Reopening HSSD Schools 2020-21

Safety

• Commitment to Safety
  • The Task Force action teams have outlined a proposal to support the physical and emotional safety of our students and staff. Guidance has been provided by local medical professionals and the Brown County Department of Health.  
  • Regardless of which plan is implemented at different points of the school year, safety protocols will be in place to limit the possible spread of Coronavirus.
  • Please review the draft plan for details including but not limited to: social distancing, face coverings, hand hygiene, cleaning, and sanitizing.

Equity

• Ensuring access and equity for all students.
  • Ensuring equitable access to opportunity is a critical component of each of the reopening plans under consideration for the 2020-21 school year.
  • We realize each student has unique learning needs. Each plan will offer opportunities to ensure each student receives what they need to succeed.
  • HSSD is committed to providing equitable resources and appropriate social, emotional and learning supports for each student.

Communication

• Communicating consistently, clearly and concisely with staff, families, and community partners. 
  • In addition to providing just-in-time updates on the district website, HSSD will continue to share information and opportunities for engagement via email and text message throughout the school reopening planning process in July and August.
  • Our spring digital learning surveys indicated 95% of parents who visited the HSSD website found the information to be a helpful resource.
  • For updates, we encourage stakeholders to routinely visit www.hssdschools.org/covid19.

Adaptability

• The HSSD Task Force is responsible for plans and protocols to reopen our schools.
  • We are prepared to adapt learning plans to an unpredictable community health environment throughout the year. 
  • We must be adaptable. The environment is changing and will continue to change; our planning and mindset regarding change need to be flexible as well.

Board of Education Policy 

• Honoring Board of Education Executive Limitations Policies.
  • Board of Education Vice President Garry Sievert is a participant on the Task Force, acting as a liaison.
  • Superintendent Damian LaCroix and administrative leaders have provided COVID-19 updates at each Board of Education meeting since March.
  • The next update will occur at the August 10 Board of Education meeting.
  • Board of Education policies and executive limitations reflect important values to inform actions.

Asymptomatic COVID-19

An individual infected with COVID-19 who does not exhibit symptoms during the course of infection.

Contact Tracing

A strategy used by health departments to prevent the spread of infectious disease. It involves identifying people who have an infectious disease and people who they came in contact with and working with them to interrupt disease spread.

Deep Cleaning

Cleaning of high-touch surfaces and classrooms daily.

High-Risk Individuals

Students or staff who have underlying conditions that may increase the severity of contracting COVID-19.

Risk Mitigation

Strategies used to lessen and slow the spread of infectious diseases such as adequate handwashing, self-care, and cough etiquette.

Social Distancing

This practice involves keeping a distance from people when practicable to avoid exposure to water droplets expelled during breathing or speaking.

Self-Quarantine

Staff and students experiencing symptoms, suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should stay home and contact their health provider for direction on when it is safe to return to HSSD facilities.

Synchronous/Asynchronous Learning

Synchronous: learning occurs in real time, in person, or remotely.
Asynchronous: learning occurs on a flexible schedule.

HSSD Website

• Visit the dedicated COVID-19 Response website for current updates at www.hssdschools.org/covid19.

Thoughtexchange

• More than 87,000 ratings of 1,900 comments were provided in our Thoughtexchange in response to the HSSD reopen plan first draft from July 2-12.

Video Messages

• Periodic video messages from Superintendent LaCroix will provide highlights of progress.

Parent and Student Focus Groups

• A parent focus group and two student focus groups (grades 5-8, and 9-12) met June 29, June 30, and July 28 to provide feedback on the planning process and plan content.

Surveys

• View June family and staff survey results here.
• Provide feedback and questions regarding the HSSD Reopening plan here.

Email and Text Messages 

• Families will receive email messages from the SchoolMessenger alert system.
• Opt in to receive text messages from HSSD by texting “Yes” to 68453.

Communications Archive

• View the latest update and the archive of communications regarding reopening HSSD schools.

• Wisconsin DPI Education Forward plan
• WI Department of Health COVID activity level dashboard
• Brown County Department of Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• HSSD 2020-21 Planning Survey from June 10-18
• Thoughtexchange ratings from July 2-12
• Student and Parent Focus Groups
• Input from local medical experts: Bellin, Prevea, Advocate Aurora
• Brown County superintendents and business leaders in the Greater Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Partners in Education

HSSD 2020-21 Planning Survey Results

Our HSSD 2020-21 Planning Survey indicated that 75% of parents and staff who responded would support having students attend schools if they are open. Further, fewer than 1% of parents and staff indicated they are not comfortable sending students to school.* 

While Plan A is our decision for younger students, Plan B is the starting point for Lineville Intermediate School, Bay View Middle School, and Bay Port High School for the start of the 2020-21 school year. See rationale in the Sample Student Schedules accordion below.

*We will provide a fully at-home digital option, Plan C, to accommodate any family or student who would prefer it.

View the survey report summary here.

ThoughtExchange Results

View the ThoughtExchange ratings from July 2-12. 

Share Feedback

Share your feedback regarding the second draft plan here.

Grades K-4

• All students attend in person five days per week.
• Once a month: Friday 
  • Student no school day - this is a change from previous plan drafts.
  • Continued deep cleaning and sanitizing (in addition to daily deep cleaning being done throughout the week)
  • Staff professional development and collaboration
  • September 25, October 16, November 6, December 11, February 12, March 19, April 5, May 7
• Meadowbrook 4th grade classes will attend an alternate site to better provide social distancing each day for all Meadowbrook students. Meadowbrook Principal Claudia Orr will provide ongoing updates directly to affected families.

Rationale

• We can more effectively socially distance students in classrooms and throughout the schools to have all day, every day attendance due to smaller class sizes at our lower grade levels.
• We acknowledge the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations that in person attendance at school supports the emotional health needs of our youngest students.
• We believe childcare for our youngest students represents a significant challenge for many of our families.
• We will provide a fully at-home digital learning option, Plan C, to accommodate any family or student who prefers it.

Elementary Weekly Schedule

Elementary Sample Daily Schedule

Grades 5-6: Lineville

• Lineville school hours will change to 7:55 a.m.-2:38 p.m. for the 2020-21 school year to accommodate bus fleet limitations.
• Students will attend school in-person in one of two groups, Monday and Wednesday (last names A-L) or Tuesday and Thursday (last names M-Z), with remote learning at home the other two days. For siblings whose last names may be different, requests to attend on the same daily schedule will be granted by the building principal. 
• Students will attend school in person every other Friday, based on their last name groups.
• On the days students are not attending school in-person, they will be engaged at home in scheduled and structured remote learning and problem solving activities that will be prepared by their teachers. Families will not be asked to provide instruction.

Rationale

• We cannot effectively form socially-distanced groups, based on Lineville class sizes and classroom space, without shifting to a Plan B model where students learn in person two days a week with alternating Fridays.
• Moving students throughout the school with safe distancing requires reducing the number of students in the building each day. 
• In the Lineville family survey, when parents were asked, “If Lineville reopens in a blended (Plan B) model to better accommodate social distancing, how likely are you to send your child to school?” Eighty percent responded Likely or Very Likely, an increase of seven percent over Plan A.
• We will provide a fully at-home digital learning option, Plan C, to accommodate any family or student who prefers it. 

Lineville Weekly Schedule

Lineville Sample Daily Schedule

Grades 7-8: Bay View

• Students will attend school in person in one of two groups, Monday and Wednesday (last names A-L) or Tuesday and Thursday (last names M-Z), with remote learning at home the other two days. For siblings whose last names may be different, requests to attend on the same daily schedule will be granted by the building principal. 
• Students will be expected to attend classes according to their daily schedule, whether in-person or remotely.
• Friday: online student advisory and intervention for students in need; staff collaboration and professional development.

Rationale

• We cannot effectively form groups, based on middle school and high school student schedules, compared to lower grade levels.
• Moving students throughout the school with safe distancing requires reducing the number of students in the building each day. 
• We will provide a fully at-home digital learning option, Plan C, to accommodate any family or student who prefers it. 

Bay View Weekly Schedule

Bay View Sample Daily Schedule

Grades 9-12: Bay Port

• Students will attend school in-person in one of two groups, Monday and Wednesday (last names A-L) or Tuesday and Thursday (last names M-Z), with remote learning at home the other two days according to the same schedule.
• Core academic courses and all electives will be offered in alternating three-week sessions.
• Class schedule will be changed to a modified block schedule for in-person and remote learning. Updated student schedules reflecting this change will be shared at an upcoming date.
• Students will be expected to attend classes according to their daily schedule, whether in-person or remotely.
• Students will be expected to complete independent learning activities, in addition to attending classes in person and remotely.
• Fridays will be reserved for students to attend school in-person or remotely and participate in labs, personal fitness, interest-based learning, clubs/organization meetings, leadership activities, course collaboration learning activities, student services sessions, or personalized 1:1 conferencing connection with course teachers. Additionally, students can use Fridays to continue independent learning for each course. Student attendance in-person is not required on Fridays.

Rationale

• We cannot effectively form groups, based on middle school and high school student schedules, compared to lower grade levels.
• Moving students throughout the school with safe distancing requires reducing the number of students in the building each day. 
• We will provide a fully at-home digital learning option, Plan C, to accommodate any family or student who prefers it. 

Bay Port Weekly Schedule

Bay Port Sample Daily Schedule

4K

• Students will attend school half days in person Monday-Thursday.
• Fridays are off.
• We will provide either a blended or fully at-home remote learning option to accommodate any family or student who prefers it.
  • For 4K students, these experiences would be available at any time, rather than logging on for live classes.
  • Please contact the 4K community site at which your child registered or HSSD 4K Coordinator Jennifer Trudell for details.
  • Visit the HSSD 4K webpage for all 4K information.

• HSSD is partnering with Florida Virtual, an accredited online content provider vetted through the Wisconsin ESchool Network.
• HSSD teachers will facilitate the online learning experience using Florida Virtual online content.
• Students will complete their course work at a time that works best for their family schedule, (i.e. assuming all work is completed by due dates).
• All live online sessions and teacher feedback will be scheduled during regular school hours. While flexibility will be the norm, it is expected that students will be available during these scheduled online sessions.
• A quarterly commitment is required for this option.  

• Online learning will occur during normal school hours, through the student's normal schedule with assigned teacher.
• Students will have flexibility to complete their course work at a time that works best for their family schedule, (i.e. assuming all work is completed by due dates).
  All live online sessions and teacher feedback will be scheduled during regular school hours. While flexibility will be the norm, it is expected that students will be available during these scheduled online sessions.  

• A remote learning option will be available for families who prefer to remain at home and not participate with in-person learning for the 2020-21 school year. The 4K teacher will provide learning activities for students to participate in their learning while at home. 
• The learning activities will take approximately one hour per day. This time estimate is a combination of computer-based and hands-on learning activities. 
• Please contact the 4K community site at which your child registered or HSSD 4K Coordinator Jennifer Trudell for details.

Physical Barriers 

• Plexiglass barriers in public spaces where appropriate

Floor Adhesives

• Separation markings in high-traffic areas

Safety Signage

• Hand hygiene
• Protective measures
• Symptoms awareness

Drinking Water

• Bottle filling only

Space for Social Distancing

• Removal of some furniture to open up spaces
• Reconfiguring learning spaces

Isolation Room

• Identification of space and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needs

Face Coverings

• Face coverings that cover the nose and mouth will be required for all HSSD students grades K-12, staff, and visitors.
• Exemptions based on medical needs will be allowed on a case-by-base basis.
• A face covering will be provided to students, staff, and visitors in the event that one is needed.
• Training will be provided for students and staff regarding proper wear and care of face coverings.

Modified Building Layouts

• Relocate classrooms within buildings to improve social distancing
• Staggered use of communal spaces (i.e. lunchrooms, gyms, etc.)

Health Screening

• Students and staff will use a district-provided mobile app for daily self-screening prior to entering school buildings.
• Training and support for the app-based self-screening will be forthcoming.
• Protocol for symptom checks at school and response to positive COVID tests among students and staff is in development with guidance from Brown County Health.

Shared Objects

• Individual supplies - updated school supply lists in development
• Minimize sharing of objects

Hand Hygiene

• Teach and reinforce; signage placement 

Daily Deep Cleaning

• High-touch surfaces cleaned throughout the day and nightly (i.e. door handles, light switches, desktops, tabletops, counters, chair handles, sinks, dispensers, handrails, etc.).
• All classrooms will have disinfecting supplies (i.e. disinfectant sprays, wipes, paper towels, etc.) readily available for use throughout the day as needed.
• Classroom surfaces will be disinfected when transitions occur and nightly.
• Bathrooms will be disinfected throughout the day and nightly.

Additional Health and Safety Precautions

• Hand sanitizer stations will be available in every classroom and throughout buildings.
• Additional handwashing stations will be available where needed.
• One-way hallways will be utilized where appropriate.
• Excess furniture will be removed from classrooms and stored.
• Social distancing, handwashing, and face covering reminders will be placed throughout schools to reinforce healthy practices.
• Face coverings will be available for individuals who need them.

Visitors

• Limit non-essential visitors and visits. All visitors will be required to wear face coverings.

Cohorts

• Move elementary classrooms as static groups.
• Limit interaction outside of classroom environment.

Entrances and Exits

• Regulate access and directional flow.

Field Trips & Gatherings 

• Limit and monitor conditions before final approval for trips and any large school events.

Staffing

• Staff may be reassigned as needed to cover daily operational needs prioritizing student learning and safety. 

High-Risk Staff and Students

• Individuals should consider the risk of in-person learning if they have an underlying condition that may increase the likelihood severity of contracting COVID-19.
• Families who have high-risk students should contact their building principal to discuss questions and options related to their safety. Staff who consider themselves high-risk should contact their building principal/department supervisor or the Organizational Development team for an individual consultation.

COVID-19 Points of Contact

• School: Principal
• Student Health: Jennie Garceau, Executive Director of Student Services
• Staff: Elisia Lewis, Director of Human Resources 

Bus Capacity 

• Face coverings will be required for students riding the bus.
• One student per seat.
• Students from the same household may sit together.
• Seating arrangements that best reflect current distance guidelines relative to other Brown County School Districts.
• Face coverings will be required for students riding the bus.

Health and Safety 

• Increased daily and weekly cleaning protocols.

Special Requests

• Special bussing requests including daily service to and from day care providers will be granted. Adjustments to Lineville school hours will provide bus fleet flexibility to accomplish this goal.

Students with Special Needs

• Individual Educational Plans (IEP) - driven accommodations with a commitment to finding solutions for all families. 

Self-Transport

• HSSD survey for families planning to self-transport to increase accuracy of routes and staffing.

Drop Off/Pick Up Zones

• Bus and parent drop off and pick up zones may need to be modified to accommodate changes. 
• Evaluating slight school day start and end time changes to support new bussing routes and manage traffic flow.

Elementary & Lineville 

• Breakfast will be delivered to the classroom.
• Lunch will be served in the cafeteria.

Bay View

• Breakfast will be grab-and-go and eating in the classroom.
• Lunch will be served in the cafeteria by house.

Bay Port

• Breakfast and lunch will be serviced in the cafeteria and coffee shop.

Miscellaneous

• Families will have the option to sign up for breakfast and lunches in a drive-through once-weekly pick up.
• Pick up locations and times
  • Bay View 3-4:30 p.m. Fridays
  • Meadowbrook 4-5:30 p.m. Fridays
• Lunch line and lunch seating will be socially distanced.
• Hot and cold entrees along with fresh fruits and vegetables will be bowled, bagged, and boxed. 
• Menus will be listed on our website. 
• Free and Reduced Meal Applications will be available.

Environments

• Access to learning spaces will be reconfigured to meet social distancing guidelines while meeting the needs of individual students.

Case Loads

• Staff or schedules may be redesigned to provide increased access to individualized learning to meet IEP, 504, and individual learning plans.

Travel

• Schedules will be configured to limit travel while providing services to students.

Resources

• May require additional resources to support learning needs of students.

Communication

• Ongoing and systematic communication to staff and families.

Moving Among Plans A, B, C

• If/as there is a need to move among plans, accommodations will be made for safe delivery of services utilizing the student IEP and 504 teams.

Reboarding

• Focus on social and emotional health during the first week back for students and staff.

Climate and Culture

• Work to introduce students to new look and feel of school and classrooms before school starts, creating welcoming environments for learning.

Universal Instruction

• Leverage existing curricular resources such as Leader in Me, Panorama, Zones of Regulation, and Advisory periods
• Daily opportunities for wellness checks and student-to- student and student-to-adult relationship building.

Resources

• May require additional resources to support new or different materials and systems.

Wellness

• Focus on staff wellness program and communicate Employee Assistance Program options.

Moving Among Plans A, B, C

• Needs will likely change if/as instructional models change in response to school or community conditions. At these points, additional SEL resources and strategies will be implemented for staff and students.

WIAA Guidance

• On July 29 the FRCC announced plans for conference-only competition for fall sports in response to recent WIAA guidance. Cross country, golf, swimming and tennis seasons will begin September 1. Football, volleyball, and soccer seasons will begin September 7. Read the full statement from the FRCC here.
• Further details regarding Bay View Athletics are forthcoming.

Clubs and Activities 

• Assuming school is able to resume in a traditional classroom learning environment, clubs and activities will take place with social distancing and safety measures in place.

Communication

• Ongoing and systemic communication to participants and advisors.

Schedule Changes

• Activities and events may be postponed or adjusted to meet health guidelines and/or current conditions in schools or the community. 
• For the most updated Athletic Calendar information, visit www.bayport.hssdschools.org/athletics.

When will class placements be communicated?

After online program requests have been received and district-wide staffing decisions have been finalized, Principals will communicate classroom placements for the upcoming school year. Because of this, we anticipate a delay in the regular timeline of this communication. Our intention is to provide an update by Friday, August 21.

Will families be notified if there are students or staff who have tested positive for COVID-19?

HSSD is working with other Brown County School Districts, Brown County Health Department, and health care providers to develop a consistent, county-wide communication and classroom/ school/district closure protocol in the event of COVID-19 spread. We will provide updates as they become available.

How will recess, breakfast, and lunch work?

Recess will still take place with accommodations for social distancing. Breakfast is available and will be served in classrooms. Lunch schedules will be adjusted to allow for smaller groups and social distancing. Lunch will be served in the regular serving areas of each school.

Will students be able to have breaks throughout the day from their face coverings?

In addition to lunch, we plan to make reasonable and safe accommodations for face covering breaks for students throughout the day in accordance with guidelines from Brown County Health and our local health care partners.

What if my question is not addressed in this document?

Contact your building Principal.

When will house placements be communicated?

After online program requests have been received and district-wide staffing decisions have been finalized, Principals will communicate house placements for the upcoming school year. Because of this, we anticipate a delay in the regular timeline of this communication. Our intention is to provide an update by Friday, August 21.

Will families be notified if there are students or staff who have tested positive for COVID-19?

HSSD is working with other Brown County School Districts, Brown County Health Department and local health care providers to develop a consistent, county-wide communication and classroom/school/district closure protocol in the event of COVID-19 spread. We will provide updates as they become available.

What are child care options for Lineville students?

We are working on child care options for students on days when they are not attending school in person. Should you have a specific request, please contact the Lineville main office. 

Will electives such as choir and band be offered?

Yes. Activities during in-person days for elective courses may be modified to meet safety requirements, but we intend to offer our full slate of electives for students.

Will students be able to have breaks throughout the day from their face coverings?

In addition to lunch, we plan to make reasonable and safe accommodations for face covering breaks for students throughout the day in accordance with guidelines from Brown County Health and our local health care partners.

What if my question is not addressed in this document?

Contact Lineville Principal Phil Hart.

Will electives such as choir and band be offered?

Yes. Activities during in-person days for elective courses may be modified to meet safety requirements, but we intend to offer our full slate of electives for students.

Will students be able to have breaks throughout the day from their face coverings?

In addition to lunch, we do plan to make reasonable and safe accommodations for face covering breaks for students throughout the day in accordance with guidelines from Brown County Health and our local health care partners.

Will families be notified if there are students or staff who have tested positive for COVID-19?

HSSD is working with other Brown County School Districts, Brown County Health Department and local health care providers to develop a consistent, county-wide communication and classroom/school/district closure protocol in the event of COVID-19 spread. We will provide updates as they become available.

What if my question is not addressed in this document?

Contact Bay View Principal Steve Meyers.

Will any elective courses be cancelled?

No. Activities during in-person days for elective courses may be modified to meet safety requirements, but we intend to offer our full slate of electives for students.

Will families be notified if there are students or staff who have tested positive for COVID-19?

HSSD is working with other Brown County School Districts, Brown County Health Department and local health care providers to develop a consistent, county-wide communication and classroom/school/district closure protocol in the event of COVID-19 spread. We will provide updates as they become available.

What about AP/IB class schedules?

Students in AP and IB courses will attend those classes in both A/B sessions of the block schedule, with one week in between sessions. 

Will students be able to have breaks throughout the day from their face coverings?

In addition to lunch, we plan to make reasonable and safe accommodations for face covering breaks for students throughout the day in accordance with guidelines from Brown County Health and our local health care partners.

Will students be required to attend in-person during their Independent Learning blocks on in-person days?

Juniors and seniors will be allowed to leave campus during Independent Learning blocks. 

What if my question is not addressed in this document?

Contact Bay Port Principal Mike Frieder.