School Committee Meeting�October 6, 2020

Back-to-School

Update

Today’s Agenda

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1. Preparing for Phase 2: 10/13: In-Person �Learning for some
• Safety, Health & Facilities Manual: Featured updates
• OSS Safety Manual
• Enrollment & Staffing
2. Considerations for Phase 3: Expanded In-Person Learning

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Part 1:

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Preparing for Phase 2

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October 13:

In-Person Learning for Students with Greatest Needs

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Summary of Contingencies: STATUS UPDATE

1. Routine testing and surveillance testing plan for anyone returning to classrooms (with CPHD)
1. CPS COVID testing 10/6 and 10/8
2. On-site staff testing twice per week
3. Testing for students/staff w/ symptoms
4. Hiring health assistants

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• Frequent evaluation and adaptation of key metrics centered on equity and vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by COVID 19
• Reopening Data Dashboard

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• Adoption of the safety and facilities manual and ensure there are no spaces used that do not meet guidelines/requirements
• OSS manual, continual updates
• Agendized for adoption tonight

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• Vote is subject is change as the COVID-19 pandemic is fluid and changes to this reopening plan may be necessary at any point

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5. Plan for scholars in substantially separate programs co-created by special educators, families of those in substantially separate classrooms, with the administration and Covid-19 Task Force experts as scholars and professionals in these rooms are at greater risk of Covid-19 and face the greatest challenges to remote and in person learning.
1. Working Groups
2. OSS Safety Manual

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• Discussion on childcare options for families and educators during remote learning (with the City Council, DSHSP, and City of Cambridge)
• Conversations continuing�
• Co-created social emotional learning, mental and behavioral health plan for all scholars developed by educators, staff, out of school time professionals, scholars and families for in person and remote learning.
• Working plan; provided update on 9/15

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Getting Ready �for In Person Learning on 10/13

Featured Updates

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Family Facing Resources

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• Masks: Requirements & Tips

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• “What Should I Do? A Daily Health Checklist and Responses to Different COVID Situations”

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• Important Safety and Health Information, including things to practice with your child before they return to school in person.

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• CPS is Prepared for Safe In-Person Learning! Overview of safety and health plans

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Coming soon:

Animated videos: �“Mask Tips” and

“A Day in the Life”

• School Procedures Templates

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• Classroom Setup & Preparation Checklist

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• Signage

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• School walkthroughs �with CEA

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• School information sessions with families

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• Weekly emails (Sundays) Health Checklist to families and staff

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Office of Student Services Safety Manual

>> Published 10/5/2020

Contents

Section A: Personal Protective Equipment

1. Personal Protective Equipment for Staff
2. Students Unable to Wear a Mask
3. Students Who Try To Remove a Staff Member’s Mask
4. Students Who Remove their Masks or Other Articles of Personal Protective Equipment

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�Section B: Cleaning, Hygiene, and Environmental Health

1. Students Sharing Materials
2. If a Student Chews or Sneezes on a Shared Material/Toys/Blocks
3. Water Tables
4. Handwashing
5. Hand Sanitizer
6. Meals
7. Toileting or Diapering

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Section C: Grid B and Grid C Services

1. Grid B Services
2. Students Who Cannot Access Grid B Services Remotely
3. Grid C Services
4. Allowable Spaces for Pull-Out Services
5. Servicing Multiple Students Across Classrooms/Grade Levels/Schools
6. Additional Precautions

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Section D: Administering Assessments

1. Evaluation Protocol
2. Evaluation Process
3. Safety Precautions to Follow

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Section E: Safe Management of Disruptive Behaviors

1. Managing Behaviors
2. Additional Protective Equipment
3. Time Limits
4. Crisis Teams
5. Alternative Space for De-escalation
6. Student PPE
7. Hitting or Spitting
8. Crisis Basket
9. CPI Manual

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• Appendix A: Handwashing and Hand Sanitizer Checklist
• Appendix B: Glove Removal Checklist
• Appendix C: Special Education Testing “What to Expect” for Families
• Appendix D: Key Guidance and Source Material

Staffing for JK -Grade 3

CPS has increased staffing to provide additional support for �student learning

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• In most cases, schools were able to align remote and in-person learning assignments with teacher availability.
• CPS needed 41 additional classroom teachers & 61 paraprofessionals to support the JK-3 staffing model. Of the 41 FTE, 11 staff were reassigned (coaches, interventionists) and 30 positions were added.
• CPS added 12 building substitutes, ensuring that each elementary school has 2 dedicated substitutes.

Wednesdays: Clarifying Expectations

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Upper Schools:

• Schedules will vary by school.

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High School:

• No scheduled classes.
• Scheduled live check-ins and opportunities for staff, advisor, and counselor support.

Elementary Schools:

All students will participate in a full day �of remote learning.

• Morning: some live instruction and �support sessions scheduled
• Afternoon: independent learning �activities in the afternoon.

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Why is Wednesday not a full day of live instruction and support sessions?

• Educators must be able to plan, problem-solve

and coordinate efforts within and across schools

• General education, special education, �and specialists’ collaboration -- and between in-person and remote staff - is difficult during regularly scheduled days
• Asynchronous and independent learning is a core component of remote learning.

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In-Person Learning Begins on 10/13

In-Person Learning Enrollment

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** Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and Native American not reported due to low numbers leading to personally identifiable information

Part 2:

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Preparing for Phase 3

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Expanding In-Person Learning

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• Schedules
• Busses

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Design & Decide

Family Choices

Operationalize

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• October:
• Working Group leads: debrief on summer efforts, utilizing feedback from participants

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• November
• Math & ELA screeners
• Focus groups with families, students, and staff on implementation of Phase 1 and Phase 2

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• December
• Student SEL & Wellbeing survey �
• January
• Staff survey & school-based reflection�
• February
• Likely earliest full expansion �of in-person learning

• Taskforce evolution
• Focus:
• Community reflection on Phase 1 & Phase 2 implementation
• Inform design of future phases, including potential expansion of in-person learning
• Structure: Elementary, Upper School, and High School subcommittees

Tentative Approach

Phase 1 & 2 Reflection; Phase 3 Planning

School Committee Meeting�October 6, 2020

Back-to-School

Update

15

OSS Safety Manual

Highlighted Topics

Students Unable to Wear a Mask

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• Schools cannot prevent a student entry into the classroom if a student is unable to wear a mask as a result of his/her disability.
• A face shield should be attempted, if a student has difficulty wearing a mask.
• Staff should wear PPE
• Maintain social distancing

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Grid B and Grid C Services

• Educators should provide specialized services remotely via video conference, instead of coming into the classroom to provide services
• If the student’s disability limits his or her ability to receive services remotely via video conference, then those special educators or related service providers should schedule services outside of the general education setting (i.e. pull-out services) in a manner that maintains physical distancing requirements whenever possible.
• Educators should limit their interactions to 30 individuals (students and teachers) per week across 18 to 20 pods. Where possible educators should work across classrooms with all students in a single grade before moving to the next grade.

Class 1

One teacher

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Two paraprofessionals

Every JK and Grade 1 class will be split into two sections, supported by 1 educator & 2 paraprofessionals

Class 1 Section A

Up to 12 students

In-Person Learning: Elementary Staffing

Class 1 Section B

Up to 12 students

Each building will have one Grade 2 class and one Grade 3 class, each split into two sections, supported by 2 educator and 1 paraprofessionals

Class 1

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Two teachers

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One paraprofessional

Class 1 Section A

Up to 12 students

Class 1 Section B

Up to 12 students

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Expanding In-Person Learning