I wish to thank everyone that has helped contribute to this reentry plan. Over the past months I have held conversations with teachers, service personnel, parents and health care workers about what school will look like this fall. In creating our plan, we have relied upon guidance from our Board of Education, our Governor, the Doddridge County Health Department, the State School Superintendent and the CDC. Our Central Office staff has discussed many contingencies and plans. The resulting plan balances the needs of our students, employees and the community; but primarily it favors our students – the reason our schools exist. Our students benefit greatly by being in school and receiving a quality education from professional teachers. We are taking great care to provide the maximum amount of protection for our students and our staff while also ensuring our students receive the education they need. This includes having hand sanitizer and face coverings available for our students, limiting access to our schools to reduce the chance of infection and practicing social distancing to the extent possible.
Our planning for the opening of schools this year has been like no other year. We have looked at each moment students are in our care; from the moment they step on the school bus in the morning until they are returned in the evening. We have examined how high school and middle school students change classes and how they move throughout the building. We have looked at how to keep our pre-k and elementary school students safe with their classmates throughout the day. We have looked at lunch time, band and choir time, and recess. We have prepared to keep your children and our teachers safe.
We have also upgraded our facilities with safety in mind. We will have sensors that will identify students and staff with high temperatures. We are also upgrading our HVAC to install air purification modules that will help to prevent the coronavirus from circulating through the air ducts. We are also changing our visitation policy by greatly limiting who comes into our buildings while students are present. We believe that the best way to keep our students safe is to provide a space that has limited possibility of exposure to the virus.
We will be following the protocols as laid down by the West Virginia Department of Education and by the Doddridge County Health Department. We are training our teachers, food service personnel, custodians and bus drivers to make sure they are aware of proper hygiene and safety procedures.
A few students have opted to continue their education virtually. This will work best for those families with great, high speed, internet. If you do not have good internet service, we are placing Wi-Fi transmitters at a few county locations for our student’s use. Our students can login to the internet to download their work and take it home on their device.
We, of course, would love to see each student at school. However, we understand parents and students may prefer remote learning during this pandemic. We respect parents’ decisions and will do our best to provide a quality education to each student. More information regarding remote learning, including the locations to download materials will soon be available on our website: dcschools.us
The importance of reopening the schools should not be overlooked. We must maintain progress with our students, otherwise they will fall behind. Getting back to their grade level will be more and more difficult the longer they are away from school. For many students being in school is a return to much needed normalcy. A set routine of getting out of bed, riding the bus and coming to school can provide structure. Young people need that structure to prepare for the world after school. Students also need to learn the skills to prepare themselves for job opportunities after high school.
We are so very excited about the return of students to our buildings. As educators we look forward to these new beginnings each year. This year our preparations not only included making sure our students have all of the supplies they need; but also making sure that we can care for their safety. Each of your children have a special place in our school system. We are prepared to welcome them.
Our mission statement at Doddridge County Schools is “Now is the Time: United to Make a Difference.” Being united is easy when things are going very well. But now, more than ever, we need to stand together for our children.
Adam L. Cheeseman,
Superintendent, Doddridge County Schools
Section II — Student Re-Entry Schedule
The first day for students will be Tuesday, September 8, 2020. In order for a more effective transition back to the school environment and to have time to teach and acclimate everyone to new protocols and processes, we will stagger re-entry as follows:
Tuesday, September 8th Wednesday, September 9th Thursday, September 10th Friday, September 11th Monday, September 14th Tuesday, September 15th Wednesday, September 16th Friday, September 18th Friday, October 2nd
Friday, October 16th
Monday, November 2nd Tuesday, November 3rd Wednesday, November 11th Monday, November 23rd & 24th Wednesday, November 25th Thursday, November 26th Friday, November 27th
Grades Kindergarten, 5 and 9 will report for a full day Grades 1, 2, 6 and 10 will report for a full day Grades 3, 7, and 11 will report for a full day
Grades 4, 8 and 12 will report for a full day
All students Kindergarten – 12th and Pre K Group A will report for a full day All students Kindergarten – 12th and Pre K Group B will report for a full day All Students report for a full day of instruction
Non Traditional Instruction Day for Deep Cleaning
Non Traditional Instruction Day for Deep Cleaning and Faculty Senate Non Traditional Instruction Day for Deep Cleaning
Non Traditional Instruction Day for Deep Cleaning
Election Day – No School for students
Veteran’s Day – No School for students Non Traditional Instruction Days
OS Day – No school for staff or students Thanksgiving – No School for students OS Day – No school for staff or students
Throughout this process, Doddridge County Schools will monitor the effectiveness of the protocols and processes developed and implemented. These plans are subject to revisions as warranted.
During the 2020-20201 school year, Doddridge County Schools will work closely with the Governor’s Office and the WVDE to follow all guidelines set forth by these two entities, including, but not limited to closing schools in our district if necessary. Additionally, working in collaboration with the Doddridge County Health Department, Doddridge County Schools may close classrooms, grade levels, or schools as appropriate, when directed.
Section III — Instructional Options
Traditional In Person Instruction
Doddridge County will make decisions that best meet the needs of our students. Mr. Cheeseman, working with the Board of Education and stakeholders will decide the structure of the school schedule. Students must be engaged in learning five days a week
Virtual Instruction
Doddridge County Schools can establish their own virtual school program or can partner with the WVDE for virtual offerings.
Consideration will need to be given to internet access and available technology.
Remote Learning – Governor’s Orders Only
Doddridge County Schools must be prepared to implement full remote learning should it be required by the Governor. Full remote plans require students to complete school assignments and engage remotely five days a week. This will require the teacher and students to communicate regularly and develop a process for monitoring, reviewing and/or grading of student engagement activities.
SECTION V: Entry Procedures/Health Checks
• Studentswillbeassignedseatsontheschoolbuslimitingthenumberofstudentstonomorethantwoper seat.Studentslivingin the same household may be permitted to sit three to a seat, when possible.
• Students’ temperatures will be taken at the entry of the school building by a Thermal Scanner System, which can perform large-area detection, or by a designated staff member responsible for screening using a district issued touchless thermometer.
• Studentswillreportdirectlytotheirhomeroom/1st periodclassuponarrivalatschool.
• Students will be provided breakfast in the classroom.
• Lunch will be provided in the classroom at DCES and DCMS
• Lunch will be provided in the cafeteria at 50% maximum threshold including: spaced serving lines (marked on floors),
spaced seating and adequate length of meal times for staggered meal delivery at DCHS.
• Bottles of water will be provided, and the use of water fountains are prohibited.
SECTION IV: DODDRIDGE REENTRY OPTION DEFINITIONS
SECTION VII: Face Coverings
According to national and local health experts, face coverings significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19 by preventing people from contracting and transmitting the disease. It is important to note, that all guidance (locally and nationally) strongly recommends the use of face coverings. The science continues to support the same asthese items reduce airdroplet sproduced when people speak, sing, yell, cough and sneeze. This plan reinforces the importance of face coverings when it is possible and when it does not aggravate existing health conditions. Not all students can use these because of their age or developmental constraints. However, the West Virginia Department of Education has strongly encouraged schools and counties to include face coverings as part of their health and safety protocols. This is especially important whe n children are incongregant settings, unable to exercise six feet of social distancing and/or when there are active cases of COVID-19 in the school community.
Employees,Visitors, and VendorsStudents Are Required to Wear a Face Coveringas Follows:
• Face coverings are required of all staff when they cannot provide instruction in a socially distanced manner and in all hallways and congregate areas.
• Students grades PK and above are required to wear face coverings unless medically waived when outside of their core classroom group or in congregate areas.
• Students in middle and high school are required to wear a face covering incongregant areas and in classrooms if their core groups and/or socially distancing cannot be maintained.
• Face coverings/shields are required for bus drivers any time children are entering or exiting the bus
• Face covering may be required for all staff and students on the bus if six feet social distancing is impractical on the school bus. (Exceptions may be made
for special needs students.)
• Students may provide their own covering or one will be provided to them.
• Any student who cannot wear a face covering duetoa medical condition, including those with respiratory issues that impede breathing, a mental health condition, or
disability, and students who would be unable to remove a mask without assistance are not require to wear face coverings, but should wear a face shield when at all possible. Individuals who are communicating or seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing impaired or who has another disability, where the ability to see themouth is essential to communication, are not required to wear a mask; however, individuals shouldc onsider using another type of face covering such as a plastic face shield.
• Visitors will be required to wear face coverings at all times.