August 21, 2020
Dear Families:
As you are aware, our District was one of the first in the region to develop, approve, and submit a plan for a full return to the 2020-2021 school year. Our District was optimistic that, with precautions, we could welcome back our entire student body. We were eager and excited to get our students back to where we know they perform and thrive best - in school. As time passed through the summer, and as we worked through several iterations of our Health and Safety Plan, we again remained confident that conditions would improve and allow us to bring students back to the physical school setting. We then started receiving numerous communications, recommendations, and mandates from the Department of Health and/or the Department of Education regarding the reopening. The District had to quickly change plans to align with the Commonwealth’s new expectations. As a result, the District approved our revised reopening plan on August 18, 2020.
The basic framework for the reopening of schools is as follows:
- K-5 students
- Will attend Monday - Friday
- IDEAL (asynchronous) and synchronous learning opportunities will be in place for those families who selected distance learning.
- Grade 6 students
- Will attend 4 days a week.
- Wednesdays will be 100% remote learning.
- Grade 7-12
- Will operate under the hybrid (2 days in-person, 3 days remote learning) model.
- Special Needs Students
- Can attend up to 5 days a week.
- Autistic and Life Skills Support will be 5-days a week.
- Learning/Emotional Support students in grades K-5 will be five days a week.
- Learning/Emotional Support students in grades 6-12 will follow their cohort’s schedule.
I realize you may have many questions. Please visit the FAQ page on our website for the answers to many of the questions or concerns you might have, and if you do not find the answer you are looking for, please reach out to your child’s principal. Our goal is to keep you as informed as possible in an ever-changing educational landscape. Please anticipate shifts in our operations as conditions continue to change in our schools and our community.
As of today, Indiana County is in the “moderate” community spread designation, according to the Department of Health. This designation allows us to operate by ensuring six feet of social distancing, in masks, as well as utilizing a hybrid and/or remote learning approach where necessary. Please take the time to review the Department of Education’s recommendations on determining instructional models during the pandemic for schools. As you can see, we will be required to adhere to the advice, guidance, and directives issued to us by the DOE and DOH. We will all need to work together to navigate these challenges in this ever-changing environment.
Below are some of the details about how operations on school property will be handled moving forward.
- Staff and students are required to self-screen each day in the morning as well as in the evening. Everyone’s cooperation is required to make sure our plan is successful. Click here to visit our website that we dedicated to our reopening. On the site, you will find a self-symptom screener we created. Please use this to track your progress.
- All students and staff members are required to wear face coverings at all times on school grounds unless you are eating or if a pre-arranged, ten (10) minute mask break has been scheduled.
- All buildings have been readied for our student’s return, including HVAC system review, deep cleaning and sanitizing, space decluttering, and building signage to help promote a safe and healthy environment.
- Remember to take care of yourself with good hygiene and take care of others by wearing your face covering and maintaining at least six feet of physical distance between yourself and others when possible.
In closing, all of the District is excitedly looking forward to seeing our students back in our schools and online. I will continue to communicate with you in this ever-changing environment. Thank you for your kindness, patience, and cooperation. Additionally, you should expect a variety of correspondences from your child’s principal regarding the reopening of school. Feel free to contact them if you have any additional questions.
Respectfully,
Mr. Michael J. Vuckovich
IASD Superintendent