The following is a summary of Broadalbin-Perth Central School District’s reopening plan for the start of the 2020-21 school year. The district’s plan is a living document that can and will change as conditions change and as we receive updated guidance from state and federal agencies.
Learning Models
Broadalbin-Perth educators believe there is no substitute for direct, in-person instruction. While the district encourages all families to opt for in-person learning models, district leaders will especially encourage in-person learning for certain groups of students, including younger students, students with disabilities, English language learners, students with social emotional or mental health needs, students who did not engage in remote learning during spring 2020, and students with technology or connectivity needs.
If school needs to close temporarily or long-term at any point in the school year, all students will learn through the 100% remote model.
Elementary (Pre-K through grade 6)
Note, previous versions of this summary included a half-day hybrid model for students in pre-K through grade 6. However, there was not sufficient interest to make this option feasible, so it will not be available for the start of the 2020-21 school year.
100% In-Person
- Students attend school for a full day, five days a week
- Class sizes will be smaller to allow for adequate social distancing
- Students will remain in their classroom for the majority of the day to limit the interaction between cohorts of students
- Students will have special-area classes (art, music, physical education, Project Lead the Way), either in the regular classroom, the special-area classroom, or outside, weather permitting
- Students will have recess
- Before- and after-school child care will be available for those who need it
100% Remote
- Students engage in remote learning activities according to a schedule that mirrors the in-person learning schedule
- Students can expect to complete up to six hours of learning activities (lessons, assignments, direct interaction with teachers) per day
- Broadalbin-Perth will loan devices to students who need them
Secondary (Grades 7-12)
Hybrid
- Students will be assigned to cohorts that share common core subject-area teachers (English, math, science, social studies)
- Students will attend school in-person every other day and engage in remote learning activities on the other days
- On in-person learning days, students will remain in one classroom for all four core subjects; teachers will push in to classrooms
- On remote learning days, students will engage in a full day of remote learning activities (up to six hours)
- Efforts will be made to ensure students who live in the same household are scheduled to come to school for in-person instruction on the same days
- Certain courses will be taught 100% online, including college-level/AP, upper-level Spanish, health, economics, and Participation in Government
- All juniors and seniors attending career and technical programs at HFM BOCES will take their B-P courses through remote learning
- All seniors will be placed in the 100% remote learning model
- Broadalbin-Perth will loan devices to students who need them
100% Remote
- Students engage in remote learning activities according to a schedule that mirrors the in-person learning schedule
- Students can expect to complete up to six hours of learning activities (lessons, assignments, direct interaction with teachers) per day
- Broadalbin-Perth will loan devices to students who need them
Health & Safety
- Staff and parents (for their children) will complete a daily health screening tool on ParentSquare before they come to school.
- Student and staff temperatures will be checked daily using touch-free technology
- Temperatures will be checked before students board the bus and as staff and students enter the school building
- If a child shows any signs of illness, parents MUST keep them home from school
- Social distancing will be enforced in school buildings, on school grounds, and on buses
- Face coverings must be worn when social distancing cannot be maintained, including on buses and when traveling around the school building
- Students will be allowed to remove face coverings during meals and instruction, as well as for short breaks while maintaining social distancing
- Students who cannot medically tolerate a face covering will not be required to wear one
- Hand and respiratory hygiene will be emphasized for all students and staff
- B-P will continue to adhere to CDC and DOH guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting
Testing & Contact Tracing
- Any student or staff member who has an elevated body temperature or COVID-19 symptoms will be referred to their doctor
- Any student or staff member who screens positive for COVID-19 symptoms may return to the in-person learning environment at school under the following conditions:
- A negative COVID-19 diagnostic test result, improving symptoms, and no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines; OR
- An alternative diagnosis from a healthcare provider of a known chronic condition with unchanged symptoms; OR
- An alternative diagnosis from a healthcare provider of a confirmed acute illness, such as flu or strep throat, and COVID-19 is not suspected (a doctor’s note with an unconfirmed illness, such as an upper respiratory infection or stomach bug, will not be accepted); OR
- It has been at least 10 days since the onset of symptoms, symptoms are improving, and there has been no fever for at least three days without the use of fever-reducing medicines; OR
- If COVID-19 positive, release from isolation
- If an individual student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, Broadalbin-Perth will comply with and participate in the state’s contact tracing program
Transportation
- Parents of students in in-person or hybrid learning models will be required to commit to their children riding the bus every day or parents providing transportation to and from school every day
- Children will be seated at a distance from each other in assigned seats, with the exception of children who live in the same household, who will be seated together
- Children riding the bus must wear a face covering the entire time they are on the bus
- Carpooling is strongly discouraged
School Meals
- School breakfast and lunch will be available to all students, every day, regardless of learning model
- Classes will have options of where they eat lunch each day, including in the classroom, in the cafeteria, and outside
- All meals will be pre-packaged, NOT served buffet-style