Parent/Guardian Frequently Asked Questions: Return to School - September 2021/Updated January 2022

NOTE: Many of the questions below are also answered in the Return to School Plan Board presentation which can be found here: 2021-2022 Return to School Plan

EDUCATIONAL MODELS & RELATED AREAS

Will Teaneck reopen its schools for full day instruction?
Yes. Per Governor Murphy’s announcement on May 17, 2021, he stated that upon the conclusion of the 2020-2021 school year, portions of Executive Order 175 allowing remote learning will be rescinded. Schools will be required to provide full-day, in-person instruction as they were before the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. At this time, parents and guardians will not be allowed to opt their children out of in-person instruction for the 2021-2022 school year. While we must open buildings beginning in September of 2021, remote learning will only be permitted if there is a localized outbreak or another emergency, and on an individualized case by case basis as appropriate.

TPS Instructional Model for the 2021-2022 School Year ● Students will be in-person for full-day instruction;
● All encore/specials will be in-person following the school schedule;
● Social and emotional well-being for families, students and staff will be a priority;
○ Professional development and other supports to facilitate Social Emotional Learning and mental health and wellness will be provided throughout the year;
● While in-person, students will not be working primarily on Chromebooks. The Google Platform, including all Google tools, will be used to support learning across the curriculum.
○ We will continue to provide students with technology-rich experiences to ensure high-quality instruction.
○ All students will be provided with devices that can be used both at home and in-school.
○ Professional development on blended learning will be provided throughout the year.

Will my child attend physical education classes as they have done in the past? And if not, how do you plan to handle this education requirement?
Physical Education and Health are mandated by New Jersey Administrative Code. As such, the District’s Restart Plan will include the guidance that has been provided by the NJDOE. We plan to offer physical education with the following minimum standards in place.
Students will:
● Have at least 6 feet of open space between them
● Use cones, flags, tape, or other signs to create boundaries between groups

● Wash hands immediately after outdoor playtime of physical activity The teachers will:
● Focus on individual physical activity such as yoga
● Sports driven activity will focus on individual skill work
● Group activities will focus on limited sharing of equipment ● Hold class outside when the weather permits
The district will:
● Stagger the use of equipment and establish frequent disinfecting protocols
● Complete an inventory of outdoor spaces (athletic fields, track, green spaces, open space, and local parks) and designate zones, use stations, mark off areas, floor markers, floor tape, poly spots, etc., to ensure separation among students (six feet for social distancing)
● Consider closing locker rooms to mitigate risk and prohibit students and staff from confined spaces with limited ventilation and/or areas with large amounts of high contact surfaces.
○ If not feasible to close, we will stagger use and clean and disinfect between use.
○ Students may be encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and safe footwear to school that allows for safe movement and is appropriate for the weather in order to participate in physical education without the use of a locker room.
● Mitigate risk, limit and/or eliminate direct contact with equipment (lessons with no equipment) and do not allow sharing of equipment. If equipment must be shared, clean and disinfect between each use.
● Designate specific areas for each class during recess to avoid cohort mixing. If virtual lessons are required:
● Google Classroom and Google Meets will be the primary mode of communication ● Lessons will focus on health, wellness and fitness

What if I am concerned about sending my child/children back to school? What options are available to me?
Governor Murphy’s announcement on May 17, 2021 stated that upon the conclusion of the 2020-2021 school year, portions of Executive Order 175 allowing remote learning will be rescinded. Schools will be required to provide full-day, in-person instruction as they were before the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. At this time, parents and guardians will not be allowed to opt their children out of in-person instruction for the 2021-2022 school year. While we must open buildings beginning in September of 2021, remote learning will only be permitted if there is a localized outbreak or another emergency, and on an individualized case by case basis as appropriate.

If the School or District needs to move to a virtual learning environment due to COVID-19 restrictions (per future orders from the Governor or State or Local Health Departments), will my child continue his/her education with the same teacher? And what are attendance expectations?

If the Teaneck School District or a school building is required to move into a fully virtual learning environment, this means that no in-person instruction is taking place at the school or within the district. As such, your child will have the same teacher because the entire class, including the teacher and students, will be learning remotely.

Under the guidance provided by the New Jersey Department of Education via the The Road Back: Restart and Recovery Plan for Education, districts are required to adhere to and follow school district policies for attendance. The Teaneck School District’s policies for attendance will remain consistent whether the instructional model is fully virtual or in-person. It is also important to note that all school districts must meet the 180-day school year mandate. Lastly, decisions regarding virtual learning will continue to be guided by P.L. 2020, c.27 and the district’s updated emergency closure school preparedness plan.

What are the instructional expectations? (E.g. Can I arrange students in groups? Can I give students hard copies? Are we expected to still use Google Classroom?)

The Google Platform, including all Google tools, will be used to support learning across the curriculum. We will continue to provide students with technology-rich experiences to ensure high-quality instruction. Students can be seated in groups with the appropriate desk shields in place.

What are the instructional expectations when a student is quarantined? When a class is quarantined? When just the teacher is quarantined?
Virtual learning will be provided to an individual student, groups of students or entire classes excluded from school due to COVID positive status, COVID exposure, or COVID symptoms pending testing. Virtual instruction may begin up to 24 hours after you receive the email confirmation from the district.

The district expects all students to participate in school-based instruction if quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure or a positive test.

Students who may be quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure or a positive test will access live synchronous classroom instruction remotely via their chromebook or laptop.

If a class is quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure, instruction will be delivered to the whole class via live streamed remote instruction provided by the teacher(s) and accessed via the students' chromebook or laptop.

Teachers who are quarantined due to COVID-19 will live stream instruction into the classroom where students will access said instruction via their chromebooks or laptops.

Will Technology access and support still be available to my child at no cost to the parent/guardian?
Yes, the technology department will continue to support the staff and students throughout the school year. All staff and students will have chromebooks available to them.Technical support will be available in person or you can contact the technology department at techhelp@teaneckschools.org while at home. (Please include your child’s name and school when submitting a request). We will also provide hotspots to any families who do not have reliable internet access at home.

SAFETY PROTOCOLS DURING SCHOOL DAY

What safety precautions will the District follow when we reopen?

Our district will follow all safety procedures set-forth from the Governor’s Office, the CDC (Center for Disease Control & Prevention), the New Jersey Department of Health, and the New Jersey Department of Education. These include, but are not limited to, social distancing requirements, sanitizing, and wearing face masks.

The District will implement the following viral mitigation techniques: 1.) Mask will be required for all Students, Staff, and Visitors

2.) Desk barriers for Student desks

3.) All students and staff will be required to acknowledge our District Wellness Protocols at the beginning of the school year, and will be sent a reminder “COVID Health Awareness” email daily.

4.) Handwashing use of hand sanitizers

5.) Safety Guideline flyers will be given to students and posted at schools

6.) Lockers will be used at Teaneck High School. Middle school will assign lockers in a phase in approach during the 1st marking period

7.) Minimize student movement to other classrooms whenever possible

8.) Prevent the sharing of learning materials whenever possible

9.) Sanitization Procedures for classrooms, restrooms, and common areas

LINK TO CLEANING PROTOCOLS https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/11QsnBNZ4OKqi5IhkrHbA_MSRHlcDZNjnjN7SVD_toZ w/edit?usp=sharing

Which safety precautions will the district provide and which will the parents/guardians need to supply for their children.
The District will ensure that there are hand sanitizer gel (75% Alcohol) dispensers placed throughout each building. Additionally there will be safety fliers detailing social distancing, hand washing, and other safety tips, while in the school building.
We are asking parents/guardians to make sure to also ensure that your child brings personal hand sanitizer, tissues, and a face covering/mask that is comfortable for your child.

As referenced in the District’s Student Wellness Attestation that parents/guardians must complete at the beginning of the year, and the daily Wellness Reminder, parents/guardians should NOT send their child/children to school if they are sick with any cold-like symptoms.

Will my child be required to wear a face mask all day?
Yes, pursuant to the CDC’s “COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools” (August 5, 2021), all students, staff, and visitors will be required to wear a mask when in District buildings or District operated buses, regardless of vaccination status. Certain exceptions include when a student has a documented medical condition written in their IEP or 504 Plan that impacts the ability to wear a mask.

Will the District continue to provide breakfast and lunch to all children? How will this be distributed?
Breakfast and lunch will be provided daily free for ALL students. Meals will be a grab & go process for each school. Meals will be prepackaged and provided to students. Each school has developed a process for serving and seating of students for the designated lunch session(s).

Will there be any changes to security protocols including visitors to the schools? Yes, although Parents may need to come to their child’s school for arrival and dismissal, necessary meetings with any Teaneck Public School staff that is a part of your child’s educational environment, will be conducted virtually whenever possible.
Additionally, all vendors of the Teaneck Public Schools, will have pre-scheduled appointments, and will need to complete a personal “Wellness Check” on the day of their appointment, prior to being allowed in any Teaneck Public School building.

If the School or District becomes aware of a staff member or student in my child’s school has COVID-19, will I be notified?
The district will follow the guidance of the CDC/NJDOH and the recommendation of the Teaneck Health Department in the event of a positive case or a presumptive positive case in our schools or building.

Per Governor Murphy’s Executive Order #192: all those individuals in a specific school or building who have come in direct contact with a COVID-19 positive individual, shall be promptly notified of the known exposure.

Those who have come in direct contact with a COVID-19 individual will be advised to follow the quarantine guidance of the Teaneck Health Department. The district will provide information to only those individuals that the contact tracing investigation identifies have been directly impacted by the case of COVID-19.

If the School or District decides to close a classroom or school for a period of time due to COVID-19 exposure, how will my child/children continue to receive their education? Will it be virtual or in another location?
If in the event of an in-class closure, school-wide, or district closure all learning will be done via remote instruction/virtual learning. It should be noted that the possibility of a change in scheduling could occur in the event of a school or district-wide closure.

What are the protocols around traveling either domestic (longer than 24 hours) or internationally, and the current travel advisories in place regarding designated states other than NY, PA, and DE?
As the district cannot regulate the travel of our families, we ask that you take all the proper precautions during any travel, up to and including monitoring of any change in wellness and quarantine based on your vaccination status and location of travel.

What are the requirements for traveling outside the State of New Jersey and will instruction be provided to them to quarantine upon return?
All parents and children that travel outside of the state are encouraged to self monitor all the members of their immediate family following the travel to a state other than NY, PA, or DE, or country that is currently on the State of New Jersey “watch list” for COVID-19.

From an inclusion standpoint, will the anti-bullying and related policies be updated to address the stigma around a student having to quarantine or returning to school after being out to recover after testing positive?
The Board of Education policy/regulation, 5512- HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, AND BULLYING (M), authorizes a prompt investigation of reports, violations, and complaints of harassment, intimidation, or bullying in accordance with the provisions of current law, N.J.S.A. 18A:37-15(b)6, including situations specific to COVID-19 status.

Will students need to get tested for COVID-19 prior to school opening and will they need any additional testing to take place during the school year?
Students are encouraged to but will not be required to take a COVID-19 test when returning to school. In the event of an outbreak or cluster of COVID-19, the district may require such a test but only after receiving advice from the Teaneck Township Health Department.

Will my student be required to stay home if someone in my household is diagnosed with Covid-19?
Students will stay home (if unvaccinated) and report to the school nurse or building principal when someone in their household is diagnosed with Covid-19, being tested for Covid-19 or has Covid-19 compatible symptoms. If the student must quarantine, virtual/remote instruction will be provided.

What are the procedures that the District will ask the school to follow if a teacher tests positive for COVID-19 during the school year?
The district will follow the guidelines of the CDC and the recommendation of the Teaneck Health Department in the event of a positive case or a presumptive positive case in our schools or office.
Those who have come in contact with a COVID-19 individual will be advised to follow the guidelines of the Teaneck Health Department. The district will provide information to only those individuals that the Health Department identifies as being directly impacted by an incident.

If the above happens, what about if a child in that classroom has a sibling in another school?
The district will follow the guidelines of the CDC and the recommendation of the Teaneck Health Department in the event of a positive case or a presumptive positive case in our schools or office.
Those who have come in contact with a COVID-19 individual will be advised to follow the guidelines of the Teaneck Health Department. The district will provide information to only those individuals that the Health Department identifies as being directly impacted by an incident.

Will students have use of lockers?
Lockers will be used at Teaneck High School and Middle Schools.

Will a menu be given/posted weekly/monthly for parents about grab and go meals? Monthly menus will be posted on the website with all meals options for each day breakfast and lunch will be served.

What is the District’s recommendation this year with regard to in-school volunteers?

Our district values all of our volunteers but due to safety precautions, at this time our school principals will work with their in-school volunteers to see if they can help to support their school in a virtual setting (e.g. reading to or tutoring students from a remote setting).

SAFETY PROTOCOLS & OTHER RELATED INFORMATION BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY

My child rides the bus to school. What safety protocols are being put into place?
All bus staff will wear a face covering. Face covering must be worn by all students who are able to do so upon entering the bus. Accommodations for students who are unable to wear a face covering should be addressed according to that student’s particular need and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. Additional protocols include:

● To limit possible physical interaction among students, require students to board the school bus by filling the back rows first, and then progressing forward. When leaving the bus, students should exit in the opposite order. Assigned seating for students will assist in ensuring that such practices are followed consistently.
● Siblings will sit together.
● Parents should complete daily temperature and health checks prior to boarding. ● Windows will be cracked open to provide additional ventilation.
● School buses and other vehicles used to transport students will be cleaned daily and disinfected between routes whenever possible.
● Drivers will practice all safety actions and protocols as indicated for other staff ● Hang signs to reinforce hygiene rules.

Will the schools be used for after-school programs and activities?
Yes but for specific programs only that require the Superintendent’s approval (e.g. SACC and specific athletic programs).

What are the district’s plans with regards to its SACC (before and after school care program)? And if I am interested in this service, how do I register?
The District opened its SACC Program on Monday, September 27, 2021 per the schools’ schedule for before and after school hours. The District will follow the guidance from the State and CDC; it is our expectation for SACC to run through June 2022.

NOTE: During the school year, guidance could change based upon positivity rates in the Teaneck area. If this happens, the Superintendent will inform the Teaneck Public Schools community of any changes to the above guidance.