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ELKINS -- Randolph County Schools' superintendent offered a proposal to board members regarding students' re-entry for the upcoming 2020-21 school year during a special board of education meeting this week.
RCS Superintendent Debbie Schmidlen said her presentation to BOE members was simply a proposal at this time, adding she will be requesting approval from the board during next week's regular meeting, held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21.
During this week's special meeting, Schmidlen addressed the BOE on behalf of the central office regarding the proposed plan to safely get students back to school. In addition to the superintendent, several department directors were also present during the meeting to provide information and answer questions from the board. Schmidlen noted the central office has worked collaboratively to create a re-entry plan -- including maintenance, personnel, transportation, special education, child nutrition, attendance, technology, curriculum, and finance departments.
"All of our concerns are centered around the priorities of whether or not we safely come back to school and how are we going to do that. We want to make sure that we have everything in place, as much as we possibly can, to provide safe opportunities for learning and for teaching," Schmidlen said.
County school officials have worked with principals and school administrators to create a staggered re-entry plan during recent weeks. Schmidlen emphasized the county has relied heavily on the West Virginia Schools Re-entry Toolkit, created by the West Virginia Department of Education and West Virginia Department of Heath and Human Resources, during their planning.
"What is important for everyone to know is we have to be prepared to adjust our plans because new directives might come to us and we will have to follow those in order to protect the health and learning needs of our students and our staff," Schmidlen explained. "We know that plans can change daily. … We have to plan things as best as we can with the understanding that things can change."
The proposal would have Randolph County Schools operating on a "staggered" re-entry schedule, with a limited number of students attending school each day, beginning Sept. 8. Upon board approval, RCS will then announce the plan publicly to all parents. One day per week will serve as a school-wide cleaning day for sanitation, and also for staff and principal meetings.
Schmidlen noted each school's plan may vary due to their school size and other factors; however, each school must submit their plan to the superintendent for approval to ensure all safety precautions are being taken for students.
"Some things are happening on a individual school basis because our schools have different enrollments, different numbers of staff, and so, what may happen at an elementary school, with only maybe 160 students, is certainly going to look different than a larger school," she said.
"What they are encouraging us to do is, especially at the elementary level, is to have students remain in their core groups for the biggest part of the day. … We also talk about, in the middle and high school, the same type of scenario -- understanding there is going to have to be class change and we will have to practice social distancing in between classes."
In addition, cafeteria seating capacity will be limited to 50 percent, meaning some schools may create additional lunch shifts or allow students to eat in their classrooms.
Bus rides to school will be limited to two students per seat, according to the W.Va. Schools Re-entry Toolkit. Households with three students living together may be permitted to sit three to a seat when possible. Furthermore, students are will be required to wear face coverings on buses, and the county may provide masks to students who do not have one.
Buses will be sanitized by the driver regularly, and students will not be present during the cleaning processes.
All students, kindergarten through 12th grade, will receive a Google Chromebook to be used throughout the school year. This purchase is funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
"As the uncertainties around COVID19 continue to change, so do our plans for re-entry into school," Schmidlen said. "As we move into these new guidelines, schedules and requirements, we ask for your patience. Plans must be fluid due to possible changes and/or directives that may occur as we progress back into the school setting. As we are all aware, these changes can and have taken place in very short amounts of time.
"We will be committed to provoking the most current information to our staff, students and families."
Individuals interested in reading further in to the WV Schools Re-entry Toolkit guidelines may visit the WVDE or RCS website.