Reports on School Reopening
Week 5 - Meetings between July 27 - 31, 2020
In separate unanimous votes at the Monday, Aug. 3 special board meeting, the CSD Board of School Directors approved the district's health and safety plan and recommendation to reopen school 100 percent virtual.
Health and Safety Plan Presentation> | Health and Safety Plan>
Remote School Reopening Presentation>
Committees on curriculum and instruction, health and wellness, operations, and student activities and sports have been meeting weekly since late June to analyze the pros, cons, and implications of scenarios under consideration to re-open schools in August and assist in the development of our health and safety plan. Committee membership comprises students and families, members of the Cheltenham Educators’ Association (CEA), Business Employees’ Council (BEC), school board and Cheltenham community, and school-level and central office administrators.
Look for the first round of FAQs by Friday, Aug. 7.
The first day of school is Monday, Aug. 31.
All school reopening information is available at cheltenham.org/road2reopening.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Curriculum and Instruction
The curriculum and instruction committee held its final weekly meeting on Wednesday, July 29. The team spent most of its time discussing what a virtual plan would look like for elementary, middle and high school students. Key takeaways included:
100% remote learning for general education students and some students with IEPs and 504s
Five days of a healthy balance of synchronous and asynchronous learning
In-person learning and remote learning for a subgroup of students with IEPs and 504s
A typical elementary school student day will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 1:20 p.m.
A typical middle school student day will begin at 9:20 a.m. and end at 2:10 p.m.
A typical high school student day will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 2 p.m.
Students will receive instruction in major content areas, specials and electives.
Elementary and middle schools will utilize the Google Classroom learning management platform.
Cheltenham High School will utilize the Canvas learning management platform.
Social-emotional lessons will be built into the school schedule.
Professional development for staff will be ongoing.
Support and training resources for parents and guardians will be offered synchronously and asynchronously.
Health and Wellness
The health and wellness committee convened for its final meeting on Thursday, July 30. Committee members were provided the opportunity to review a draft of CSD’s health and safety plan in its entirety and discuss various matters relating to reopening school such as instructional delivery, social-emotional supports for students, social distancing parameters and health screening procedures. The committee also reviewed superintendent Dr. Wagner Marseille’s letter to the CSD community in reference to reopening school for the 2020-2021 academic year.