Roadmap to Reopening My School
School Board Adopts Staggered Return to In-Person Teaching and Learning Beginning on Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Redwood City School District (RCSD) students will return to their school campuses for in-person teaching and learning in early 2021. The RCSD Board of Trustees unanimously approved for families to have the Hybrid Learning Model as an option for the second half of the 2020-21 school year in addition to the Full Distance Learning Model. The return to In-Person Teaching and Learning will be staggered beginning on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. The School Board adoption took place during the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, November 4, 2020.
What the RCSD Community Can Expect from Now Until the Return:
The district and its 12 school sites will continue to help families, teachers, and staff transition to the second half of 2020-21. Surveys were sent out to both teachers and families to help facilitate the process. Individuals who have not responded are encouraged to complete the survey as principals and school site councils will use this preliminary data starting next week to help guide the implementation of the Hybrid Model at their specific schools.
The decision on implementation will take place once parents and teachers respond to the first survey. Staff will continue to remind individuals to complete their choice. Once these initial responses are completed and the models are built using the data showing what the specific school communities prefer, parents will later receive a final survey asking them for their final commitment.
All 12 school site plans are due to the District Office on December 14, which means that before winter break teachers, families, and support staff will know how the Hybrid Model will be in place at their schools for the January 19 staggered start.
Teaching and Learning After the First Trimester:
All students will continue to learn in the Full Distance Learning model after the end of the first trimester on Friday, November 13 and up until the staggered start beginning on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. This includes the two weeks between the student-return from winter break on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 and when the Hybrid Model is implemented beginning on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.
District Launches Pilot Program:
Some RCSD students and teachers are already back on RCSD campuses as part of the district’s Pilot Program, which successfully launched this Monday, November 2. The Pilot Program is based on which teachers decided to participate. Some returned this week and other teachers and students will be back at their schools next week as they, too, start their participation in the program.
All students, teachers, and staff in the Pilot Program are following the safety protocols outlined in the Four Pillars--health and hygiene, face coverings, physical distancing, and limiting gatherings. The district plans to use the success of the Hybrid Model in the Pilot Program as a learning tool for its staggered reopening beginning on January 19, 2021.
COVID-19 Testing:
The school district has now implemented the process for COVID-19 testing for students in addition to the system already in place for employees. Each school site will send parent authorization forms home to families as the district needs parent consent to test students. Similar to the process that took effect in late October for employees, students whose parents have consented will be tested every two weeks at school. The testing kit is the same for students and adults. While the district cannot require students to be tested, the district encourages parent permission as it will contribute to everyone’s safety on campus.
Implementation of Four Pillars in RCSD Campuses
District Launches Pilot Program
Pilot Program - Kindergarten
Redwood City School District
Website: www.rcsdk8.net
Location: 750 Bradford St, Redwood City, CA
Phone: 6504822200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedwoodCitySchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @RWCSchools