Teaneck Public School District Phase II Re-entry to School Plan
2020-2021

Dr. Christopher Irving, Superintendent October 14, 2020

The Road Back: NJDOE Guidelines

• The NJ Department of Education (NJDOE) convened approximately 50 education and community organizations, met with over 300 superintendents, and surveyed nearly 300,000 parents/guardians to inform the development of the reopening plan
• The NJDOE Plan presents guidance to NJ Districts related to four key functional areas:

– Conditions for Learning – Leadership and Planning – Policy and Funding
– Continuity of Learning https://www.nj.gov/education/reopening/NJDOETheRoadBack.pdf

NJDOE Requirements

The guidance describes several health and safety standards to be prioritized in school reopening:

Social distancing: Schools and districts must allow for social distancing within the classroom. This can be achieved by ensuring students are seated at least six feet apart. If schools are not able to maintain this physical distance, additional modifications should be considered. These include physical barriers between desks and turning desks to face the same direction (rather than facing each other)or having students sit on only one side of a table and spaced apart.

Face coverings: School staff and visitors are required to wear face coverings unless doing so would inhibit the individual’s health or the individual is under two years of age. Students are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings and are required to do so when social distancing cannot be maintained, unless doing so would inhibit the student’s health. It is necessary to acknowledge that enforcing the use of face coverings may be impractical for young children or certain individuals with disabilities.

NJDOE Requirements

The guidance describes several health and safety standards to be prioritized in school reopening:

Limited capacity: It is recommended that students and staff be seated at least six feet apart in class when practicable. When weather allows, windows should be opened to allow for greater air circulation.

Cleaning/disinfecting:Procedures must be implemented by each school district for the sanitization of school buildings and school buses. Increased handwashing measures are also important for students and staff.

NJDOE Requirements

Other provisions in the guidance include:

1. Cafeteria directors should consider staggering meal times to allow for social distancing; discontinuing self-serve or buffet lines; having students eat meals outside or in their classrooms; and requiring staff to disinfect eating areas between groups.
2. Recess should also be held in staggered shifts, with efforts to promote social distancing and hygiene protocols.
3. Cohorting: Schools may wish to identify small groups of students and keep them together (cohorting) to ensure that student and staff groupings are as static as possible, thereby limiting exposure to large groups of students.
4. School bus operators should encourage social distancing. CDC guidelines recommend seating on a school bus such that there is one student seated per row, skipping a row between each child, if possible. Barriers separating rows of bus seats may also be considered. If social distancing is not feasible, face coverings must be worn by students who are able to do so. Increased ventilation (i.e. opening windows) is also recommended in the guidelines.

NJ’s Multi-Stage Plan

Stage 1: From maximum restrictions to some relaxed restrictions

Stages 2 & 3: Additional Activities with Significant Safe-Guarding

Stage 4: Back to “New Normal”

Teaneck Public Schools

Stage 1: All Virtual/Remote Learning

Stages 2 & 3: Hybrid/Blended Learning Model

Stage 4: In-school Full-time

Multi-Stage Approach

Central Office Operations

• Central Office staff have been working from home and in-person on a rotation basis since March 2020
• Effective 10/12/2020 all Central Office Administrative staff will resume operations, per the Superintendent’s rotation schedule, at our new district office: 651 Teaneck Rd. Staff who are not in the building are working remotely.
• Members of the public can now visit the new district office via APPOINTMENT ONLY to conduct/discuss district business.
• Maintaining physical distancing, wearing a mask, and obtaining a temperature check must be followed.

Teaneck Parent Survey Recap Purpose: To get input from select parents/guardians on having their children return to “in school” education for the second marking period

Method: Survey was distributed to preschool, kindergarten and Special Education self-contained families via email on October 1, 2020. The survey closed on October 7, 2020.

Inquires: 6 questions Respondents: 295 out of 783
Pre K- 105 Kindergarten- 67
Self Contained Special Education - 123 Key Points:
•	29% Pre-K parents do not intend to send their child back to school

•	36% of Kindergarten parents do not intend to send their child back to school

•	45% of Self contained special education parents do not intend to send their child back to school
•	32% of of families will need afterschool care/SACC

•	15.5% of families indicated they will not be able to supply basic PPE (mask, hand sanitizer) •	36% of the families said their child will not be able to wear masks all day

2nd Marking Period/Phase Two Plan

•	Beginning November 16, the following students/grades will be transitioned back into their respective school buildings:
– Preschool
– Kindergarten
– Special Education Self-Contained (pre-k - age 21) •	All other grades will remain virtual for second
marking period
•	Continuation of Drop-in and/or SACC programs will be announced soon

Go-Forward Instructional Plan Model

Preschool Instructional Model

Preschool students will return to school following a hybrid model that will allow students to have access to social and learning opportunities in the school setting. Preschool students will transition back to building-based learning in phases.

School Principal is working with a committee of faculty/staff, parents, supervisors and the building nurse to construct a transition schedule for preschool.

Two surveys have been conducted (one on Slide 7 and one by school principal) assessing student needs on instructional time and student supports.

Over course of next two weeks, the School Principal and her committee will present preschool plan to Superintendent for approval and then will be shared with all stakeholders.

Go-Forward Instructional Plan Model General Education

Kindergarten Instructional Model: In-person

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In-person first two weeks (Transitional Period - Districtwide):

Students in kindergarten will receive in-person instruction, half-days, four (4) days [Monday through Thursday], with social distancing protocols in place and half-day remote learning instruction one (1) day [Friday]

In-person thereafter:
Students in kindergarten will receive in-person instruction, full-time, four (4) days [Monday through Thursday], with social distancing protocols in place and half-day remote learning instruction one (1) day [Friday]
All kindergarten students will attend their respective homeschool for in-person instruction with their classroom teacher.

** Contingent upon number of parents who opt-out (per survey results), will enable the district to provide possible full days of school, four days per week.

Go-Forward Instructional Plan Model General Education

Kindergarten Instructional Model: All Remote

Remote/virtual learning first two weeks (Transitional Period):

●	Students will receive instruction via remote learning. Instruction will be provided half-days, [Monday through Friday] for the first two weeks;

Remote/virtual learning thereafter:

● Students who are learning remotely will participate in synchronous, asynchronous and/or project-based learning experiences which will be aligned to grade-level standards. These learning experiences may include: live-stream instruction via Google Meets, collaborative conversations or projects with peers using technology and/ or independent learning activities aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.
● Frequency: full-day, four (4) days [Monday through Thursday], and half-day remote learning instruction one (1) day [Friday]

Families will be expected to remain with their All Remote Learning choice for the full marking period. At the end of each marking period, families will have an opportunity to reevaluate their choice to change their preference.

Districtwide Phase II Model Preparation: Professional Development

●	Preparing for instruction/Classroom set-up: Friday, October 23, October 30, November 13 half day sessions asynchronous instruction
●	In-person first two weeks (Transitional Period):

Staff in Kindergarten will provide in-person instruction, half-days, four (4) days [Monday through Thursday], with social distancing protocols in place and half-day remote learning instruction one (1) day [Friday]
Monday - Friday afternoons, staff will have student office hours, participate in PD/professional learning communities (PLCs) sessions, and grade/content lesson planning.
●	In-person thereafter:

Staff in kindergarten will provide in-person instruction, full-time, four (4) days [Monday through Thursday], with social distancing protocols in place and half-day remote learning instruction one (1) day [Friday]
Friday afternoons, staff will have student office hours, participate in PD/professional learning communities (PLCs) sessions, and grade/content lesson planning.

Districtwide Phase II Model: Special Education- Self-contained Students: In-person

In accordance with the student's Individual Education Program (IEP) and to the greatest extent possible, instruction will be a mix of traditional in-person instruction and remote learning opportunities in stages as we reopen throughout the school year:
●	In-person first two weeks:

Students in self-contained (PSD, MD, LLD, & BD) programs (grades preschool through post graduate) will receive in-person instruction, paraprofessional support and related services, half-days, four (4) days [Monday through Thursday], with social distancing protocols in place and half-day remote learning instruction one (1) day [Friday]
●	In-person thereafter:

Students in self-contained (PSD, MD, LLD, & BD) programs (grades preschool through post graduate) will receive in-person instruction, paraprofessional support and related services, full-time, four (4) days [Monday through Thursday], with social distancing protocols in place and half-day remote learning instruction one (1) day [Friday]

Students in these programs will remain in-person with the provision for students/families choosing to remain virtual and participate virtually during this marking period.
** Contingent upon number of parents who opt-out (per survey results), will enable the district to provide possible full days of school, four days per week.

Districtwide Phase II Model: Special Education- All-Remote
In-class Support, Pull-out Resource Support, Replacement and Practical Students

Remote/virtual learning first two weeks:

●	Students in the in-class support, pull-out resource support, replacement and practical programs (preschool through grade 12) will receive instruction via remote learning. Instruction will be provided half-days, [Monday through Friday] for the first two weeks;

Remote/virtual learning thereafter:

● Students in the in-class support, pull-out resource support, replacement and practical programs (preschool through grade 12) will receive virtual instruction full-time, four (4) days [Monday through Thursday], and half-day remote learning instruction one (1) day [Friday]

IEP Mandated Services:

● Paraprofessionals will assist students via in-person instruction remotely, through the Google Classroom;
●	Related Services will be arranged within the normal school hours for services as per the student’s IEP and communicate this schedule to teachers and families.

Districtwide Phase II Model Preparation: Professional Development

●	Preparing for instruction/Classroom set-up: Friday, October 23, October 30, November 13 half day sessions asynchronous instruction
●	In-person first two weeks (Transitional Period - Districtwide):

Staff in self-contained (PSD, MD, LLD, & BD) programs (grades preschool through post graduate) will provide in-person instruction, half-days, four (4) days [Monday through Thursday], with social distancing protocols in place and half-day remote learning instruction one (1) day [Friday]
Monday - Friday afternoons, staff will have student office hours, participate in PD/professional learning communities (PLCs) sessions, and grade/content lesson planning.
●	In-person thereafter:

Staff in self-contained (PSD, MD, LLD, & BD) programs (grades preschool through post graduate) will receive in-person instruction, full-time, four (4) days [Monday through Thursday], with social distancing protocols in place and half-day remote learning instruction one (1) day [Friday]
Friday afternoons, staff will have student office hours, participate in PD/professional learning communities (PLCs) sessions, and grade/content lesson planning.

Districtwide Phase II Model: Special Education- Related Services

Related Services:
●	Provide IEP mandated related services in-person at respective buildings or virtually in accordance with IEP and schedule developed with service providers; to all self-contained classes, Preschool -Post Graduate.

Child Study Team/Related Services Meetings:
●	Parent/Guardian and their participants attend virtually, using Google Meet. ●	ALL CST/RSP would be located in their respective buildings.

CST Evaluations:
●	CST evaluations will be onsite at TBD (currently at Bryant, BFMS, and THS). ●	For students who will remain virtual, appointments will be scheduled.
○	One parent/guardian brings a student if the student is not in school and they would follow school entrance and CDC guidelines.
○	Parents/guardians should complete the COVID-19 questions prior to the start of scheduled evaluation.

* Child study team members and RSP will maintain a log of meetings with students, staff and parents/guardians.

Special Assistance for Families IEP-Related Services

Ongoing Communication and Support:

•	The Department of Special Education will hold monthly Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) meetings and/or Town Hall Meetings.
•	Parent/Guardian Workshops will be arranged to support families in reopening of schools, instructional methods and/or other topics of interest.
•	Teaching Staff, Child Study Team Members and Related Service Providers will be available during normal school hours to support the students and families they serve.
•	Service providers will contact parents and guardians to ensure that services are implemented in accordance with each student’s IEP to the greatest extent possible.
•	Updated Special Education Department information and initiatives can be found atSpecialized Education Webpage

IEP Meetings:

•	New or standing IEP meetings with Child Study Team members, parents/guardians and other participants will be conducted via conferencing software such as Google Meet within the normal school hours.

Updated Services for English Language Learners

• For student populations that are returning to school, ESL instruction will be provided in-person for these students by the building’s ESL teacher.

• For student populations that continue to be educated remotely, ESL instruction will be provided in a virtual/ remote setting.

• Irrespective of remote or in-person learning, all English language learners will be provided with at least one period of instruction every day by a certified ESL teacher and, if needed, receive an additional period of high-intensity support, as per the Bilingual Waiver.
• Parental and community input will continue to be provided about the district’s English language learner programs during community programs or forums. Our first parent forum will be held virtually during the second week of November.
• Content area teachers will receive district-provided ELL professional development to support language instruction.

Go-Forward Instructional Plan Model

Important Information

• The four-day instructional model is predicated on a smooth transition from the first two weeks of the half day transition period. However, if there is not a smooth transition, we will move forward with a half day four-day model.
• General education students in grades 1-12, will remain in virtual instruction for the second marking period. All grades will be using Half Day Schedule for the two week transition period (November 16 -November 25...note we are closed for Thanksgiving Nov. 26 & 27). In December, we will revisit our re-entry plan for the next phase of students who will transition back to in-person instruction.

Go-Forward Instructional Plan Model

● Technology Support
○ All staff and students (Pre-K to Grade 12) will have Chromebooks provided to them
○ Providing hotspots to families without reliable internet access at home
○ Web cameras provided to teaching staff to deliver virtual instruction (web cameras can be used in fully virtual model)
○ Increased internet bandwidth to ensure our staff and students can access internet resources while in the district
○ Hiring of additional technology staff to assist teachers with any technical issues
○ For any issues, parents/guardians, students and staff can email techhelp@teaneckschools.org to reach the technology department for technical assistance

Safety Protocols: Schools

● Varsity outdoor fall and winter sports has commenced ● Moratorium continues for indoor sports and in-school
assemblies, and afterschool activities (except SACC)
● Virtual after-school clubs and activities have resumed on a limited basis
● Safety Officer assigned to each school to ensure adherence to protocol implementation
● Mask/face covering required at all times, except when eating in the cafeteria or participating in Phys. Ed.
● ID’s for ALL students, staff, and visitors, to be readily identifiable while face is covered

Safety Protocols: Schools

● Throughout buildings, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) instructions will be visible to all staff and students indicating:
○ Social Distancing ○ Wash Your Hands ○ Wear Face Masks
● Cleaning protocols will be implemented daily to ensure disinfections of surfaces throughout the building

Safety Protocols: In-School Requirements

Social Distancing although recommended is not always practical. In order to limit exposure to COVID-19, the following measures will be required:
• Face masks or face shields for all
• Frequent washing and disinfecting of hands (Hand sanitizing stations have been added in each school building)
• Face shields for teachers • Desk Guards for students
• Limit sharing of books, papers, documents or tangible items • Lockers will not be used for Middle & High Schools
• Limit travel of students to different classrooms

Safety Protocols: Student Personal Safety Box & Desk Shields

Social Distancing Practices

Social Distancing: Student Line-Up

Social Distancing In Classroom Where Possible

The classroom limits would average of 9-12 students per class.

Safety Protocols: Schools Decals to be located throughout the schools

PPE Starter Kits for Staff

● (1) Personal Size Hand Sanitizer Gel (75%) Alcohol

● (1) Adjustable, Washable, Reusable Face Masks

● (1) Face Shield

● 5 pair - Nitrile Disposable Gloves

● Safety Flyer: Social Distancing, Washing Hands, etc.

PPE Starter Kits for Students

● (1) Individual Transportable Barrier

● (1) Adjustable, Washable, Reusable Face Mask

● Safety Flyer: Social Distancing, Washing Hands, etc.

NOTE: Parents must also provide PPE for their child/children

Safety Protocols: Busing

● Masks/face coverings must be worn by all drivers, aides and students upon entering the bus
● Students will board the school bus by filling the back rows first, and then progressing forward
● Assigned seating for students will assist in ensuring that such practices are followed consistently
● Windows will be cracked open to provide better ventilation ● School buses will be cleaned and disinfected between routes ● Drivers and Aides will have daily health checks
● Signs posted to reinforce social distancing and hygiene rules ● Siblings will be assigned to sit together

Safety Protocols: Food Distribution

● Breakfast and lunch will be provided daily for in-school students
● Daily Grab & Go breakfast and lunch is available for all remote students to take home. The schedule of breakfast and lunch pickup is available on our website.
● Daily Grab & Go meals will be available for fully virtual students to pick-up at 3 designated locations in the district (Whittier, Bryant & High School locations)

Safety Protocols: COVID-19 Reporting

● Establish dedicated “Isolation Area” for students/staff who exhibit symptoms during day
● In the event that a school or district office has a case/s of COVID-19, the district will notify Teaneck Township Health Officer: Ken Katter and will follow his direction for quarantining, cleaning, isolation or closure.

Safety Protocols: COVID-19 Closures

● District protocols indicate that as a “positive” case is reported, appropriate contact tracing will be done. For those in direct contact of the “positive individual”, appropriate closures will be recommended that may include:
– Closure of classroom

– Closure of multiple classes

– Closure of School Building(s) – Suspension of bus route
● Per CDC guidelines, students and staff who are in direct contact with a COVID-positive individual will be required to quarantine for 10-14 days, and return with Doctor’s release and confirmation of 2 negative COVID tests.

Safety Protocols:
Visitors to Schools & District Office

● All visitors must have prior appointment approval from Building Principal / Head of Department being visited
● All visitors must display government issued ID & process ID through visitor management system
● All visitors will be required to wear a mask and observe social-distancing protocols
● Virtual meetings will be recommended for meeting with school-based and district staff when possible

NOTE: District Office now located at 651 Teaneck Road

Student Mental Health Services

Counseling Support Services are available to students and families: ● School Based Supports
○ Outreach Workers (elementary)
○ School Counselors (middle and high school)
○ FORUM Counselors - counseling support at the THS, programs for middle and high school students
○ Student Assistance Coordinator ○ CarePlus
● Mental Health Initiative Clinicians via School Climate Transformation Grant -Counseling sessions provided virtually via Google Meets
○ Elementary and Middle School students and families ● Webinars to provide resources and support to families
● Exploring student peer support groups for various grade levels

Drop-in and SACC Programs for Families
• Go-forward plans for the District’s Drop-in (free, during the day child care) and SACC programs (paid for, after school child care) will be dependent upon final Return to School plans for the second marking period
• Will likely offer SACC program at Bryant and Lacey schools; other locations will depend upon need/demand
• SACC registration and payments will be online; staff will be hired in time for early December start
• Drop-in Program (for limited number of students) will be dependent upon actual classroom space available at one district school building

All Remote Learning Option

• Per Governor’s guidance on July 24, 2020 all NJ school districts must offer an “All Remote Learning Option” for families: https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/approved/20200724a.shtml

• For parents of preschool, kindergarten or Special Education self-contained students who want their child/children to continue to be remote during the 2nd marking period, your child’s school principal will be issuing a form for you to complete and return over the next week or so.

Moving Forward

• Upcoming Superintendent Focus Groups over next two weeks
• Board’s Re-Opening Committee will continue to meet

• Principals are meeting with their own school committees • Preparing Frequently Asked Questions Documents
• Release Public Service Announcement (PSA) Video was prepared by students for students and one that is age-appropriate to early childhood

QUESTIONS?