Schuylerville CSD COVID-19 Reopening Plan: Frequently Asked Questions

The content of the frequently asked questions document will evolve during the 2020-21 school year, as the district adjusts to guidance from the state and changes in regional daily infection rates, and gathers feedback from various stakeholder groups. Questions and answers will be added as needed. Please refer to the district’s full reopening plan for further information on topic areas.

FAQ Outline

Health and Safety Protocols

Q: Who decides if a school building or the district needs to close as a result of positive COVID-19 cases or a rising infection rate?
A: The district will prepare for a situation where it needs to close due to a significant number of students or staff testing positive for COVID-19 or a considerable regional increase in COVID-19 cases. The district will stay in constant contact with the Saratoga County Department of Health via its COVID-19 Coordinator, Gregg Barthelmas. The decision to close the school district will ultimately be made in conjunction with New York state, the Saratoga County Department of Health, and the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Ryan Sherman. 

Determinations will also be made by region about opening and closing schools as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. If a region is in Phase 4 and has a daily infection rate of 5% or lower over a 14-day average, schools in that region could hold in-person instruction. If daily infection rates exceed 9% over a seven-day average, however, schools in that region would not reopen. Similarly, should a region see such an average after reopening, schools in that region would also be directed to close.

Q: Will my child be required to wear a face mask?
A: Yes. Social distancing of six feet/barriers/face masks/coverings will be primary components of the school day. As a baseline, face masks/coverings will be required to be worn at all times, with the exception of during meals and classroom instruction when social distancing measures can be maintained. The health offices will work with students and their primary care physicians if they feel unable to wear a mask based on CDC guidelines.

Q: Are the “gaiter” type face coverings okay for students to wear or do masks have to be the ear loop kind?
A: At this time, based on guidance from health authorities, neck gaiters, open-chin triangle bandanas and face coverings containing valves, mesh material or holes of any kind are not acceptable face coverings. All face coverings (whether disposable or reusable) must:

  • Be made with at least two layers of breathable material
  • Fully cover the nose and mouth and secure under the chin
  • Fit snugly, but comfortably against the side of the face
  • Be secured with ties or ear loops and allow the person to remain hands-free

Q: Will the school provide face masks and have extras to provide as needed?
A: Masks are required on school buses and in the school buildings. If students forget a mask, they will be provided one.

Q: Not all masks are created equal. Can you be more specific on the type of masks that are best?
A: Face coverings need to cover the students mouth and nose

  • Extend below the chin anteriorly
  • To the ears laterally
  • There should be no exposed gap between the forehead and the shield’s headpiece
  • Be cleaned between use
  • Face coverings are for individual use only and should not be shared

Students requesting not to wear a face covering will need to provide medical documentation in advance to the building nurse. 

Q: Will more staff be hired to assist teachers in sanitizing the classrooms?
A: Custodial staff will still be responsible for cleaning and sanitizing the buildings. Additional support will be hired to assist with this.

Q: How will daily temperature checks be performed?
A: Parents will be encouraged to screen at home. If the child has a temperature of 100°F or greater, the child should remain home. Temperatures of students will be taken upon arrival at school before students get off the bus. If a student has a temperature of 100°F or greater, the student will report to an isolation room, have their temperature re-taken by a nurse, and a parent will be called. Walkers, student drop-offs and student drivers’ temperatures will be taken at the entrance to the buildings.

Q: If my high school student is sick with a mild cold, can they still participate in remote learning for that day or a few days?
A: Students will have the opportunity to participate in the remote learning model if they have mild symptoms of any type of illness. It is the parent’s responsibility to contact the school if the child is sick from school that day. The parent will indicate whether the student will be participating in remote learning in order keep accurate attendance records.

Q: What will be the district’s policy for visitors and parent volunteers?
A: Parents/guardians will report to the front office and not go beyond unless it is for the safety or well-being of their child. Essential visitors to facilities will be required to wear face coverings and will be restricted in their access to our school buildings. Visitors must follow all safety protocols; there will be no parent volunteers.

Q: How will you handle the infection control for high transit areas such as restrooms and common areas?
A: The district will be conducting regular cleaning and disinfection daily or more frequently, as needed. High volume touch points will be disinfected frequently throughout the day as well as each night.

  • Bathrooms: Installation of touchless sinks, toilets (flushometers) soap, and paper towel dispensers.
  • Water fountains will be capped and replaced with water filling stations. Students will be encouraged to bring their own water bottles from home.
  • HVAC: Installation of UV lighting in heating and cooling rooftop units
  • Installation of local UV light technology in cafeterias and kitchens

Q: Will the district be ordering polycarbonate barriers?
A: Polycarbonate barriers will be used where appropriate in classrooms and cafeterias. The shields will allow for protection where social distancing will be difficult.

Q: What if a student or staff member becomes ill with symptoms of COVID-19?
A: The district requires students or staff with a temperature of 100°F or greater, signs of illness, and/or a positive response to the questionnaire to be sent directly to a dedicated isolation area where students are supervised, prior to being picked up or otherwise sent home. There will be a healthy door and a sick door for all nurse’s offices, as well as polycarbonate barriers to create social distancing. Students will be supervised in the isolation area while awaiting transport home and will be separated by at least 6 feet. Students will be escorted from the isolation area to their parent/guardian. Students or staff will be referred to a healthcare provider and provided resources on COVID-19 testing. Testing will not be ordered by the school, but will be directed by an individual’s primary care physician or the Department of Public Health. If students do not have a physician, the health office can work with the Department of Public Health regarding appropriate follow up. 

Q: When can a student or staff member return to school after illness?
A: The district has established protocols and procedures, in consultation with the local health department(s), about the requirements for determining when individuals, particularly students, who screened positive for COVID-19 symptoms can return to the in-person learning environment at school. This protocol includes:

  1. Documentation from a health care provider following evaluation 
  2. Negative COVID-19 diagnostic test result 
  3. Symptom resolution, or if COVID-19 positive, release from isolation 

The district will refer to DOH’s “Interim Guidance for Public and Private Employees Returning to Work Following COVID-19 Infection or Exposure” regarding protocols and policies for faculty and staff seeking to return to work after a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or after the faculty or staff member had close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19.

The district requires that individuals who were exposed to the COVID-19 virus adhere to all state regulations for quarantines. The discharge of an individual from quarantine and return to school will be conducted in coordination with the local health department.

Q: Will the district provide proper health and hygiene instruction and training for students and staff?
A: The district is committed to ensuring that all of its students and their families are taught and re-taught new expectations related to all public health policies and protocols. As part of this continuous training, the district will assess the best approach to communicating the information for each students’ age group and will provide frequent opportunities for students to review these policies and protocols. This targeted education will help ensure that all students and their families know what is expected of them as they successfully return to the school setting. During the initial month, educational training sessions will be held for students and staff, followed by frequent reminders. 

Q: Can desks be wiped down in between classes?
A: We cannot direct students to clean desks. However, the district will allow and encourage students to bring their own wipes and clean their desks if they wish.

Q: Why is the playground closed? Can it be cleaned?
A: With multiple students using the playground multiple times during a school day, the playground cannot be adequately cleaned and therefore won’t be open.

Q: Are bathrooms going to be cleaned in between use? Are the amount of children using the bathroom at each time going to be monitored?
A: Elementary School: Students with a bathroom in their classroom will be assigned to use that bathroom; bathrooms will be cleaned twice a day.

Middle School/High School: Multi-stall bathrooms will be cleaned two times during the school day and at night as well.

Q: Will school safety drills still be conducted?
A: If schools reopen with a hybrid in-person model of instruction, where students attend school on alternate school days to reduce the occupancy of the school building, schools must be certain that all students are receiving instruction in emergency procedures, and participating in drills while they are in attendance in-person. With a hybrid model for instruction, the amount of drills would be doubled, to ensure 100 percent student participation. Social distancing and mask requirements will be enforced during the drills. Regardless of the modification used when conducting a drill, students will be instructed that if it was an actual emergency that required evacuation or lockdown, the most imminent concern is to get to safety; maintaining social distancing in an actual emergency that requires evacuation or lockdown may not be possible and should not be the first priority.

Q: How do you need to notify the school if you must quarantine?
A: If a parent or child in the home must quarantine, please notify the district’s COVID-19 Coordinator Gregg Barthelmas, Superintendent Dr. Ryan Sherman, and the school nurse.

Q: Can we still pick up our kids from school for doctor’s appointments early, or even drop them back off after the appointments? Ex. dentist appointment is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. and the child is ready to return to school by 10:00 a.m. What would be the procedure for this?
A: Yes, students that are first coming to school or returning to school from appointments will have their temperature checked at the main entrance.

Q: Can parents leave their vehicle during a drop-off to assist their child with getting out of a car seat?
A: If a parent needs to support a child getting in/out of a car seat, that is permissible.

Q: When will the clear book bags that the district is going to provide be given out?
A: Building and grade-level information will be provided within the next few weeks.

Teaching and Learning

Q: What is the chosen instructional model for students for the start of the 2020-21 school year?
A: For the past month, the district’s transition committee has been working to create health and safety plans that adhere to New York State guidelines, but also make the most sense for the delivery of education in Schuylerville schools. The committee unanimously decided that the district should make every effort to move forward with a hybrid model of instruction for reopening. Grades K-5 will report every day, in-person, and grades 6-12 will be on an A/B day rotation via an alphabetical split. This will reduce student capacity by 50%.

Q: Do I have a choice as to whether or not my child participates in in-person learning for the start of the school year?
A: Parents will always have the choice to remain in the remote learning model. If a parent decides to opt-out of in-person learning for their child for the start of the 2020-21 school year, the parent must submit their intent via this Google Form by August 14, 2020. Parents will be allowed to opt back into in-person learning on a five-week incremental basis. By opting out of in-person learning, students are still fully expected to participate in Schuylerville CSD remote learning. Attendance will be taken daily and full grading practices will be in place. Parents also have the option to disenroll their child from the Schuylerville Central School District and educate them from home through the Home Instruction Regulations 100.10

Q: What are you doing to protect our children under COPPA and FERPA? Cameras in every classroom raises a lot of privacy issues, how can we be sure our children’s privacy is protected?
A: The camera will be in the front of the room with the teacher; only the teacher will be seen from a student’s perspective at home. Many of our students have had previous training with the technology platforms; during the first week of school, teachers will be providing technology training for students who need it in order for them to successfully participate in virtual learning.

Q: Currently, the Capital District region is at a 1-2% infection rate. What criteria needs to be met to achieve full time in-person schooling at 100% capacity?
A: Until the state guidelines requiring social distancing are lifted, the district will not be able to operate at 100 percent capacity.

Q: Is 7.5 hours of screen time the best we can do for hybrid learning? Have you considered alternative instructional methods so that students can log in for attendance, but then learn independently?
A: Districts are required to instruct 180 minutes per week, per course. Students will attend school for 6.5 hours a day. They will not be required to log on during lunch, physical education or study hall periods. Otherwise, they will follow the bell schedule. The district will be working with staff to reduce screen time and offer alternative options.

Q: If a parent feels a hybrid learning schedule is better for their elementary aged child – as well as virtual learning – can a parent opt for these two options?
A: The district’s transition committee submitted three required plans to the state; in-person learning, hybrid learning, and remote learning. The district’s transition committee opted to move forward with the hybrid learning model, which consists of K-5 students attending fully in-person or fully remote, five days a week. Families may choose one of the two options.

Q: The elementary school has approximately 700 students and will be in attendance 5 days a week, while the other school buildings only have 300-500 students attending on alternating days. How does this make sense and how do you actually plan on keeping approximately 700 kids separated?

A: The elementary school has approximately 630 students that will be housed throughout the day in cohorts of no more than 18 students (in most cases much less than that).  Special area teachers will travel to classrooms to support each cohort.  Lunch will be a time that students will be in larger groups, however still much smaller, three locations, and socially distanced.  At the MS and HS, students combine and change classes throughout the day, travel in the hallways, and have various different programmatic needs which makes holding all students on the same day not feasible. 

Q: If a student who is participating in the in-person learning model has a fever or is waiting for a test result participate in remote learning while out of school?
A: If a student is sent home with any symptoms of COVID-19, they should utilize the district’s remote learning option.

Q: Will there be paper packets?
A: Based on the district wide survey and feedback from the state, the district will be participating in a hybrid learning model. We will not be providing paper packets to families.  

Q: I would like to understand how many hours per day or per week my child will be expected to be in a virtual meeting. She will be in 2nd grade. Will there still be physical packets and planners for parents to assist children?
A: Each K-5 child participating in remote instruction will receive a daily schedule, which will include an outline of classes and time designations.  At a minimum students will be required to participate in ELA and Math instruction.  Asynchronous participation in special area classes via Google Meet will be optional.  Students will not receiving paper packets.  

Q: Will the district stop community school supplies to prevent sharing of items that are touched often (crayons, pencils, scissors, etc.)?
A: Students will be required to have their own personal supplies which will be outlined on supply lists. If a parent has a concern about being able to purchase school supplies, please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher.

Q: Since grades K-5 is operating at full capacity with smaller class sizes, where are the extra classrooms coming from?
A: Our priority continues to be to keep all K-5 students in school each day. To accommodate this, the district has added AIS and special area teachers to classrooms in an effort to reduce class sizes.  In addition, 4 term teachers will be hired to support classrooms for one year. 

Q: Will students learning remotely follow the same bell schedule as students in-person at school?
A: Yes. 

Q: How will large group music ensembles be handled?
A: Choir and wind instruments require 12 feet spacing due to increased aerosolization; as a result, there will be no Symphonic Band, Senior High School Chorus, Middle School Chorus, Beginning Band or Advanced Band. Small group music lessons will be provided and music shields will be purchased (that can also be converted to music stands.)

Q: What will be the district’s policy on clubs and extracurricular activities?
A: The district’s extracurricular programs and activities were examined and labeled in accordance with their ability to adhere to social distancing guidelines as well as risk of COVID-19 transmission. Activities that will be brought back are ones that can be conducted in a safe environment with appropriate social distancing protocols or continued remotely in the event of another shut down.

Q: Will before and after school care be available?
A: The district’s before and aftercare programs will continue to operate from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The policies and protocols including social distancing, PPE usage, cleaning and disinfection requirements and risk of COVID-19 transmission, will be the same as outlined previously in the reopening plan for in-school and hybrid learning. If the district closes, the program will not operate.

Q: We are currently enrolled in the afterschool program, but may not need it at the start of the school year. Will mid-year changes to a student’s participation in the after-school program be allowed if the parents’ employment/work from home situation changes? Should we stay enrolled until the program until needed? If so, how will payment work?
A: The before/after school program (School’s Out Program) will not be opt-in or opt-out.  Based on enrollment, students may not be guaranteed a spot should they disenroll. More information will be forthcoming about the program for enrolled families, including payment, from School’s Out Program Director, Nolan Palermo. He can be contacted at  palermon@schuylerville.org for any immediate questions.

Q: What will be the district’s attendance and grading policy throughout the various potential learning models?
A: Attendance and grading policies will be in full effect no matter what model of instruction is being used. The school district will continue to utilize its SMS to track daily attendance, assignments, participation, and grades. The school district will analyze data on student participation when they are off-campus participating in remote learning and look for ways to sustain high levels of student engagement. Each of the district’s schools will identify a team of staff to reach out and support those students that are not engaged in remote learning.

Q: Is the district still required to provide 180 days of instruction?
A: Yes, the district is required to provide 180 days of instruction to students. Instructional days will be counted for programs that are delivered in-person, remotely, or through a hybrid model.

Q: What will be the engagement and communication protocols for special education families?
A: Whether services are provided in-person, remotely and/or through a hybrid model, the district will address and adhere to the provision of free, appropriate public education consistent with the need to protect the health and safety of students with disabilities and those providing special education services.  All providers will provide the necessary accommodations, modifications, supplementary aids and services and technology to meet the needs of our special education learning community. These provisions will be met as directly as they are written on individual IEP’s. During the hybrid learning model, K-12 self-contained, special education students and teachers will be present every day, per NYS guidance.

Q: What if my child is an English Language Learner?
A: The district, in collaboration with its ELL itinerant provider, will make sure that any ELL student being enrolled in the district is screened to receive appropriate ELL services as stipulated in the Commissioner’s Regulations Part 154. Based on screening measures and in collaboration with the BOCES provided ELL itinerant provider, appropropriate instructional Units of Study as stipulated in the provisions in the Commissioner’s Regulations Part 154 guidelines. These services will be provided in-person, remotely, and or in a hybrid model.

Q: I have concerns about speech development; will teachers be wearing masks? Children learn by watching mouth movement.
A: The district is researching the feasibility of utilizing clear masks for speech and related services. 

Q: Can a parent who chooses remote learning bring their student to school for their once a week, 30 minute session with the provider?
A: Yes, it will help to adhere to the Provision of Services on the student’s IEP. Parents can choose teletherapy, or have in-person therapy sessions provided.

Q: Can the school offer an orientation day so students can come in, practice the new protocols in small groups, and perhaps even following their schedule?
A: At this point, the district is scheduling remote orientations via Google Meets to avoid mass gatherings in the schools. More information will be sent out about the orientations. We will spend significant time going over the protocols with students. 

Q: Why was the grouping done alphabetically instead of based on social and learning groups? Can my child switch groups?
A: It is not good practice to do homogeneous grouping for a variety of reasons. The grouping was done alphabetically to assist with daycare for families and the district’s Transportation Department. Switching groups will not be allowed; the district reserves the right to move students to balance out class rosters. 

Q: If my child starts the year in the remote learning model, and eventually goes to the hybrid, in-person learning model, at what point does the school need the form from the doctor for their medications?
A: The district will allow students to opt back in to the in-person learning model in five-week increments. As soon as the child re-enters the district for in-person learning, medical forms will be required immediately. 

Q: How will the switching of classes be handled for the middle and high school? Will all of the students be in the hall at the same time?
A: This is still under review, but with 50% capacity, the requirement of face masks, and directional hallways, social distancing will be possible.

Transportation

Q: Since student drop-offs and carpooling will be encouraged, how do I opt my child out of transportation for the start of the school year?
A: Parents/guardians who are planning to self-transport their children at this time to contact the Wendy Sullivan in the Transportation Department via email at sullivanw@schuylerville.org or by phone at 518-695-3468, by August 14, 2020. 

Q: Can I request a bus change for my child?
A: No bus changes will be permitted. Bus pick up and drop off locations will only be permitted at a student’s primary residence or at a registered daycare provider.

Q: What are the emergency dismissal and early release protocols for the buses?
A: Each child can have up to three dismissal locations; primary, secondary and emergency. The locations could all be the same or different. In an emergency situation, students will go to their emergency bus assignment. Masks will be required. Dismissal changes will not be allowed.

Q: If we are able to drive our children most days, but can’t all the time, do we have to opt out and then opt in each time they need to ride the bus?
A: If a parent has has opted their child out of transportation and  a situation should arise where they need transportation, the parent should contact the Wendy Sullivan in the Transportation Department.

Q: What is the drop off policy? How far can parents walk with their children if they are walkers? With more traffic, what protocols will ensure safety at the crosswalk?
A: Parents will not be able to leave their vehicles to walk their children to the door. For the elementary building, the district will have staff members assisting children walk to the door and their classrooms once inside. The district is not allowing parent volunteers or visitors inside the buildings.

Technology

Q: What if my child does not have access to WiFi at home?
A: The district will make computer devices available to students and teachers who need them. Each device will be assigned and inventoried in the district’s database. The district will provide WiFi hotspots for families in need based on a WiFi scholarship application process; more information will be forthcoming.

Q: Will the in-person learning model be primarily iPad based so that students at home are following the same instruction as their peers at school?
A: Yes. Students should be utilizing their 1:1 device at the same time as their peers in schools. The district will use Google Classroom and Google Meets for platforms. The purpose will be to maintain consistency and continuity of learning no matter what model of learning students are participating in.  

Food Services

Q: How will students eat meals while at school?
A: All students will sit six feet apart and/or have an approved tabletop polycarbonate divider between them. All high-touch surfaces including serving lines, lunch tables, polycarbonate barriers, and cashier stands will be wiped down with approved multi-quat sanitizer between each lunch period at minimum.

Elementary School: Teachers will fill out a Google Form with their class’s selections. Daily choices will be limited. Servers will box up orders (in paper or foil take-out containers) and organize by class; the food will be delivered to students’ tables in the cafeteria. There will be no a la carte sales for grades K-5 (chips, ice cream, etc.) 

Middle & High School: Students will enter the line, select their food, and walk to the cashier (using a barcode, not a pin pad). For grades 6-8, students will sit down first and be called up to the lunch line by monitors to avoid crowding. Masks will be required while in line and six feet social distancing markers will be placed on the floor. Disposable lunch trays will be used. Afternoon snacks will not be available.

Grab & Go: To accommodate the alphabetical rotational split of the hybrid instruction model, grades 6-12 students will have the opportunity to get bagged breakfast/lunch for the following day at dismissal. No signup is required. Meals will be free or full price depending on a student’s eligibility. 

Q: If the district goes to a remote learning model, will meals be available?
A: Students learning remotely will sign-up to have meals delivered to their house (via district bus drivers in a fully remote scenario) or take home meals for the following day(s) during a hybrid alternating schedule. If a student elects to learn fully remote despite the district being open, they can arrange to pick up meals by contacting Sarah Keen at keens@schuylerville.org. The USDA waiver allowing free meals to all children 18 and under expired June 30; any student not qualifying for free/reduced meals will be charged to their TITAN account. 

Q: Given the known risks of putting many maskless people in an enclosed indoor space, where droplets can spread the virus well beyond ‘social distance’ distances, why are students being packed into the cafeteria for lunch and not eating lunch in their classrooms?
A: Cafeterias give the district the best opportunity to social distance and clean/disinfect in between meals. Students eating within classrooms may have allergies, and a large space allows for those children to be spread out. Each building plan will limit the total amount of students in the cafeteria at one time. In the Elementary/Middle Schools, students will be spread across three separate rooms, and lunch times will begin earlier to accommodate a reduction in the number of students eating at one time.