The Owensboro Public Schools Board of Education approved the reopening plan for the 2020-21 school year at their regularly scheduled board meeting Thursday. The start date was also move up two days to Aug. 24.
The district will be offering two options (A/B Model or Virtual Academy) that are outlined in greater detail in their School Reopening Plan for the 2020-21 School Year.
The district has also prepared a web page (School Reopening Plan Website) that includes the entire reopening plan as well as additional, school-specific information.
The options for learning and other plan highlights are included below.
“The health and safety of our students, staff, and families is our top priority. When the 2020-21 school year begins in our district, on-campus school will look much different than previous years due to new health and safety measures,” a release from OPS reads.
“It is important to note that district plans must focus sharply on academic instruction to enhance student performance and address learning loss from the end of last school year. At the same time, our district will also do our best to maintain the extracurricular programs, clubs and athletics that are so important to the physical, mental and social well-being of our students.”
Families may have additional questions or concerns, which OPS will try to answer through email or Facebook comments.
The district will also be participating in a Q&A press conference with several other districts in the region at 10 a.m. Aug. 4. The event will be held at the Owensboro Public Schools Central Office, but will be live-streamed to the general public. A link for that event will be provided at a later date. However, questions can be submitted in advance here: Submit Questions for Q&A Session
For parents that wish to enroll in the Virtual Academy that have not already, they can do so by registering through the same Google Form link that was used earlier: Virtual Academy Registration
Those who previously registered for the Virtual Academy and now wish to withdraw from the program, email [email protected].
More information will be available in the coming days.
Options for learning
A/B Schedule – Combination of in-person and distance learning
- Students will be split into two groups based on the last name of the primary household (those in the same household with different names will be assigned the same group) and will alternate between in-person learning and distance learning throughout the duration of this model.
- You will be contacted by August 4, 2020 via the email address used for Online Registration to inform you to which group you belong. The email will be from Infinite Campus.
- Schedule will look similar to the following:
- Group A – Will attend in-person classes on Mon.-Tues. Distance Learning Wed-Fri.
- Group B – Will attend in-person classes on Thurs.-Fri. Distance Learning Mon-Wed.
- Both groups will be on distance learning on Wednesday and school buildings will be deep cleaned between groups.
- Any weekday holiday will be considered “Wednesday”. Group A will take the first two of the remaining days that week for in-person. Group B will take the final two days of that week for in-person.
- When in-person, masks/face coverings MUST be worn as mentioned earlier in the document.
- Staff will use Wednesday to instruct distance learning and plan for future lessons.
- This plan will be in place through October 2, 2020. This plan may be extended or ended based on current guidelines from the Governor’s office or Green River District Health Department. We will notify you of the plan for what school will look like after Fall Break by Friday, September 18.
- Students will be required to complete classwork on-time just as if they were attending in-person classes daily. Teachers will communicate their expectations with students on turning in classwork and assignments.
- If a student stays home due to illness or otherwise on a day they are scheduled to be in-person, they will be counted absent for that day unless asked to isolate following contact tracing by the Green River District Health Department.
- Distance learning for grades 3-12 will be conducted virtually via district-issued Chromebooks.
- Distance learning for grades PreK-2 will be conducted with packets that will be distributed during in-person classes and will be taken home. The district is seeking more digital devices for these grades and will be distributed depending on availability from vendors.
- For families needing assistance with internet access/device accessibility, please contact the Family Resource/Youth Service Center at your individual school.
- For technology help desk, please contact the Technology Department at 270-686-1000.
Virtual-only Option
- Families will have the option to choose a virtual-only plan for the upcoming school year.
- Devices will be provided to all students in Virtual Academy. It is not an option for preschool and is not recommended for grades K-2, but will be permitted if it is the best option for your family.
- Virtual Academy should not be confused with the Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) provided during the emergency school closures of Spring 2020. NTI will only be used for those selecting the in-person classes during closures such as snow days or restrictions related to public health guidelines.
- Paper packets will not be a part of the Virtual Academy.
- Once the school year starts, Virtual Academy students must remain in Virtual Academy through the end of the first semester unless restrictions are lifted by the Governor’s office or the Green River District Health Department.
- This option is recommended for students or families who are considered in the high-risk category for contracting COVID-19. This could include individuals with a pre-existing condition or those with families members with compromised immune systems that could also be at risk. If you are unsure if you are considered high–risk, consult your family physician.
- A teacher will be assigned to instruct students virtually through an online class management system and utilize tools available to the district to advance learning from a distance.
- This will not be a live-stream into a classroom conducting in-person instruction. Designated Virtual Academy staff will be assigned to grade levels and will instruct students who are all in a virtual setting.
- Virtual Academy will consist of four days of direct/interactive instruction and one day of individual learning. Schedule will be set by instructor.
- For more information about the Virtual Academy and how it will work, click HERE.
- To register for the Virtual Academy, you will need to sign up at this link: REGISTER.
- If you previously registered for Virtual Academy, but wish to withdraw your registration, it must be completed before July 29th. To do so, please email [email protected].
Other plan highlights
Screening at home
- Families are recommended to take temperatures daily before going to school. Anyone with a fever of 100.4 or high should not go to school.
- Students and adults should screen themselves for other symptoms. Those with symptoms should not attend school.
Arriving at school
- Students K-12 and adults will be required to wear face coverings. Masks will be provided for those who do not bring one from home. Plastic face shields are not acceptable.
- Masks will be required at all times when social distancing is not possible.
- Bus riders will have their temperature checked.
- Anyone coming into the building will have their temperature prior to entering. Students with a temperature 100.4 or greater will not be permitted to enter and must go home. No one can return to school until they are fever-free for 72 hours with fever-reducing medication.
- There will be staggered arrival and departure times, as well as recess and lunch times.
General safety
- Schools will follow disinfection procedures developed by GRDHD.
- Physical barriers may be installed where social distancing is not possible.
- Face coverings/masks must be worn at all times by students and staff unless social distancing is possible. The only exception is a signed medical waiver from a licensed medical professional.
- Handwashing stations will be available throughout the building. Hand sanitizer will be available in all classrooms.
On campus/in the classroom
- Class sizes will be limited.
- Meals will not be self-served and may be pre-packaged.
- A sick room will be utilized for students who are not feeling well.
- Social distancing will be enforced as much as possible at all times.
Designated COVID-19 Response Team
- The team helps implement any requirements, modify plans and report potential positive cases.
- A positive test does not necessarily mean the schools will shut down.
Sports and extracurricular activities
- Districts will follow guidance from KHSAA regarding sports.
- Students can participate in extracurricular activities whether they are on the A/B model or Virtual Academy.
- Fine Arts activities will follow the recommendations from the Kentucky Music Education Association.
Meal Service
- Meal service will be provided to all students, regardless of learning option.
- More details will be provided later.
Childcare
- Districts are in discussions with 15-20 community partners regarding childcare.
- More details will be provided later.
Testing positive
- No personal information would be shared
- Mandatory self-isolation for period of time determined by healthcare professionals (up to 14 days or longer).
- Flexible attendance policy to allow for online learning during isolation.
- Clearance document from a licensed healthcare professional required before returning to school/work.
- In the event of a shutdown, all instruction for affected schools would be delivered online.
