RTSD administration provided the School Board and community with its plan to move from Phase 2: Hybrid instruction to Phase 1: Full In-Person instruction at the elementary level at the Jan. 26 Board Business Meeting. Click here to view the Jan. 26 presentation. Click here to view the video and presentation from the Board meeting.
In order to bring all our students in for full days of instruction at the elementary level, five days a week, the district needed to adjust the minimum level of social distancing requirement at the elementary level from six feet to four feet. As part of the plan, other mitigation strategies were increased, including:
We will add voluntary rapid testing for staff
We will introduce surveillance testing of students (depending on test availability)
We will improve our requirements for the types of masks being worn
We will recommit to all other mitigation protocols
If/when a Phase 1 shift occurs at the elementary level, students would be welcomed back to school for full day, in-person instruction five days a week.
Elementary families who prefer a fully cyber program would still have this option in Phase 1.
Upon moving our elementary schools to Phase 1, Phase 2: Hybrid programming will no longer be an option, unless we as a district or school(s) move back to Phase 2.
Current fully cyber families choosing to move to full in-person will be assigned a new teacher and classroom to join (initiated if/when a move to Phase 1 becomes possible).
Current hybrid families choosing to move to fully cyber will be assigned a new cyber teacher and classroom to join (initiated if/when a move to Phase 1 becomes possible).
Screening is a critical first step in preparing for school each morning.
Every student and staff member must self-screen every day using the RTSD Screening Survey prior to entering any building.
Self-screening includes parents conducting oral, axillary, and/or temporal temperature checks on their student(s) each day before school.
Masks must be properly worn at all times. Exceptions will be made for breakfast/lunch/snack or during approved “mask breaks”. In class snack/mask breaks will be staggered to ensure 6 feet of distance when unmasked.
Masks should be high-quality, two or more layers and worn over the nose and mouth. Gaiter-style masks are no longer supported as a viable mask option based on CDC guidelines.
Disposable masks will be available, but it is recommended that each student bring an extra mask or two in their backpack daily.
Parents whose child has a documented medical or mental health condition or disability, documented in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or IDEA, that precludes the student from wearing a face mask in school need to request a meeting withthe student’s IEP/504 team to discuss possible accommodation.
Students will be expected to maintain appropriate space between each other to maintain social distance guidelines at all times.
Classroom desks will be distanced at a minimum of 4 feet and to the maximum extent possible. The distance is determined from the center of one desk to the center of the next desk.
Students will not be permitted to share supplies and student belongings will be separated to the greatest degree possible.
Students will have regular opportunities for hand washing. Hand sanitizer will be readily available in each classroom and throughout each building and students will be reminded often to practice good hygiene habits.
Targeted deep cleaning of schools will occur on a daily basis following established Custodial Services protocols for enhanced cleaning during cold and flu season.
High touch surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected(ex: railings, door handles, sink handles, student desks, etc.) within the school and on the school buses throughout each day.
The Phase 1 schedule provides a full-day of instruction that is aligned with a traditional elementary schedule:
English-Language Arts: Approximately 120 minutes
Mathematics: Approximately 60 minutes
Science/Social Studies: 30–60 minutes based on grade level
Intervention/Enrichment: 50 minutes (AM and PM blocks of 25 min)
The Phase 1 schedule maintains the same morning Intervention/Enrichment blocks in Phase 2 (Hybrid) and Phase 3 (Fully Virtual/Remote) to allow for shared services to continue in all three phases without changes to the schedule.
The Phase 1 schedule incorporates a (50-min) lunch/recess block and the longest special block possible (45 min) while allowing transition times for between specials for cleaning (5 min between specials).
Recess areas will be established in stations to maintain social distancing.
Subtle changes to each building schedule may be necessary based on school and student needs.
Elementary Specials will be facilitated in-person. Students will transition to the specialist classroom and have an assigned seat.
Specialist teachers will organize lessons so that supplies and materials are not shared amongst students. Additional materials may be necessary to provide each student with their own supplies.
Specials will operate on a cycle rotation to provide a 2-week sustained special with 1 section of each grade. Each section of each grade will participate in all 5 specials within a 10 week period.
Daily Lunch
Students will eat lunch in the cafeteria and/or gymnasium.
Students will not need to pre-order lunch go through a serving line.
Students willnot need to handle ID cards or use a keypad to enter their student ID.
All lunches are FREE until the end of the 20-21 school year.
Room Set-Up
All students will be seated at a desk or table 6 feet apart from peers.
All students will face the same direction in the room.
All seats/desks will be numbered and students will have assigned seats.
Procedures
Students will enter the cafeteria or gymnasium area(s).
Students with a packed lunch would go immediately to their assigned seat (unmask and eat lunch).
Students who want a lunch will transition to an established location that includes food service personnel.
Students will form a line (6 ft. distanced) and report their name and seat number.
Lunch personnel will scan their ID within the chart or on a clipboard; no fee will be charged.
Students will receive their prepared/boxed lunch and go to their assigned seat.
As part of the Phase 1 schedule, students will receive a minimum of one 25-minute recess period each day.
Each elementary school will create multiple recess areas to schedule classes and grades. The physical playground will be included in a rotation and be limited to a cohort of students each day.
Students will be required to maintain social distance guidelines and wear masks while outside for recess.a
As stated, student desks will be distanced a minimum of 4 feet.
To the maximum extent possible, school supplies will not be shared. Any supplies that would be shared among students will be sanitized.
Students should take their iPads OR Chromebooks with them everyday to and from school. Chargers should remain at home, and students should be charging their devices every evening before the next school day.
Transitions
Hallways have been marked with a center line and social-distance reminders on the floors. Stairwells have been marked as UP or DOWN only to avoid students passing one another.
Students will be socially distanced in hallways to the maximum extent possible as they transition to different locations within the school.
Arrival and dismissal will be organized to mitigate any large gatherings. This will be done through creating a schedule and direction for hallway transitions.
Bathrooms
The number of students permitted in shared bathrooms at one time will be limited to support social distancing.
Students will be required to wash their hands for 30 seconds prior to returning to class.
Transportation will continue to follow the established and board approved RTSD Health and Safety Guidelines.
Daily ridership projections for Phase 1 Elementary are 30 students for 2-3 buses which service a large apartment complex/neighborhood. Most Elementary routes under Phase 1 will average 25students per bus at (1-2) student(s) per seat.
Arrival and dismissal procedures may need to be staggered and/or altered based on school traffic patterns and needs.