Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. has released its reopening plans for the fall semester, set to begin Aug. 6.
“We know that our staff members, students, and parents are concerned about a return to school and that their worries are compounded with the anxiety and stress of uncertainty,” said Superintendent Jim Roberts in a public statement. “To do our best to alleviate that uncertainty, we have engaged many community stakeholders, relied upon the guidance of the Indiana State Department of Health and Bartholomew County Health Department, and adhered to our previously shared guiding principles to put together a reopening plan.”
BCSC is planning to reopen on a full five-day a week schedule, operating under three possible categories for virus spread: minimal/moderate spread, substantial spread and low/no spread.
BCSC plans to begin the school year in the minimal/moderate spread category, which allows buildings to open with modifications. Under this category, families can choose either traditional in-person learning or a remote learning option.
Screenings will occur for both staff and students when they enter a BCSC facility, and both groups are “strongly encouraged” to wear cloth masks. Hand sanitizer will be provided, as will “frequent hand-washing opportunities.” Only “essential visitors” will be allowed to enter BCSC buildings, the school corporation said.
Schools will be cleaned and disinfected according to Centers for Disease Control guidance, with frequently-touched areas receiving additional attention, the reopening plan states.
Sharing will be limited between individuals, and personal water bottles will be used instead of water fountains. Large indoor group spaces “will be occupied at no more than 50% capacity.” There will also be isolation rooms for students or staff who experience symptoms while at school.
The more severe category is substantial spread, which is when at least one school building is closed due to coronavirus infections. In this category, other buildings may remain open and remote learning is implemented.
The summary added that the school corporation will work together with local and state health department officials to “determine the duration of closure.” Local health officials will also determine the level of the community spread. Under this category, contact tracing will occur, school officials said.
Under this category, the closed school(s) would “implement a robust Distance Learning Plan” that includes:
One to One Devices and internet access
Digital Learning Management System
Daily online instruction including a set of standard components PreK-12
High quality, engaging and effective instruction
Printed instructional packets/materials
Online parent tutorials
Streamlined district/school communication
Designated collection/drop off points
Clear flow chart for teacher/parent/student support
The least severe category is low/no spread, which allows schools to open with no restrictions, though preventative measures will still be taken to avoid potential spread.
Under this category, there are three different “learning pathways” that families can choose from:
Traditional Classroom Model: In-person learning, five days a week.
Modified Bridge Model (Hybrid): Created for a “short-term, transitional period” where the student interacts with their teacher and their learning is “aligned with BCSC curriculum and pacing using current adopted resources.”
Full-Time Online Instructional Model: Student participates in online learning and is facilitated by either a Columbus Virtual Pathway or Edgenuity Curriculum Platform instructor.
The plan was also developed using resources from the Indiana Department of Education, the Georgia Path to Recovery Plan and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the results of a parent/guardian survey on reopening.
BCSC is also requesting that after reading over the executive summary, parents and guardians fill out a new survey on whether they currently intend to return their child to a BCSC school in-person, virtually or not at all. There is also an option for those who are unsure what to choose and would like to be contacted with more information. Parents and guardians are asked to fill out one survey for every BCSC student in their household.
Roberts added in his statement that on July 13, BCSC will release a detailed plan “containing several pages of additional information focusing on specific topics and addressing the many questions sure to be asked.”
On July 20, there will be a presentation on reopening at the school board meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. and can be viewed live on BCSC’s Facebook page.
“We do recognize that, as information and data, including local, state, and national trends, change, it may be necessary for us to update this plan,” said Roberts. “It is likely that we will be better informed tomorrow than we are today. Please bear with us as we adapt as necessary to ensure the health and safety of our staff members and students.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Where to learn more” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The executive summary of BCSC’s PreK-12 Reopening Plan can be viewed at the school corporation’s website at bcscschools.org.
The parent/guardian survey on intent to return to school can be accessed and filled out on the same site
Parents and guardians can send specific questions about reopening to [email protected]. These questions will be compiled into an frequently asked questions segment on the website.
Superintendent Jim Roberts’ statement on reopening can be found at bcscschools.org and on the school corporation’s Facebook page.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
