As previously stated, Sharon Springs CSD will strive to allow as much in-person learning as safely possible, adhering to the social distancing guidelines: 6 feet of separation and masks used when 6 feet of separation is not possible. Class schedules and traffic patterns (per floor level) are designed to minimize hallway traffic and cross-grade exposure. Simultaneously, teachers are preparing parallel (or synchronized) classroom instruction (allowing remote learners to teleconference with their teachers in real-time while their in-person peers receive instruction); this is taking place from Kindergarten through 12th grade to provide our students and community the option of high quality (standards-aligned) remote instruction. Daily attendance and participation is required for both means of instruction. More information and additional details will be disseminated during the weeks ahead, and will include each teacher publishing an easy-to-follow website with links and schedules to daily lessons.

Upcoming Events:

• • Tuesday, August 18th at 7pm-Virtual Parent Session

    • Zoom Link

  • Password: SSCSstrong

  • Tuesday, August 25th at 7pm-Virtual Parent Session

    • Zoom Link

    • Password: SSCSstrong

  • Thursday, August 27th at 7pm-Virtual Parent Session

    • Zoom Link

    • Password: SSCSstrong

• Wednesday, September 9th 2020:

  • This will serve as an "Orientation Day" for remote learners

  • This will serve as a "meet the teacher" for parents and students in grades K - 2.

• Thursday, September 10th 2020:

  • The first day of classes for everyone

Health Checks

The district has developed resources to educate parents/guardians and staff members regarding the careful observation of symptoms of COVID-19 and health screening measures that must be conducted each morning before coming to school. The resources include the requirement for any student or staff member with a fever of 100°F or greater and/or symptoms of possible COVID-19 virus infection to not come to school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) list of Coronavirus symptoms was used to develop these resources.

Each morning, parents will be asked to take their child’s temperature daily and complete and online attestation. Thermometers will be available through the SSCS Sharing and Caring fund by accessing this link ( ). The online parental attestation will be accessible using a mobile device or computer. Paper copies will be available upon request and at the main entrance.

In addition, SSCS will limit entry into the building when opening to the front and new secure entrance. Randomized temperature checks for the incoming students will be performed at both points. This may vary day to day from every student, to some other combination. A randomized approach will ensure that all students are treated in an equal manner and no student is “singled out.” The screening data will not be kept for any purpose other than determining if the screened student is running a fever or not running a fever. Should a student be found with a temperature of 100°F or greater, a staff member will bring the student to the isolation area in the auditorium atrium to visit with the School Nurse Betsy Jones and/or to await parent/ guardian pickup.

Management of Ill Persons, Contact Tracing and Monitoring

The district will require any student, faculty or staff members who develop COVID-19 symptoms during the school day to report to the nurse’s office. If there are several students waiting to see the school nurse, students must wait at least 6 feet apart. Should the Nurse feel that parental pick up is necessary, the student will wait with a staff member in the auditorium atrium.

In a suspected case of Covid 19, the district will immediately notify the Schoharie County Department of Health for guidance.

Dr. Amy E. Gildemeister, Ph.D.

Director of Public Health

Schoharie County Dept. of Health

P.O. Box 667, 284 Main St.

Schoharie, NY 12157

518-295-8365 (O) 518-295-8786 (Fax)

COVID-19 Testing

In the event that a large-scale testing is required at the school, the district will work with the following community providers:

• Bassett Healthcare Network

• Schoharie County Department of Health

Contact Tracing

The district will notify the state and local health department immediately upon being informed of any positive COVID-19 diagnostic test result by an individual within school facilities or on school grounds, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors of the district.

To assist the local health department with tracing the transmission of COVID-19, the district has developed and will maintain a plan to trace all contacts of exposed individuals in accordance with protocols, training, and tools provided through the New York State Contact Tracing Program.

Sharon Springs CSD will assist with contact tracing by:

1. Keeping accurate attendance records of students and staff members;

2. Ensuring student schedules are up to date;

3. Keeping a log of any visitor which includes date and time, and where in the school they visited;

4. Assisting the local health departments in tracing all contacts of the individual in accordance with the protocol, training, and tools provided through the NYS Contact Tracing Program.

Confidentiality will be maintained as required by federal and state laws and regulations. School staff should not try to determine who is to be excluded from school based on contact without guidance and direction from the local health department.

Return to School after Illness

The district has established protocols and procedures, in consultation with the local health department(s), about the requirements for determining when individuals, particularly students, who screened positive for COVID-19 symptoms can return to the in-person learning environment at school. This protocol may include:

1. Documentation from a health care provider following evaluation;

2. Negative COVID-19 diagnostic test result;

3. Symptom resolution, or if COVID-19 positive, release from isolation.

The district will refer to DOH’s “Interim Guidance for Public and Private Employees Returning to Work Following COVID-19 Infection or Exposure” regarding protocols and policies for faculty and staff seeking to return to work after a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or after the faculty or staff member had close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19.

The district requires that individuals who were exposed to the COVID-19 virus complete quarantine and have not developed symptoms before returning to in-person learning. The discharge of an individual from quarantine and return to school will be conducted in coordination with the local health department.

• Priority #1 - Make sure all of our students, faculty and staff, and the entire SSCS family are kept as safe and healthy as possible.

• Priority #2 - Provide every opportunity possible for each student to thrive academically as well as socially and emotionally.

• Priority #3 - Create consistent, predictable systems, practices and relationships that allow for each model of instruction to effectively and efficiently be adjusted to by parents, students and teachers.

Enhanced Health and Safety for All

• Daily Screening: Before anyone enters SSCS, he/she will be required to submit a self-screening questionnaire each day. A link to the self-screening questionnaire will be texted daily and available on the school website.

• Social Distancing: All individuals on school property will be required to maintain appropriate social distance of 6 feet or more.

• Face Coverings: Face Coverings are to be worn all times, when individuals cannot maintain appropriate social distancing. The only exceptions are when eating and when students are engaged in instruction with appropriate social distancing and directed by the teacher.

• Hygiene: Our teachers and staff will teach and model appropriate hand sanitizing methods, along with appropriate signage in each bathroom as well as hand sanitizer available in each classroom.

• Social Contract: Parents, students, faculty and staff will be required (prior to the start of the school year) to sign a statement in which everyone acknowledges and understands the requirements of daily screening, social distancing, face coverings and hygiene.

Flexibility - 3 PLANS for Reopening:

Scenario #1 -In-person Instruction Full Return with Enhanced Health and Safety: All students return to school five days per week. Returning to school, however, is changed by enhanced health and safety (see above) protocols as directed by public health officials .

Scenario #2 - Adaptive In-Person/Hybrid Model: A combination of face-to-face and distance learning to reduce class sizes and/or to accommodate families who are not comfortable with allowing their child(ren) to attend SSCS in person. This model of instruction will include:

• • Using school-issued iPads.

  • A consistent schedule will be posted on individual teacher’s websites which can be found at www.sharonsprings.org > Academics > Teacher Pages

  • Daily, period-by-period attendance/engagement will be taken and communicated regularly - students who miss (or are late for) class will have a text sent to their parents.

  • Classrooms will need to be capped at approximately 12 students and one teacher so that appropriate social distancing can be maintained. At the secondary level, final decisions based off of the Parent Commitment Form will shape what the in-person attendance will look like. This form will be available on the district website starting next Monday, August 3rd:. For students in grades 6-12, attendance may vary from full time in-person, rotation A/B days, fully virtual, or in-attendance and placed in an overflow room for a specific period depending upon the class section and specific circumstances.

  • At this point in time, we are planning to keep the students together in “pods” as much as possible. This will look a little different K-5 than 9-12. While building travel will be minimized, it is anticipated that students will eat lunch in the cafeteria/ old gym and travel to PE.

  • Students will be dismissed from school at 2:30, to allow for teachers to prepare/communicate with the students engaged in the remote instruction. There will be no After School Program until further notice.

  • Due to the effort to maintain building level safety, parent travel and classroom drop off for parents will be restricted, including the head start program. An individualized “meet the teacher” for the student and parent will be set up by appointment prior to the first day of school.

  • A new set of guidelines for students participating in Remote Instruction is being developed by an SSCS Committee. If you are interested in serving as a parent member, please contact Principal Yorke (tyorke@sharonsprings.org).

Scenario #3 - Full Distance/Remote Learning: Should schools be closed due to COVID-19, SSCS teachers would continue to deliver standards-aligned learning opportunities through remote instruction. This model of instruction will include:

• • • Using school-issued iPads to engage in real-time and independent learning opportunities.

    • Daily, period-by-period attendance/engagement will be taken and communicated regularly - students who miss (or are late for) class will have a text sent to their parents.

    • A consistent schedule will be posted on individual teacher’s websites which can be found at www.sharonsprings.org > Academics > Teacher Pages

NOTE - Consistent In Each Of the 3 Models:

• Each student will be issued an updated iPad.

• Each student will be provided a Verizon Data plan to ensure internet connectivity if remote learning is required.

• Grades will count and be used as a tool to measure achievement, growth and motivate students to produce their best work.

• Students who have an IEP or a 504 plan will be accommodated according to their identified needs by certified special education teachers.

• Administration, teachers, and counselors will work together with each other to identify and help students and families to meet the social and emotional needs of each student.

Facts - Questions and Answers:

Question: Will there be recess and lunch out of the classroom?

Answer: Yes, but each class will eat together and activities at recess will be limited to ensure the above enhanced health and safety protocols are inplace.

Question: What happens if a student refuses to wear his/her mask or violates any part of the enhanced health and safety protocols?

Answer: After being guided by a school employee to follow the protocol and still refusing, the student will be sent home to ensure the health and safety of our students, school personnel and community.

Question: What happens if I opt to have my child stay home, but change my mind?

Answer: The parent commitment survey you complete next week will be a 5 week decision; therefore, if you change your mind your child will need to finish the initial 5 weeks remotely but then can begin in-person instruction at the end of those five weeks. If your child(ren), however, begins school in-person but you do not feel he/she/they are not safe, then you simply call SSCS and we transition your child(ren) to remote learning.

Question: What happens if I opt to homeschool my child?

Answer: First off, “homeschooling” is not the same as remote learning. Homeschooling means your child(ren) is unenrolled from SSCS and an Individualized Home Instruction Plan based on a curriculum of your choosing that meets state requirements is submitted to the district for approval as per NYS homeschooling regulations (http://www.p12.nysed.gov/part100/pages/10010.html ).

Under the remote learning option, your child remains a SSCS student and participates in the SSCS instructional program and in any online extracurricular activities that may be offered.