SLIDE 3 that stance with a statement on their website. He also outlined different aspects of the plan that included what to do in the event that a student visits a “level 3” country. Later, Dr. Gusick described the concept of deep cleaning and how the District was implementing that task to effect. Next, Dr. Gusick discussed the current “level” of the District as it pertained to the Pandemic
- Plan. At this time, he explained that the District was in the “Limiting and Postponing” phase. He
also explored various scenarios that would be flexibly addressed, including sports, District travel, and career week. He noted that decisions would be made based on the level of risk a given event would present. The Committee inquired if the cleaning/custodial staff had been provided with the necessary resources to effectively clean and maintain the facilities. Additionally, they inquired about the District’s ability to deep clean various buildings as well as implement statewide
- assessments. Moreover, they discussed the District’s communication processes and how
information will be displayed on the web page. Members suggested that information be placed
- n each individual school’s home page and/or be clearly displayed on the main District web
- page. They also lauded the efforts of teachers and administrators in dealing with this issue and
inquired about the input of PIAA officials. Dr. Gusick discussed various ideas including holding sports events that would not include attendance by the public to decrease health risks. Afterwards, Dr. Gusick shared information regarding school closings. His report included scenarios to prepare for one or more school closing days. He also discussed Act 80 days that could count as school days. Dr. Gusick explained a framework of how Distance Learning would be implemented on a day-to-day basis, including the timeframe for learning activities, as well as the means to take attendance. Lastly, other topics were considered such as addressing the needs
- f students with IEPs, parent access to technology, differentiation of assignments, Spring Break
days, the dispensation of food to families in need, transportation, community outreach, student absenteeism, and overcoming barriers. At the completion of the discussion, the Committee recommended that an emergency inservice day be installed on Monday, March 16 to implement the training sessions and develop the strategies associated with Distance Learning. The Committee discussed the Proposed Change to Kindergarten Specials Schedule.
- Dr. Towle reported on the need to change aspects of the Kindergarten specials area program.
These factors included increased enrollment and increased demand for space within classrooms. She specified concerns associated with the schedules of the media specialists, as well as the fact that there are four art teachers in five buildings, which limits flexibility. Given that there will be a need to increase the elementary special area staffing by one FTE to accommodate the increased enrollment, she proposed hiring an additional art teacher, increasing the number of kindergarten art classes to 2 per cycle and decreasing the number of kindergarten library classes to 1 per cycle. These adjustments would allow for greater flexibility in the overall scheduling of special classes and would simultaneously negate the need for certain media specialists to leave their buildings and teach classes in other schools, giving them increased access to the students in their own
- schools. Dr. Towle shared that this proposed change was discussed with the Elementary
Principals, Art Teachers and Media Specialists, all of whom supported the plan. When concerns were shared regarding the decrease in the students’ exposure to literature, Dr. Towle noted that various aspects of art classes included opportunities for literacy connections. At the conclusion
- f the report the Committee recommended that the proposed change be implemented.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Future Meeting Dates: April 16, 2020; May 14, 2020
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