Instructional Plan 2020-2021In response to COVID-19

Return to SchoolBotetourt County Public Schools will provide new instruction in all

courses and programs in the 2020-2021 academic school year. The

school division will operate on a schedule that abides by the Phase

Guidance for Virginia Schools. The programmatic recommendations

will be followed to ensure the health and safety of all students and staff.

The return to school plan has been designed to provide in-person and

remote learning opportunities for all students. Students may opt to

access full remote learning at any time. The plan includes transition to

a full in-person schedule, provided the schedule can be supported by

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the Virginia

Department of Health (VDH), and the Virginia Department of

Education (VDOE).

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Instructional Plan Necessary Components● Operational Infrastructure to Support Learning

● New Instruction for All Students

● Identification of Instructional Gaps and Student Needs

● Remote Learning

Operational Infrastructure to Support Learning

School Schedules

Hybrid

● Students receive instruction and learn in-person and remotely.

● Group A (Monday/Thursday) & Group B (Tuesday/Friday)

● Internet access is not required.

Remote

● Students receive instruction and learn outside of the school building.

● Internet access is strongly recommended.

Family Cohorts

● Students in the same household will be scheduled in the same cohort

(group).

Schedule Changes

● Students may participate in 100% remote learning at any time.

● Students will only be able to transition from 100% remote learning to

the hybrid schedule at the beginning of second semester.

Proposed BCPS Calendar 2020-2021

TransitionsBCPS will return to full in-person learning as soon as it is safe to do so.

BCPS will transition to in-person learning on Wednesdays in October and full in-person learning in January, if permitted

by the CDC, the VDH, and the VDOE.

Wednesday in-person

learning begins on an

A/B schedule

Full in-person

learning begins

Return to School Plan OptionsOption 1

Remote learning for all student until it is safe to return to in-person learning.

Option 2

All student receive in-person instruction two days per week and remote learning three days per week.

Transportation is provided for in-person instruction with one student per seat and required face coverings. Students from the same

household may be assigned to the same seat.

Option 3

Preschool through second grade receives four days per week of in-person instruction and remote learning one day.

Grades 3-12 receive in-person instruction two days per week and remote learning three days per week.

Preschool through second grade receives five days of in-person instruction beginning on the first day of the second marking period.

Beginning on the first Wednesday of the second marking period, grades 3-12 will continue with the hybrid schedule and alternate

Wednesdays in-person as designated on the A/B calendar.

Transportation is provided; however, parents are asked to transport students to the greatest extent possible.

Technology

Virtual Virginia (VVA)

● A learning management system platform (Canvas)

● Digital course content K-12 (lessons, assignments, learning resources)

● Support for teachers, students, and parents/guardians

Chromebooks

● Distribute to students in grades 5 - 12

● Check-out available for students in grades 3 - 4 who do not have a device at

home

Technology Fee (JN-BR3)

● Revision recommended for Policy JN-BR3 to include all schools for those

students who will receive a Chromebook ($25.00 insurance fee)

Internet Access

● Available at any BCPS school

● A list of community locations providing internet access will be available on

the division website

Processes & Systems

Grading

● BCPS will provide new instruction to students in-person and remotely

during the 2020-2021 academic school year.

● All assignments will be evaluated using the BCPS grading scale.

Attendance

● Student attendance will be taken on in-person learning days.

● Students will be marked present on remote learning days.

Physical Distancing

● 6 foot separation will be maintained to the greatest extent possible.

● Mixing classes/groups of students will be minimized.

● Gathering limits will be no more than 250 with physical distancing.

Face Coverings

● Cloth face coverings will be required of K-12 staff and students when at least

6 feet physical distancing cannot be maintained.

● Students not abiding by policy may be required to learn remotely.

Processes & Systems (continued)

Daily Health

Screenings

● All BCPS staff and students will be required to monitor and self-screen for

symptoms of COVID-19 before reporting to school or worksite each day.

● Temperature checks of students will conducted at each school daily.

Hygiene

● It is expected that staff and students frequently wash their hands and use

hand sanitizer, follow coughing and sneezing etiquette, and respect physical

distancing requirements.

Sick Policy

● Any staff or student who answers YES to any of the questions on the BCPS

Daily Screening for COVID-19 log must stay at home and follow absence

reporting procedures.

COVID-19 Exposure

● Staff/students who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms will not be permitted to

stay on school property and may have to report to their healthcare provider.

● Consultation with the local health department will occur to determine the

appropriate action steps required.

Processes & Systems (continued)

Meal Service

● Meals may be served in the cafeteria or in the classroom following standards

set forth by the VDOE School Nutrition Program.

● Physical distancing of 6 feet is required in the serving line, while seated at

the tables in the cafeteria, or in the classroom.

Meal Service and

Remote Learners

● Students who elect 100% remote learning and qualify for free or reduced

lunch will be provided the opportunity to order meals each week using the

online system.

Student Materials

● Students will be asked to keep all materials in a bag or plastic container.

● Students will not be permitted to share supplies and materials.

Signage

● Age appropriate CDC signs and messaging will be posted in high traffic

areas throughout each school.

Processes & Systems (continued)

Visitors

● Visitors may enter school property only as permitted by the BCPS Pandemic

Response Plan.

● All visitors will be screened using the BCPS COVID-19 Health Screening

form.

● Parents or other visitors will not be permitted to enter school cafeterias or

classrooms to deliver food or to eat lunch at school with their children.

● Schools may modify the physical layout of the classrooms or common

spaces in order to ensure physical distancing is maintained.

● Furniture will be arranged to ensure physical distancing.

● Travel patterns will be routed to promote physical distancing.

● Nonessential classrooms or school areas will be restricted.

● Shared spaces will not be used unless the area can be cleaned between

student groups (i.e. playground, cafeteria, library, gym).

Physical School

Modifications

Athletics and Extracurricular Activities

Athletics

● Athletic activities will be limited to skill building drills or conditioning that

allows a minimum of 10 feet physical distancing, no shared equipment, and

adherence to group size limitations.

● Coaches will perform all cleaning and disinfecting of equipment.

● Daily health screenings will be required for staff and student athletes.

● Changes to athletic activity will occur based on guidance from the CDC,

VDH, VHSL, and the VDOE.

Field Trips

● The BCPS Pandemic Response Plan will be followed regarding field trip

approvals.

● Non-essential field trips may be limited or denied.

● All gatherings must adhere to the current guidance outlined by the CDC,

VDH, and VDOE.

● All gatherings must be approved by the school principal.

Clubs and After School

Activities

Transportation

Parents● Parents will be asked to transport students to the greatest extent possible.

Family Cohorts

● Students from the same household will be assigned to the same group.

● Students from the same household may be assigned to the same seat.

Physical Distancing

● Students will be required to wear a face covering at all times on the bus.

● Each student will be assigned to a single seat.

● Students will enter the bus and fill seats from the back to the front.

● Students will exit the bus from the front to the back.

Ventilation

● Weather permitting, windows will remain slightly open to increase fresh air

circulation.

Transportation (continued)

Educational Programs

● Transportation will be provided to the community colleges, to the

Governor’s Schools, and other specialized programs.

After School Programs

● If possible, transportation will continue to be provided to child care facilities

within each school’s attendance zone.

Cleaning Protocols

● Vehicles will be cleaned and disinfected between each route daily.

● Vehicles will be cleaned and disinfected at the conclusion of each day.

● Vehicles will be sprayed with electrostatic equipment using an EPA

registered disinfectant weekly.

● Vehicles will be treated with BioProtect surface treatment every 90 days.

● Drivers and aides will be trained and provided with BCPS issued personal

protective equipment (PPE).

Mitigation Strategies

Classrooms

● Desks and high touch surfaces will be disinfected between each class

exchange and prior to a new group of students entering the room.

● Classroom teachers will have access to disinfecting supplies.

School Building

● Custodial staff will disinfect populated areas and high touch surfaces each

evening with EPA approved products.

● Electrostatic spraying will occur once a week and a BioProtect surface

treatment will be used every 90 days.

High Touch Surfaces

● High touch surfaces will be disinfected by staff throughout the day as

individuals use common areas.

School Equipment

● Classroom teachers will disinfect any equipment, supplies, or materials used

by a student or groups of students prior to use by a different student or

another group of students.

Mitigation Strategies (continued)

Hand Sanitizer and

Handwashing Stations

● Soap, hand dryers, and paper towels will be available in restrooms in each

building.

● Hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout each school and on

athletic fields.

Ventilation Systems

● Airflow systems and air handlers will be checked before and during facility

occupation.

● HVAC filters will be changed regularly.

Water Systems

● All water systems will be checked and flushed prior to staff and students

returning to school.

● Only water bottle fill stations will be available.

● Shared hydration systems will not be utilized during any athletic activity.

Facility Use

● Facility use will only be approved if permitted by the BCPS Pandemic

Response Plan.

● All gatherings must adhere to the limits and mitigation requirements of the

current Executive Order.

CommunicationDivision Level

A consistent vocabulary will be

used to ensure understanding of

protocols and procedures.

Regular communication with

local/regional health officials, local

policy makers, and the VDOE will

occur.

Updates and announcements will

be provided through School

Messenger, the BCPS website, and

social media.

School Level

School officials will provide regular

communication about protocols

and procedures in their school.

School officials will provide regular

communication to parents using

School Messenger, the school

website, and social media.

Teachers will communicate

regularly with students and parents

in-person and using virtual,

electronic, and phone connections.

Return to School

The instructional and health plans

and other helpful resources can be

found through the Return to School

tab on the BCPS website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

will be updated regularly and can

be found through the Return to

School tab.

Questions or feedback regarding

the return to school can be directed

to the School Board Office.

Remote Learning

Remote learning for all students may be required to provide continuity of learning during times of mandatory school closure.● Curriculum will be adjusted and adapted to be delivered online using Virtual Virginia and Canvas.

● Emphasis will continue to be placed on the BCPS C-Skills (critical thinking, creativity, communication,

collaboration, conviction, and community).

● Research, exploration, project-based learning, journals, practice logs, video lessons and demonstrations are

examples of remote learning activities.

● Teachers will use virtual tools for instruction and student connections.

● Teachers will communicate weekly with students by hosting office hours for individuals or student groups

through virtual or phone meetings.

● A list of community internet access points will be provided for students who do not have internet access.

Additional accommodations will be made through learning packets and phone connections.

● Students will be expected to attend to their learning goals and give their best effort.

Closing RemarksQuestions from the School Board