and sensitive areas that transmit germs.

○Before and after school, increase the circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening windows and doors.

○ Limit all sharing of devices, school supplies, materials, and learning aids.

○Decrease the areas of common use, such as: pencil sharpeners, crayon bins, book shelves, etc…

○Areas to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized a minimum of daily: restrooms, cafeteria, locker rooms, weight rooms, etc…

○Areas to be sanitized after student use: desk tops, table tops, countertops, etc…

○ Areas to be sanitized throughout the day: handrails, hallways, door knobs, countertops in common areas, and other high touch areas in the buildings.

○Janitorial staff will use the custodial products recommended by the district including the germs sprayers, sanitizing spray, and disinfecting light.

○Classrooms will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized at the end of each school day.

○Buses will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized at the end of each route.

○ All common areas will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized throughout the day.

Caverna Independent Schools will continue to provide meal service to students for in-person and virtual/online learners.

○Food service staff will follow all food preparation, cleaning and disinfecting protocols recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.

○ Face coverings, gloves, and additional PPE will be worn for protection.

○Lunch schedules will be staggered to decrease the number of students in the cafeteria. Cohorts will eat together either in the cafeteria or the classroom.

○Face covering can be removed while eating.

○Students participating in virtual/online learning can pick up their “grab and go” meals each Monday morning between the hours of 9:00-10:00.

Caverna Independent Schools will continue to provide transportation to students for in-person instruction. We encourage parents to transport students via car if possible to decrease the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

○ All students will be required to wear face coverings.

○ Parents will be expected to take their child’s temperature before leaving the house and to withhold an ill student from riding the bus.

○ Each child must have on a mask before entering the bus.

○ Bus monitors will check each child’s temperature as they enter the bus.

○ If a child has a temperature over 100.4 and parent is present, the student will remain with the parent. If parent is not present, the child will ride in the front two seats of the bus to be isolated upon arrival at school. Parent will be contacted to pick up the student.

○ Students will load the bus from the rear to the front of the bus and will unload from the front to the back.

○ Students will have assigned seats to help with contact tracing. Daily bus logs will be kept to document seating.

○ Students in the same family will sit together.

○ Students must stay in their seats and not change seats.

○ All buses will be sanitized after each route.

District and School administration is working to secure a safe learning environment for all of Caverna students. Procedures and protocols have been established to aid in the safety of our learners.

●Student Screening, Arrival, Departure, and Transitions

○Building administrators will develop a plan for pick up/drop off, building entry, transitions throughout the school day, bus loading, symptom screening, lunch/recess schedules, etc.

○Staff roles and responsibilities may need to shift to provide additional monitoring during transitions symptom screening participation, and additional cleaning.

○Visitors will be stopped at the front entrance and will be required to wear a mask.

○ All staff and students entering the building must be screened.

○Students with a fever over 100.4 will be kept in isolation until a parent can pick up the student.

○ Directional arrows will be used to help with transitional flow.

○Face coverings will be worn during each transition time.

●Confirmed positive COVID-19 Cases

○ Symptomatic staff and students in the building will need to go to a designated isolation area until they can safely leave the building.

○ If a student or staff member is confirmed to have positively contracted COVID-19, school personnel will work with the local health department to contact trace possible exposure.

○ Students testing positive will be quarantined for 14 calendar days and transition to virtual instruction.

○ Staff members testing positive will be quarantined for 14 calendar days.

○ Students or staff members that may have been exposed to a positive COVID-19 case will transition to virtual instruction for 14 days.

●Student Cohort Grouping

○Student classroom cohort groupings are consistent and limited to the same classmates to the extent possible.

○ Elementary students will be with their same cohort group of during the day.

○ Middle school students will remain with their same cohort group during the day except when transitioning to the intervention skills and elective classes.

○ High School students will continue in their core academic classes and elective courses with scheduling trying to maintain cohort groups when possible

○ Class changes will be limited with teachers rotating when possible instead of students and modified schedules to reduce interactions.

●Classroom Setup & Procedures

○Classrooms may not have shared seating options: couches, bean bag chairs, book nooks, or other flexible seating.

○Desks or tables will be arranged facing the same direction.

○Classroom pencil sharpeners, supplies, materials, manipulatives, stations or centers will not be shared or communal. Each student needs their own set of supplies and manipulatives.

○Each student shall have his/her own devices assigned to be used throughout the year.

○Classrooms will be cleared of non-essential furniture and items to maximize space in classrooms

● Lunch and Recess

○A single cohort of students may eat meals together.

○Students will wash their hands before and after eating.

○ All meals & snacks will be consumed in classrooms, outside, or in reorganized, assigned seating area in the cafeteria.

○ A single cohort of students may go to recess together but must maintain a social distance of 6 feet.

○ Students must wash their hands before and after recess.

○ Face coverings do not need to be worn outside.

○ Use of water fountains is not permitted. Students should bring water bottles from home.

● Before and After School Programs

Before and after school programs will follow the same guidelines and protocols as during school.

● Student Enrollment

○Student enrollment will continue to follow current district policies for registration, enrollment, and transfers. All enrollments will take place at central office.

● Attendance

○ Student attendance will continue to follow current district and SBDM policies and procedures.

○Reporting will include students who are absent to COVID-19 symptoms or quarantine.

○Students will transition to virtual learning during quarantine time at home.

○Attendance will be reported for in-person and virtual learning.

○Students must be signed in for live instruction during virtual learning and/or must complete digital assignments to be counted present.