Bluffton school superintendent, Greg Denecker, posted the following letter on the school website concerning a 2020-21 school year update.
Dear Parents and Students-
I wanted to follow up on some additional specifics regarding our plan to open school on Monday, Aug. 31, both for learners who will be online and for those who will be attending school face-to-face.
I realize that making a decision between remote learning and traditional learning for the upcoming school year is not an easy one; because of that—and the fluidity of the situation—you can change your decision about modality of instruction at any time during the school year.
The Remote Learning Google Form (on the Bluffton Schools website) will be available until Monday, Aug. 17. After that time if you choose to go online or switch from online back to the in-person educational option, you can do so by calling the respective school office.
Last week I released the Allen County Schools Common Reopening Agreement (ACSCRA), which was developed with the Allen County Department of Health.
That document provides a big-picture overview of the educational plan for the county. Bluffton Schools has additional protocols in place beyond those found in the ACSCRA; some of these additions were included in my July 13 letter. Click here to read that letter.
Further additions can be found at the end of this document. While it is not possible to address every unique situation that might arise due to COVID-19, we will continue to strive to meet your concerns and provide additional information as “just-in-time” decisions are made in response to the changing nature of the pandemic.
Our goal remains to do our very best in creating a positive learning environment for each of our students regardless of platform of delivery.
Also, please note that the current plan for reopening may change before Aug. 31. Again, we will keep you updated as these changes occur.
For example, last week—after the ACSCRA was posted—Allen County was moved to a Level 3 Red designation by the state. Because of that, we will require facemasks for all students grade 3-12 (when Allen County is at a Level 3 Red).
This is consistent with the state/county order from the Department of Health. Per state guidelines if a student cannot wear a mask due to medical reasons, then they will not be required to wear the mask.
Face masks, gaiters (which go around the neck and then can be moved up to cover the face), and face shields have been ordered for all students grades K-12 and for staff. These items should arrive in the middle of August and will be provided to students (who are attending in-person) on the first day of school.
As mentioned in paragraph two above, you can find additional protocol details and clarifications for your planning purposes below.
These items were discussed in the Bluffton Schools’ district-wide professional development planning meeting last week; this group consists of administrators and teachers.
Food Service
We are finalizing lunch schedules for each building.
Students will be physically distanced as much as possible when eating in the cafeteria.
We will use a combination of classrooms and the cafeteria for lunch.
As always, we will be cleaning surfaces in the cafeteria after each lunch.
Students who choose to eat breakfast at school will eat in the cafeteria (before the school day begins).
Students who do not eat breakfast at school are required to report directly to their first period classroom upon arrival to school.
Classroom
Seating charts for students will be required; students will sit next to the same students each day (as much as possible) in order to limit contact with other students.
In the case of group work or when students are in close proximity, masks may be required for students in grades 3-12 (regardless of county code level). This decision will be made at the discretion of the teacher.
K-5 students will be kept in classroom cohorts as much as possible to limit contact with other students.
Sharing of crayons, pens, etc. will be discouraged.
In the event that the county code level drops below Level 3 Red, students who choose to wear a mask will be seated with like students and vice versa.
Clear Plexiglas tri-folds are on order and will be attached to all tables that students share.
Student temperatures will be taken each day by the classroom teacher with infrared forehead thermometers. When the weather is particularly hot or cold (90 degrees Fahrenheit/20 degrees Fahrenheit), teachers may wait 15-20 minutes before taking temperatures so that body temperatures can acclimate.
Desks will be cleaned with disinfectant each time students change classes.
Chromebooks will be issued to students in grade 6-12; students will be responsible for their Chromebook for the entire year. Chromebooks can be taken home; however, students learning in-person should charge the Chromebook each night before bringing it back to school.
Chromebooks will be used in grades K-5, and each student will receive the same Chromebook each day. In the case that one student must use another student’s Chromebook, the Chromebook will be disinfected prior to use.
Another teacher is being added to the 4th grade to reduce the number of students per class via the in-person setting; there has been minimal sign-up of 4th graders for remote learning (as of July 20).
Remote Learning
Google Classroom will be used as the remote learning platform for all classes.
Training will be provided for staff to teach remotely. Topics will include the use of Google Classroom; Screencastify, Zoom; Edpuzzle; and others as deemed relevant by teachers per grade level and discipline.
Jefferson County Virtual School online lessons, which are linked to state standards, will be available for use by students learning remotely and those learning in-person. These lessons can be assigned through a Google Classroom link and tied into Progressbook. Teachers will be trained to use this resource; it is seen as a solid supplement to our current educational options.
Remote learning will be made as user-friendly as possible for our students. Clear, realistic expectations aligned with in-person learning will be set.
When possible we will work to integrate those students learning remotely with their in-person counterparts through systems such as Zoom, for example. However, these types of integration will depend on a variety of factors including student grade level, subject matter, and technology availability.
Any remote learner in need of a Chromebook will be provided one for use at home.
Visitors/Volunteers/Parties/Field Trips
All visitors must be approved to enter the building; please contact the respective office if you plan to visit the school. Visits will be kept to a bare minimum.
All volunteers/visitors are required to wear a mask and to have their temperature taken at the respective office upon entering the school.
No visitors will be allowed to dine in the cafeteria.
Transportation/Entering and Exiting the Building(s)
Masks are required by all those riding the school bus. If a student loses/forgets their mask, a mask will be issued.
Students must wear masks upon entering each building; masks must be kept on until students reach their respective classrooms. As a reminder, as long as Allen County is designated as a Level 3 Red county masks are required in the school buildings at all times grade 3-12.
Students may enter the buildings at multiple points. For example, KG/1st grade students being dropped off should enter the doors off Lawn Ave. and then proceed directly to the cafeteria (if eating breakfast) or directly to their respective classrooms. 4th/5th grade students should enter the 5th grade entry doors on Jackson St. The same will be true for exiting each building. Further information about plans for entering and exiting buildings is forthcoming.
Masks are required in middle school and high school hallways (regardless of county alert level). Disposable mask will be available in each office for students who have forgotten or misplaced their mask.
Recess
The playground will be divided into sections to promote cohort play among students. In other words, each class will have a section of the playground so that students have minimal contact with those outside their cohort.
Miscellaneous
If a positive Covid-19 case occurs among students or staff at Bluffton Schools, the Allen County Health Department will contact the parties involved first and then contact the school. Bluffton Schools is dependent upon the Allen County Health Department and will work to get information out to the public as soon as it is available.
Perfect attendance for students will not be awarded this year. We do not want students coming to school when feeling ill in order to obtain a certificate/award.
Meet the Teacher and Open House will not be in-person events this year due to fact that the events draw crowds. We are investigating alternative ways to welcome students and parents. More information will be forthcoming as plans are solidified.
Drinking fountain use will be discontinued. Water-fill stations have been installed in each building, and we ask that students bring their own reusable water bottles to school.
Hand sanitizer stations will be installed in high traffic areas throughout each building.
Restrooms will be disinfected periodically throughout the day.
Disinfecting machines will be used at night to clean each classroom and building.
An HVAC company has been employed to routinely monitor and disinfect the air filtration system in each building.
It will take all of us working together to navigate through this pandemic. Please contact me if you have specific questions or need more clarification on Bluffton Schools’ plan for re-opening.
