Overview 2020-2021

On July 13, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that all school districts must prepare and submit a plan for reopening New York State Public Schools. In a similar manner, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) released reopening guidance for New York schools on July 16. The Governor’s/New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) guidance document can be found at https://www.governor.ny.gov, while NYSED guidance document can be found at http://www.nysed.gov. This document is intended to communicate the specific components of the Rome City School District’s (RCSD) plans and preparations for reopening our schools in the fall of 2020. Based on the experiences we’ve had in the spring of 2020, a review of state guidance documents, and reflection on stakeholder input, the RCSD has developed a plan to provide flexible learning opportunities for students, staff, and families. We believe these options reflect the needs and concerns of families and staff while maintaining priorities for health, safety, instruction/learning, and support services.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR REOPENING OUR SCHOOLS

The Rome City School District has identified five (5) principles to guide our planning for the reopening of our schools in 2020-2021.

• Ensure the safe and healthy learning and working environments for our students and staff.

• Maximize family choice in student learning format by offering two (2) options for instruction, while reducing the burden of child care needs for our community.

• Ensure that all students receive instruction that meets state and federal standards, while providing the necessary supports to achieve maximum growth.

• Provide training, time, support, and flexibility necessary for staff to prepare for reopening and continued success throughout 2020-2021.

• Provide proactive, clear communication (with translations) to all families and staff, through multiple communication mediums.