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schools
schools
By Jerry DeRoche
CRYSTAL FALLS — Two weeks and a day from the opening of school for students at Forest Park, the board of education voted to approve the district’s COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan.
After the board’s action at a special meeting on Aug. 10, the plan was sent to the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District, which will collect plans from the other districts in the ISD for transmission to the state superintendent of public instruction and state treasurer for approval. The decision on approval was expected Monday.
Forest Park’s entire plan can be seen at fptrojans.org.
Superintendent Christy Larson said she was impressed with the work produced by her committees, which met twice weekly over the past few weeks to hammer out the plan.
“I feel very strongly about the plan,” Larson said. “The time and effort to consider different levels. Every family has a different concern. You can’t make everybody happy, but I feel very confident in the plan we have rolled out and in our ability to follow through on it.
“We’ve considered it from every angle.”
The plan will give parents/guardians and students two options – face-to-face learning and virtual learning. There is no hybrid option being offered.
Quoting from the plan, the virtual learning option will use online learning platforms such as Google Classroom and Michigan Virtual High School as the primary mode of instruction. For those students who do not have a device, the district will provide devices in grades K-12. Students without devices or internet access will have access to instructional materials through a computer and a jump/flash drive. Instructional materials (i.e. paper, pencils, etc.) will be made available to families that do not have them. All students will have access to grade-level/course textbooks/resources as needed to complete their work. Students will not be penalized for inability to fully participate provided families stay engaged with school personnel in developing personalized and realistic education plans for their child. The district will do everything it can to meet student/family needs (including meet their technology needs) and allow for full participation.
Teachers/staff will be expected to make frequent contact with students and have two-way communication. This may be done through the use of technology (i.e. virtual meeting, email, Remind) or through weekly phone calls.
Teachers will monitor and assess the needs of students and families through their communications. If a need is identified, the teacher will elevate that need to the principal or counselor to make the necessary follow-up. The principal will hold weekly virtual meetings with teachers and other key staff to identify any additional students or families in need.
Those students who will be attending school in person will also see a different learning environment this year. Policies and procedures the district must follow according to the Michigan Safe Start Plan include face coverings; hygiene; spacing, movement and access; screening protocols; testing; food service, gathering and extracurricular activities; athletics; cleaning; and busing and student transportation.
The specifics can be seen on the Forest Park school website given above, but overall, the district has chosen to begin the school year following all the requirements for Phase 4 of the state’s Michigan Safe Start Plan, though the U.P. is currently in Phase 5.
“We are electing to follow Phase 4 with stricter standards than required in Phase 5 at the start of the year to implement additional safety precautions,” the plan reads.
The district will revisit continued protocol at each regular monthly meeting, at a minimum, of the board of education. This will be done to evaluate current recommendations resulting from updated numbers and possible phase changes are stated by the Governor.
The district will implement requirements for facial coverings. Coverings will be required for:
• for all students and staff (pre-K through 12) when on a school bus.
• for all students and staff (pre-K through 12) when in indoor hallways and common areas
• for all staff when in classrooms
• for all students in grades 6-12 when in classrooms
• for all students in K-5 unless students remain in their classrooms throughout the school day and do not come in close contact with students in another class.
Fabric face coverings have been ordered and will be provided to every student and staff member. Any individual, student or staff, who claim a medical exemption must meet with the district superintendent/principal to provide rationale and documentation.
Students showing patterns of non-compliance with this requirement will be removed from the school building and placed into remote instruction until the student agrees to comply with this safety protocol. Parents will be notified of each instance. Repeated non-compliance will result in the student’s permanent placement into remote instruction.
Staff who are capable of wearing a face covering and refuse to do so will be addressed by the school administrator and could face progressive disciplinary measures, up to and including termination.
Every classroom will be supplied with a fixed or portable hand-sanitizing station.
Current physical distance between students and staff in district buildings ranges from 5 to 6 feet in classroom areas and 4-6 feet in the cafeteria. Individual desks will be used as much as possible and, as feasible, all desks will be arranged facing the same direction. Teachers will maintain 6 feet of spacing between themselves and students as much as possible. Classroom windows will be open as much as possible, weather permitting.
The district will cooperate with the local public health department regarding proper protocols for screening students and staff, for testing and for any necessary procedures for quarantine. There will be a designated quarantine area and staff person to care for students who become ill at school.
As for athletics, the district will comply with all guidance published by the MHSAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations.
Cleaning protocols include wiping down frequently touched surfaces and student desks.
Larson, who is starting her first year as superintendent of the Forest Park School district after holding the same position in Belmont (Wis.) Community School District, summarized her feelings heading into the unique school year.
“I feel like a rookie,” she said. “Everybody’s a rookie. Even for veteran teachers. Education is going to look different, face-to-face learning is going to look different.
“But we will make sure we care for the (educational), social and emotional needs of the students.”