HYBRID MODEL FAQs

Social Distancing & Hybrid Model FAQs

What specifically is the instructional program going to look like for students who have to be pulled out of the regular education classroom due to not being able to achieve social distancing in the classroom?

Each school footprint is different and principals will share what can be expected at each school.

Example school solutions may include:

• Teachers rotating to student classrooms

• Students could spend time in another part of the building completing virtual assignments with supervision. These students will also have time in their homeroom focusing on the core subject areas; ELA, Math, Social Studies, and Science.

• Recess, RTI, and other supplemental activities might occur while students are out of the regular classroom.

• Depending on the final numbers of virtual/in-person students scheduling is subject to be modified by each school.

Will my child stay with the same group of students all day or will students be transitioning to classes?

Each school will have a different solution to scheduling for students. Elementary school students will remain with their homeroom groups as they do during a normal school year. Our goal is to keep small group cohorts together as much as possible and for the teachers to move instead of students whenever possible. When it is not possible to keep the students stationary or together, we will ensure distancing measures and other protocols are followed.

What systems are in place to monitor individual teacher plans and for leading teachers through the management of distance learning in addition to in-class instruction? Are there set guidelines for them?

District Office staff will be partnering with each school administration to monitor and support teachers in the use of Schoology, our learning management system.

If parents have concerns at anytime they should reach out to the teacher first, then schedule a teacher conference. If there are still concerns the parent should reach out the school administration. Finally, if the issue is not resolved, please reach out to the District Office.

Each grade band leadership team is developing teacher expectations for distance learning and will continue to use rigorous standards.

The district is also using parent survey data and virtual teacher observations to strengthen instructional practices.

How will distance learning be accomplished during a staff/student quarantine period?

Our in-person teachers will be practicing a flipped-classroom model in which we are asking them to post their lessons on Schoology each day. We've been working with many teachers at both the high school and middle schools to develop these procedures and to create exemplars. Many teachers are attending our PD opportunities this summer. With the amount of students that may need to transition to temporary distance learning, for both exposure in school, exposure at home, or possible symptoms, we are preparing our teachers to be ready at any time to offer their coursework virtually. Additionally, students who are distance learning three days a week will be completing the same work on their distance days as their peers who are in person-learning. We believe that maintaining this flipped classroom at all grade levels will give our teachers and our parents the flexibility to toggle easily and quickly between in-person and distance learning, and advance the curriculum forward all five days.

We are ready to work with parents to keep the students who participate in our in-person option safe and healthy. We are working with our teachers to place all of their daily lessons in Schoology, giving both students and teachers the flexibility to toggle between distance learning and in-person quickly and efficiently.

School Safety Procedure FAQs

Please describe what cleaning procedures are going to look like at schools? Who specifically is going to be cleaning during the breaks every hour?

Classrooms will be cleaned and sanitized each evening. Our district custodial provider, SKB, has internal procedure manuals for cleaning that outline everything from frequency of cleaning to technique to many other details. The district has also purchased Total Clorox 360 machines to bolster our custodial agility and performance. We are encouraging the plan to include having students sanitize their own areas during the day. Custodial staff, the new day porters, and plant managers will support classroom cleaning efforts, with their primary focus on public spaces (restrooms, halls, cafeterias, etc.)

How are you going to ensure distancing during arrival, dismissal, transitions, etc.?

This will look slightly different at each school. Parents are encouraged to review the school based plans and speak directly with school administrators. Many of our schools will be implementing signage, increased supervision, and doing all possible to ensure distancing during arrival, dismissal, transitions, etc. We will need our parents help reinforcing the importance of distancing at all times.

Will students be required to social distance and wear masks on buses?

Durham is going to do everything in their power to social distance as much as possible, but it cannot be guaranteed. Durham does not have enough buses or drivers to guarantee social distancing takes place on the bus. We are encouraging parents to utilize bus service this year only if it is absolutely needed and there are no other means to get your students to school. We will monitor bus and stop counts every day for the first few weeks of 2nd semester and make adjustments as needed to ridership in order to balance numbers of riders the best we can. In instances where ridership is low enough on a bus, social distancing will most definitely be practiced. For more information on mask requirements on buses, as well as other transportation protocols Durham has put in place, please visit https://www.gmsdk12.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=6G003GY&dasi=3G01

Will REACH still be available? How will GMSD ensure REACH is following all proper procedures for distancing and cleaning?

REACH for before and after care is available at our elementary schools. REACH staff will have to follow the same protocols and processes as GMSD. If you have more specific questions about REACH, please go to https://www.germantown-tn.gov/services/parks-and-recreation/programs-and-events/reach and/or you can reach out to Ms. Veda Sargent at vsargent@germantown-tn.gov.

What will be GMSD’s procedures for quarantining and communication process for notification of a positive COVID case?

If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID, all possible close contacts will receive a phone call, and letters via email through our rapid notification system requesting them to transition to distance learning.

According to the CDC, a close contact is defined as anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 48 hours before the person began feeling sick until the time the patient was isolated.

Each time the district is notified of a positive case, our GMSD Positive Task Force works with school administration to complete a preliminary investigation and transition possible close contacts to distance learning. Our GMSD Positive Task Force consists of our District Lead Nurse, our Coordinated School Health Supervisor, Deputy Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Executive Director of Human Resources, Human Resources Supervisor, and the Communications Coordinator.

The Shelby County Health Department is notified each time there is a positive case in our schools and are required to complete an investigation to determine orders of isolation (quarantine). The SCHD will also determine whether possible student-to-student transmission has occurred in the school setting. At this time, there has not been evidence of student-to-student transmission during school. During an SCHD investigation, additional individuals can be identified as close contacts or be cleared as possible close contacts.

We will protect the identity of reported cases, per HIPAA and FERPA laws, but will simultaneously operate under full transparency with parents about the occurrence of positive COVID cases. Out of an abundance of caution, any cases in the building will be reported to all families so that they can continue vigilance in their daily health checks and immediately transition to distance learning if symptoms should occur. A positive case in the building will also trigger enhanced cleaning of the building with special attention to the affected areas where a student or staff member may have traveled.

There will also be instances in which an entire building may transition to distance learning. In those cases, we would work with the SCHD to determine if there is community spread present at any school(s). According to the CDC, community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected. Each health department determines community spread differently based on local conditions. We will work with our local agency.

Above all, we are asking parents to partner with us to monitor for any symptoms and to keep their children at home when sick. Germantown Municipal School District is ready to transition any student to distance learning if their parents feel self-quarantine measures are needed. Our attendance procedure has been adjusted to make this easier on parents.

We are ready to work with parents to keep the students who participate in our in-person option safe and healthy.

If my child has symptoms will she have to be tested for it before coming back to school? The symptoms can mimic a cold, flu, etc so it can be confusing. Will it be up to the pediatrician or the school?

Please keep your child home from school if sick, contact your health care provider for advice for next steps. We will follow normal district procedures which include; students must be fever free for 24 hours, no vomiting, no diarrhea, etc. Please see our GMSD COVID Guidelines.

If a sibling is unable to attend school due to one of the symptom check questions (fever, cough, etc.), should their sibling stay at home as well or should we base our assessment on a child by child basis?

Please keep your child home from school if sick, contact your health care provider for advice for next steps. If a sibling is not sick, they should attend school. If your child is not tested we will follow normal district procedures which include; students must be fever free for 24 hours, no vomiting, no diarrhea, etc. If the sibling or other family member has a positive COVID test result, the sibling should quarantine for 14 days of the date of contact with the positive person.

Is a parent allowed to provide their own child with a shield for his/her desk?

A parent can send any safety items as long as they do not interfere with learning or cause distractions. They should not have logos or distracting items on them.

Will breakfast and lunch be served daily? If meals are served in the classroom, how will GMSD handle students with allergies or other dietary restrictions?

Yes, breakfast and lunch will be served daily. All meals for all students under the age of 18 are free through the end of the school year. Please see the GMSD Nutrition website for menus and more information. Parents should make sure that any allergies or other dietary concerns are addressed in their students’ health plan and or with school nurse/administration. Information from the health plan will be provided to the teacher, and students will be accommodated.