By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City School students will likely start school late this fall – but whether they learn in school or at home is yet to be determined.
The Board of Education continued its discussion about the fall start to the school year Thursday evening. The meeting came to a conclusion only because the Zoom meeting ended after three hours.
But as the meeting neared the cutoff time, the board voted unanimously to authorize the school administration to begin planning for a hybrid blended model for the fall.
With as many as 335 people tuned into the Zoom meeting, the board struggled with the best option for providing education and safety for students. Making the decision even more difficult was the recent change to Level 3-Red status for Wood County as COVID-19 cases increase.
The board reserved the right to change course if the situation worsens – though it’s unknown where that line will be drawn.
For one board member, Norm Geer, the current status of COVID in Wood County is enough to consider starting the school year online.
“We are jumping into a plan that would work in an ideal situation,” Geer said, suggesting that the district not open to in-classroom learning until it’s safe.
“I really don’t want to put the community at risk,” he said, noting that if COVID “gets out of control in our schools” it will quickly spread elsewhere.
Superintendent Francis Scruci agreed that online learning would be the safest approach. “But is that the best thing for kids socially, emotionally?”
Board President Ginny Stewart also questioned whether or not the district should be planning for in-person classes.
“I struggle with this,” she said. “This just doesn’t feel right to me.”
But knowing that parents and staff need to prepare, the board authorized efforts to start planning for a blended model. The model would have all school buildings open and students divided to allow for social distancing. Groups of students would stay together and with the same teacher throughout school days and groups would not mix. Students will be reminded to remain at least 6 feet apart and to not share objects.
A total of 300 hand sanitizer stations have been ordered for the schools.
In this blended model, there would be staggered scheduling to accommodate smaller class sizes.
All students would have face-to-face access to teachers 40% of each week. School buildings would be closed on Mondays for deep cleaning. One group of students would attend school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and the other group would attend school on Thursdays and Fridays.
Families with multiple children will be able to schedule all of their children’s days in school together.
The days they are not in school, there would be online learning provided for students.
“Our teachers are going to work together to make sure learning takes place over the four days,” said Angie Schaal, executive director of teaching and learning.
“All professional development will be ongoing,” Schaal said.
That was good news to board member Tracy Hovest, who had expressed concerns about too much burden being placed on parents for learning.
“We know that many parents were very frustrated because they didn’t know what to do,” Schaal said.
For parents who are uncomfortable sending their children to school, they may choose the all online learning option. An initial survey of teachers showed that 60 would be willing to teach online.
Stewart, Carr and Hovest said they had received emails and calls from several parents – with the majority preferring the blended option to all in-school or all online.
The board was also in agreement that the starting date for school this fall be pushed back by a month or so, possibly to Sept. 21. Scruci suggested the delayed start for a variety of reasons:
- Lack of air conditioning in three of the district’s five school buildings. The heat could be even more intolerable, with fans not being allowed due to COVID.
- More time to do intensive training for teachers on online learning – unlike in the spring when they had 48 hours to prepare after the governor issued orders to shut down schools. “We may be all online. We want to make sure our teachers are prepared,” Scruci said.
- An opportunity to observe the status of COVID in the Bowling Green area.
“No one wants to be in this position, to have to make this decision,” Scruci said.
Board members Bill Clifford and Geer said the late starting date would give the district time to see the effects of the Wood County Fair and the return of BGSU students.
Board member Jill Carr said that extra time could be valuable, since just this week 39 states are showing an increase in COVID cases. “It makes sense for so many reasons,” she said.
And Hovest said the late start date would allow families to plan for the atypical school year.
Scruci said 85% of the school staff are in favor of a delayed start to the year. He urged the board to make a decision soon so the district can start planning for the blended option – which was the top choice of staff.
“It’s important that we can get this decided soon,” Scruci said. “We saw the map get more red this week. We need to do what’s in the best interest of the kids as well as staff.”
The board members will make more decisions during their regular meeting on Tuesday.
“I think we owe it to our parents. They have to make plans,” Scruci said.
The administrative team wants students and staff to wear masks – though the state is not requiring them for elementary students. Parents can send children with masks, or the district will provide new disposable ones for each day. That could add up to more than 500,000 for the school year, Scruci said.
Melanie Garbig, executive director of pupil services, explained that elementary teachers will still be able to comfort young children with hugs or a hand on their shoulders.
“I can’t imagine a teacher going to school and not touching a child, not comforting a child,” Garbig said.
“You hug the child, you wash your hand, they wash their hands,” she said. “We cannot eliminate that emotional piece for children.”
It was suggested that the district meet with Wood County Health Department officials for advice on where to draw the line to go all online if COVID cases continue to increase. Directions will also be sought on how to handle incidents where students or teachers test positive for COVID.
“I applaud you and I appreciate the courage you are showing as board members,” Scruci said.
Also on Tuesday, the board will discuss how to handle sports and extra-curriculars, since the state is also leaving those decisions to local boards. Stewart said the thought of sanctioning sports seems “ludicrous” right now.
Following are some of the recommendations for operations in the blended model.
Buildings
● The secondary staff workday will be 7:20 a.m.-3 p.m. Elementary staff workday will be 8:15 a.m. – 3:55 p.m.
● Students will sit at desks 6 feet from anyone else, including the teachers. In some cases, clear desk shields will be installed at tables used by more than one student at a time.
● Water bottles will be permitted. Water bottle dispensers will be installed replacing traditional water fountains.
● Upon entering the building, students will be required to go directly to their first period class, homeroom, or grade-level classroom. No congregating in groups in the hallways or outside the building will be allowed.
● No visitors will be permitted in the buildings until further notice.
● No volunteers will be allowed until further notice.
● Students will not be permitted to use lockers in the academic areas of the buildings.
● Masks are required for all staff PK-12 and students K-12 in all common areas and during transitions.
● Fans of any kind are prohibited in classrooms.
● Each building will develop its own dismissal plans based on the uniqueness of each building and grade level.
Transportation
● Students will be assigned specific seats on the bus.
● One student per seat on the bus unless family relation.
● On arrival – students will be dismissed one at a time.
● Masks will be required when being transported by bus K-12.
● No field trips until further notice.
● No Fifth Grade Camp for the 2020-21 school year.
Health and Safety
● Parents will be responsible to take student temperatures and assess at home. If a student has a fever or symptoms, he/she must stay home.
● Staff will be responsible to take temperatures and self-assess at home. If a teacher has a fever or shows symptoms, they must stay home.
● All staff PK-12 will be required to wear masks unless for medical reasons, at which time a face shield that extends below the chin is required.
● Students will be required to wear masks in the classroom K-12. If a medical condition exists, students will be required to wear a face shield instead of a mask. Students with disabilities will be considered on an individual basis.
● If a student develops symptoms/fever while at school, they will be placed in the designated isolation room. Parents will be required to pick up their students within 30 minutes.
● Custodians will be sanitizing door handles and other touch points throughout the day in all buildings.
● Recess will be allowed, but children will be required to maintain social distancing.
Classrooms
● Classrooms will be set up to maintain the recommended 6 feet social distancing.
● Mandatory seating assignments will be made in all classrooms.
● Students will be required to wear masks in the classroom K-12.
● Students will be permitted to take bookbags in the classroom.
● No fans for air movement or cooling are permitted in the classroom.
● No exhaust fans can be used in labs.
● Desks and tables will be sanitized at the end of each class period at the secondary level, while sanitizing of desks or tables will occur at lunchtime and before dismissal at the elementary level.
● Teachers will maintain a 6 feet social distance during instructional time.
Food Service
● Breakfasts and lunches will be eaten in the classroom unless buildings can create a schedule for small numbers of students to eat in the cafeteria while maintaining 6 feet social distancing.
● Delivered lunches from outside vendors are prohibited for staff and students.
● Lunches will continue to be provided for children at home, though the details of the program have not been ironed out.
