Wake County School Board Work Session, Sept 23
This work session is the second of three meetings to discuss the return to in-person instruction.
Wake County has increased supplies of PPE and cleaning supplies.
In general, ABC Collaborative in general hybrid models for reentry are more successful. This hybrid model allows the opportunity to practice protocols, work and assess the plan, and reorient students and staff.
With all of this data, staff recommendation is:
Note that with this plan, 30% of teachers will be supporting students on all three platforms: remote, Virtual Academy, and in person.
The county also studied the possibility of a 2 week rotation. The county was asked by the board to analyze this situation especially with 50% students being in Virtual Academy.
Currently, there are 85,500 students. Students who has signed up for Virtual Academy for the Fall semester are committed to VA for the fall. If we allowed students to move from VA to Plan B, that would affect staffing and class size which are the criteria being used for Plan B. By mid-November, all families will have the opportunity to specify their plans for Spring semester.
- First Meeting: Sept 15 -- initial discussion
- Second Meeting: Sept 23 (today) -- presentation from Wake County with recommendations
- Third Meeting: Sept 29 -- school board votes on the plan
- Webinars will be available to parents for viewing.
- New protocols for schools will be available on website.
- Teachers remain concerned.
- Teachers are working SIGNIFICANTLY more time planning outside of school hours.
- When asked their preference, teachers preferred PreK-2 and regional programs first. Second preference was PreK-5 and regional programs.
Wake County has increased supplies of PPE and cleaning supplies.
- County has 900,000 masks.
- Cleaning supplies have been delivered to the schools and also are in inventory.
- New cleaning processes have been created and put into place.
- Signage is posted at all schools.
In general, ABC Collaborative in general hybrid models for reentry are more successful. This hybrid model allows the opportunity to practice protocols, work and assess the plan, and reorient students and staff.
With all of this data, staff recommendation is:
- Oct 26 -- start 3 week rotation for PreK-5 and regional programs, 6-12 grades remote
- Nov 9 -- grades 6-12 start 3 week rotation. Note that elementary, middle, and high school students in the same families will be assigned to the same cohort.
- Nov 16 -- grades PreK-5, K-12 regional programs return to daily in person instruction
Note that with this plan, 30% of teachers will be supporting students on all three platforms: remote, Virtual Academy, and in person.
The county also studied the possibility of a 2 week rotation. The county was asked by the board to analyze this situation especially with 50% students being in Virtual Academy.
- If we changed to 2 week rotation, schools would have to do significant rework. They have already planned for 3 week rotation.
- Bus routes would have to be reconfigured. Currently they are configured for 3 week rotation.
- Because of limited resources (scheduling, staffing, facility, and occupancy), county cannot maintain social distancing for grade 6-12.
Currently, there are 85,500 students. Students who has signed up for Virtual Academy for the Fall semester are committed to VA for the fall. If we allowed students to move from VA to Plan B, that would affect staffing and class size which are the criteria being used for Plan B. By mid-November, all families will have the opportunity to specify their plans for Spring semester.