State of Alabama
American Rescue Plan Return to In-Person Instruction & Continuity of Services
Section 2001(i)(1) of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) requires each LEA that receives ARP ESSER funds to develop a plan for >span class="bumpedFont20">safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services for all schools including those that have returned to in-person instruction. >span class="bumpedFont20">escribe in its plan the extent to which it has adopted key prevention and mitigation strategies. You may revise your existing Roadmap to Schools Reopening Plan and update it as needed to include all ARP requirements or you may develop a new plan. More information can be included in the plan, however it must at a minimum describe how the LEA will address the items identified in the ARP requirements. The following checklist should be used when developing your plan to ensure all necessary components are included.
1. Maintaining Health and Safety
➢ For each mitigation strategy listed below, describe how the LEA will maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other school and LEA staff, and the extent to which it has adopted policies, and a description of any such policies, on each of the following safety recommendations established by the CDC.
o Universal and correct wearing of masks
▪ Teachers and students will be required to wear masks.Any other additional required use of masks will be evaluated periodically by the Superintendent or appointee.
o Physical distancing (e.g., including use of cohorts/podding, bus protocols)
▪ The desks in each classroom will be arranged in straight rows facing forward and ensuring proper social distancing. There will be no opportunities for flexible seating, and all students will be assigned seating. Students will maintain appropriate distancing during all other activities in the school day. Bus protocol includes assigned seating with students from the same household sitting together. High/Middle School Transitions- Wilcox Central High School and Camden School of Arts and Technology will develop a transition plan based on their number of students and overall facility layout to ensure minimal contact with students from other classrooms and other areas. Elementary/AlternativeTransitions- F.S. Ervin Elementary, J. E. Hobbs Elementary, ABC Elementary, and Alternative Centerwill develop a transition plan based on their number of students and overall facility layout to ensure minimal contact with students from other classrooms to classrooms and other areas.
o Handwashing and respiratory etiquette
▪ Restrooms and classrooms will be sanitized multiple times each day. Soap and/or hand sanitizer will be available in the bathrooms, classrooms, and throughout the general school facility.
▪ Respiratory etiquette will be reviewed with all staff and students by the local school nurse.
o Cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities, including improving ventilation
▪ Ventilation
• All HVAC units and windows will be assessed by architects to ensure proper air quality.
• Air purifiers will be placed in all classrooms, offices, other applicable areas as needed.
▪ Modified Layouts
• Schools will have the capacity to modify layouts to adhere to CDC guidelines, inclusive of use of plexiglass, room dividers, etc.
▪ Cleaning Routines
• The Wilcox County Board of Education will provide all sanitizing equipment, cleaning supplies, materials, soaps, etc. to ensure that areas are properly cleaned and sanitized.
• The cleaning and sanitizing of the classrooms will be a collaborative effort by the school custodial staff, classroom teachers and other personnel.
• To ensure proper cleaning and sanitizing, the WCPSS will provide sanitizing equipment, sanitizer, soap, and other cleaning items. No parents will be requested to send cleaning products to any school site.
• Classroom teachers will be provided sanitizing cleaners to spot clean as needed and to sanitize areas used throughout the classroom including desks, counters, shelves, etc.
• Additional classroom procedures will be provided at each local school campus.
• Custodians will work to clean/sanitize classroom and common spaces throughout the day.
▪ Communal spaces
• The sending of students for well visits and/or minor needs to the nurses’ offices should be curtailed by the teacher
• A common area for students will be utilized each day upon arrival to the school. Congregation of students will not be permissible. Car riders are strongly encouraged to be on campus 15 minutes prior to the start of school.
• Classroom teachers will be asked to remove and minimize the inclusion of cloth and other soft surfaces within the classroom environment. These items may include, but not limited to, reading tents, bean bags, rugs, etc.
▪ Food Service
• Students will receive meals in the cafeteria dining hall or as a grab and go option, which will be determined by the local school based on numbers and available space in dining hall.
▪ Water systems (i.e. water fountains etc.)
• Water fountains will be disabled. Bottled water will be provided at no cost to students/staff.
• Coffee pots should not be used until further notice.
o Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine, in collaboration with the state, local, territorial, or tribal health departments
▪ Safety and Wellness – Students
• In the event a student begins to show symptoms of COVID-19 while at school:
o Teacher should call and inform the nurse immediately.
o Students should be sent to the nurse’s office or quarantine area.
o Teacher should notify the custodian so that the area can be sanitized properly.
o The nurse should notify the school administrators and the parents.
o The Alabama Department of Health is responsible for notifying individuals of possible exposure of COVID-19.
• In the event a student notifies the teacher that they or someone in their home has tested positive for COVID-19:
o The teacher should notify school administrators.
o If the student was recently in attendance at the school, the custodian should be notified so that the area can be sanitized properly.
o The Alabama Department of Health is responsible for notifying individuals of possible exposure to COVID-19.
▪ Safety and Wellness Measures – Employee General Guidance
• Prior to arriving at work, we strongly suggest the following:
o Check your temperature a home. You will need to contact your supervisor immediately and follow instructions before returning to work.
o Assess your wellness – If you notice an increase of symptoms such as coughing, fever, chills, muscle pain, shortness of breath, sore throat, a loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, or other symptoms related to COVID-19, contact your supervisor immediately and follow instructions before returning to work.
o Direct exposure – Contact your supervisor if you have been in direct contact or closer than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
o Positive COVID-19 Results – In the event you test positive for COVID-19, you should notify your supervisor, contact payroll for appropriate leave steps, follow the directions of your medical provider, and obtain one negative COVID-19 test result before returning to work.
o Diagnostic and screening testing
▪ Individuals who need testing will be referred to the Department of Public Health.
o Efforts to provide vaccinations to educators, other staff, and students, if eligible
▪ Notification of testing sites, dates, and times will be provided to all staff and students
o Appropriate accommodations for children and staff with disabilities with respect to health and safety policies
▪ SPECIAL POPULATIONS
• Special education teachers may pick up students from the classroom and have a small group in a designated location. Social distancing rules will apply.
• After each group, the teacher will disinfect the area before getting the next group of students.
• Teachers will encourage hand washing often.
• Students that receive special education services will receive the services documented in their IEP. These services will be offered both traditionally and virtually. Students will be required to complete class work along with activities on the individual goals outlined in their IEP.
• The classrooms will be disinfected at the end of each day.
▪ SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
• Special education teachers will work on their normal scheduled times at each school and the arranged times during the normal school hours of operations for students that have chosen the remote learning path.
• The special education teacher will be required to wear a mask at all times. In group sessions, social distancing will be practiced according to the space provided. Each student will have individual materials and materials will not be shared at this time. Work samples and assignments will be submitted by email or virtual platform each week. The special education teacher will also use live meets to determine skill mastery when appropriate.
• Special education teachers will also work with parents on an as needed basis to demonstrate, assist, and guide them in the instruction for their students/children. This is necessary for the student to continue progressing, especially for students on the remote pathway, due to the limited accessibility the service provider will have with the students.
▪ EVALUATIONS
• Evaluations will continue. At this time, all evaluations will be conducted in an in person format. Students on the traditional pathway will be assessed at the school he/she attends. Students on the remote pathway will be evaluated at the school in which the student is enrolled. These evaluations will be at a scheduled time during the normal school hours of operation.
▪ OT / SPEECH / PT SERVICES (TRADITIONAL AND REMOTE)
• Students that receive related services will receive the services documented in their IEP. These services will be offered both traditionally and virtually.
• Service providers will work on their normal scheduled times at each school and the arranged times during the normal school hours of operations for students that have chosen the remote learning path.
• During instruction the service provider will be required to wear a mask when working in close proximity of the student(s). In group sessions, social distancing will be practiced according to the space provided. Each student will have individual materials and materials will not be shared at this time. The service provider will also use live meets to determine skill mastery when appropriate.
• Service providers will also work with parents on an as needed basis in order to demonstrate, assist, and guide them in the instruction for their student. This is necessary in order for the student to continue progressing especially for students on the remote pathway due to the limited accessibility the service provider will have with the students.
2. Ensuring Continuity of Services
➢ How the LEA will ensure continuity of services, including but not limited to services to address students’ academic needs and students’ and staff’s social, emotional, mental health, and other needs, which may include student health and food services:
o How the LEA will provide continuity of instruction during the school year to ensure students have access to curriculum of similar quality regardless of the method of delivery, including the LEA’s plan for curriculum and instructional resources that will ensure continuity for students if a transition between in-person instruction and remote leaning is necessary.
▪ Academic Needs
✓ How the LEA is assessing the academic needs of students
• The academic needs of students will be data driven by assessing students to interpret their learning needs. Multiple assessments will be used to determined student learning needs such as formative, district, ALSDE summative, Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) assessments, etc. Data meetings will address all learning needs areas and this information will have used to drive teacher instruction.
✓ How the LEA is addressing learning loss/gaps that resulted from COVID-19, particularly in the areas of English language arts and mathematics
• The Wilcox County School System will address learning loss/gaps in English language arts and math through summer learning programs, in school intervention programs, and extended day tutoring during the school year.
✓ Interventions and supports that are available to assist students with learning loss/gaps
• Approved and district wide English language arts and math Interventions (i.e. S.P.I.R.E., IXL, STAR) and supports will be provided to students during summer learning, regular school days and extended day tutoring.
✓ Professional learning opportunities for staff to assist inimproving student achievement
• Teachers and staff will continuously be provided professional learning opportunities geared toward English language arts and math throughout the year .in order to assist in addressing learning loss/gaps to support student needs
▪ Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Needs
✓ How the LEA will support social, emotional, mental health and wellness needs for both students and staff
• A Mental Health Coordinator will be hired to service students and teachers.
• This position will be funded through a state grant.
• The Mental Health Coordinator will be housed at Camden School of Arts and Technology but will service all schools.
• The coordinator will:
o Work with Central Office Staff and Principals in their endeavors to help Wilcox County BOE students and their families to be able to lead productive lives – educationally, physically, and emotionally
o Assist teachers in determining appropriate techniques for recognizing child neglect and abuse
o Communicate with service agencies, state and federal agencies, and ancillary services to enhance the educational effectiveness of the Wilcox County BOE School System
o Determine what methods can be utilized enabling families/students to make school attendance a top priority throughout the system
o Work closely with all educational components and special services available in the school system – general education, Special Education, all Title programs, School Resource Officers, sports, and medical related services
o Maintain accurate data that are relevant to the planning, management, and evaluation of the school social work program
o Identify individual children and target populations in need of services by a process of needs assessment that includes planned consultation with personnel of the local education agency, community representatives, and children and their families
o Develop and implement a plan of intervention or, when the most suitable intervention is not available, develop an alternative plan that will enhance children’s ability to benefit from their educational experience
o Identify areas of need that are not being addressed by the local education agency and community and work to create those services
o Ensure that children and their families are provided services within the context of multicultural understanding and sensitivities that enhance the families’ support of the children’s learning experiences
o Maintain adequate safeguards for the privacy and confidentiality of information
o Advocate for children and their families in a variety of situations
✓ How the LEA will support the health and nutritional needs of students
• School nurse will work closely with administration in developing a plan to isolate sick children until someone comes and get them. Individual Health Plans for students with chronic health problems will be continued by the school nurse.
3. Additional Requirements:
➢ Communication Plan
o How this plan will be communicated to students, staff, parents, and the community.
▪ Plan will be placed on the district’s and local schools’ websites, hard copies will be available at local schools and central office.