I'd like to call the July 27th 2020 meeting
of the Derry Township School District Board of Directors to order
and announce that this meeting is being livestreamed
and audio recorded
in keeping with Pennsylvania's recent COVID 19 mitigation
efforts, calling for limits on numbers of participants at indoor gatherings.
This ME meeting is being conducted
both in-person and virtually limiting the number of in-person attendance
to 25 or less.
Among the business items to be undertaken tonight at the districts
is the district's COVID 19 Health and Safety Plan, which is required
by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in order for schools to reopen.
Dr. Winslow, Roll call, please.
Mr. Abel.
Hare.
Dr. CRONON, here
is Drew here.
This is five or six.
This is many here.
Dr. Shah here
is a second here.
Mr. Singer. Here.
Mr. Steiner Here.
Thank you.
And Mrs.
Have Ristic has an excused absence.
Please rise available and join me
for the Pledge of Allegiance.
America
for which it stands.
One Nation,
indivisible.
May I have a motion
to approve the July 27th Board of Directors agenda?
So moved. Second.
Is there any discussion?
All those in favor say I ask all the opposing.
Now the agenda is approved.
I would like to announce that the board met in executive session
prior to this meeting to discuss consultation with attorney and agency
business, which, if conducted in public, would violate a lawful privilege
or lead to disclosure of confidential information
recognition of citizens.
This is an opportunity for taxpayers and residents
to address the board on matters related to the agenda.
Those who speak, if present, are asked to come to the microphone
and state your name and address for the record.
Those who are attending virtually are asked to enter
your name, address and comment in the box on your screen.
Your entry will be read aloud for the record
to provide other residents and taxpayers an opportunity to speak.
Each speaker during the public comment portion is limited to 5 minutes
of speaking time once
recognized and limited to one opportunity to address the board
during each of the public comment portions of the meeting.
This portion of the board meeting is for comments to the board
and is not a question and answer period.
Those wishing to present private concerns or
questions needing follow up outside of the board meeting
may go to the district website and submit a community correspondence.
Are there any citizens and taxpayers who would like to comment at this time?
I'm just going to
pause for a minute to see if we have anyone online and Mr.
Swaggart, if you just want to let me know
or Mr.
McFarlane, let me know.
Yeah, none so far.
Okay.
So I don't see any chat comment either.
I just logged in.
There is one person with her hand raised. Oh,
okay.
So you have to type your name and address.
Okay.
This first one is from Matthew Cables.
And the comment here is,
can you discuss how the pandemic panel was formed
and why not more public health officials?
Okay.
Any other public comment?
Chat has been disabled, but that's purposeful.
Yeah. Yeah.
The answers and the question answer.
Okay.
I think some of the questions will be answered during the discussion
phase and the motion as well, so we will move on.
Mr. Tredinnick, do you have a community correspondence report?
Thank you, Madam President. I do.
During the month of June, we received a total of 13
submissions via the constituent contact form.
Two of those were questions about student work permits.
We had three inquiries related to student records.
We had a request from the district to participate in a survey.
There was a personnel inquiry.
There was a question about residency requirements and the remaining
submissions were all related to the district's COVID 19 response.
That concludes my report.
Okay. Thank you.
The listed items are on the anticipated August 10th, 2020
Board of Directors agenda.
Okay.
The Consent Agenda.
The consent agenda contains routinely adopted items and items
that normally do not require public deliberations on the part of the board.
A board member may pull items which will then be discussed and voted on separately.
May I have a motion to approve the consent agenda items as listed so moved?
Second. Is there any discussion?
Hey. All those in favor say I. I.
All those opposed say no. Okay.
The consent agenda is approved.
Okay.
New business.
The board of directors recommend the approval
of the revised 2020 2021 Board of Directors Meeting date.
May I have a motion to approve the revised
2020 2021 Board of Directors meeting dates so moved.
Second,
is there any discussion?
If I could just add that the only addition
there was the board reorganization the first Monday in December.
That's the only addition in that meeting is at 6:00.
Okay. Thank you.
All those in favor say I, I as opposed to now.
Okay. The board meeting dates are approved.
Approval of the standing committee. Meeting dates.
Mr. McFarland.
The administration recommends the approval of the 2020
2021 standing committee meeting date.
May I have the motion to approve the Standing committee meeting dates?
So moved.
Is there any discussion?
Is the standard voice vote?
All those in favor say I.
I suppose they know the committee dates
are approved.
COVID 19 Pandemic Emergency Resolution.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the board approve the Derry Township
School District's COVID 19 Pandemic Emergency Resolution as listed.
May I have a motion to approve the Derry Township School District
COVID 19 Pandemic Emergency Resolution?
So moved.
Second, is there any discussion
to so mild to the imperfect misspeak?
Sorry. Yeah.
Okay. All those in favor say aye.
All right.
All those opposed.
Okay. The resolution is approved.
A revised health and safety plan.
Mr. McFarland.
The administration recommends the board approve the Derry Township
School District's revised health and safety plan for athletics.
May I have a motion to approve the revised health and safety plan for athletics?
So moved.
Second, is there any discussion?
Mr. McFarland.
Could you just touch on the highlights
and changes from the previously approved version
or in general discuss?
So why the revisions?
Yes, why There were revisions
with updated guidance from the CDC and the Department of Health.
I don't have the specifics right offhand of what they are,
but it was new guidance that we got.
We had to update the plan.
I just have a comment and I it's just a technicality.
But in both the orange and orange, yellow.
Yellow.
And green, yellow, the yellow and green phase,
it stated that water fountains would not be used, but under cleaning
it said that all areas would be cleaned, including water fountains,
to make sure that everyone knows that the water fountains are not to be used.
They get cleaned
things.
Okay.
Any other discussion about the revised athletic plan?
Just. Just one question.
Maybe somewhere I thought it said maybe I misunderstood it.
That even during play of the contest, the game
that social distance would be expected to be maintained.
That I read that on.
On the sidelines.
That is true.
It sounded like on the playing surface, which.
Okay.
All right.
Thank you.
Okay.
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I.
I opposed.
Say now. Hey, the plan is approved.
Approval of the 20, 20, 2021 bus stops.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the approval of the 2020 2021 bus stops.
May I have a motion to approve the listed bus stops?
So move.
Second, is there any discussion?
Mr. Ryan, can you just address
with the bus stops in the most recent guidance
from the Department of Education that addresses bussing
and the consideration that districts should give to
increasing the number of bus stops to limit the number of students
that are going to be at a bus stop doing this prior to knowing
what the population of students is going to be at each.
What this A is is premature.
BE Would you anticipate we would need to revise if we determine
that some bus stops would be more populated than we would prefer?
Mm hmm.
So we were pretty pleased tonight based on the information from our survey
that we had, the majority of parents said that they would be willing
to transport their children to help reduce the numbers.
And that's what we're going to be asking on our survey that goes out this week.
Is for the commitment of.
Those who are coming back.
The commitment that they will drive their students.
And along those same
lines, will there be added parking, a parking availability for.
Exploring the parks right now?
We're we're looking into that.
What we might be able to do, we don't know for sure.
But this list will be reassessed once that I mean I guess I'm looking out for.
Once we speak, once we survey.
As a survey, an actual commitment is different.
And so
obviously, you know, things changes as time goes on.
And so until we get a commitment as to who would be utilizing
the transportation and.
The other guidance is to encourage and talk with families about even at bus
stops doing the social distancing there at the bus stop and encouraging the 16.
So as a family, if it's a bus stop, it stops at their house.
There's one person that gets on it, but they've committed to driving their kids.
Does that mean that the bus will not stop at that house.
If they have committed to driving? Yes.
It won't stop at that.
So that's where you're saying this could change based on what the.
Well, it'll still be a staff.
Will be a stop.
That in the future the family changes their mind.
We still have to have that as a bus stop because that has to be board approved.
All the stops have to be board approved.
So how does it then deviate without additional approval is what I think Mrs.
Snow is getting to.
So if there is a stop that's on there
and any whether it's one student or six students are on that staff
and all of them are committed to transportation by parents.
Our bus will still technically stop.
There are we would still have a designated bus stop there.
So the bus may not actually
stop there, but it is a designated bus stop as approved by the board.
So any time another came in and had that's their staff, okay,
they will know that's the stop because we have to publish those for families.
Okay. Okay.
I just want to make sure for the.
Does that help? Yeah.
Be a designated bus stop, whether there's any kids there or not.
It is a designated bus stop. Okay.
But the drivers will be well aware
what stops who have who should be getting on at what?
Stop.
So that we don't have,
you know, typically kindergartner falls asleep on the way home on the bus.
Right. Okay.
And we have to keep a list of who's on what busses.
Okay.
Joe, is there
any any thought about what happens if a parent has made a commitment
to driving their child, can't
drive for one day or a couple of days for some reason?
Well, I don't want to communicate that.
So, I mean, it is a start.
So they'll they'll still.
No, I know.
But if the child's at the bus stop on how many people
are at that stop and
how many parents couldn't transport their child that day,
it could get you to numbers that you're not comfortable with, right?
And what the that's all stuff.
We have to look at the numbers, you know. Thank you.
This is just.
Published. There's nothing at the bus stop.
Okay. I just want to clarify.
I think you had this is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I all those opposed say no.
Okay. The bus stops are approved.
Health and safety plan. Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends
the board approve the Derry Township School District Health and Safety Plan.
May I have a
motion to approve the health and Safety plan?
So moved.
Second,
is there any discussion?
Yes. I'd just like to start out
give a little of the background before
board members ask their questions.
So the district health and safety plan
being presented for approval this evening was developed using the CDC,
the Pennsylvania Department of Health,
and the Pennsylvania Department of Education guidance.
The plan was also reviewed and revised by our district pandemic team,
which included representations from parents excuse me, teachers, staff,
administrators, the medical profession, and board members.
This plan will be our guide as we continue and begin in-person instruction.
And it was developed balancing the needs of our community
as well as the health and safety of our staff and students.
And during these past few months, as we've been developing plans
for the upcoming year.
We have had to look closely at how to continue
to fulfill our role and responsibility in providing for the academic
and social emotional well-being of our students and staff.
When we surveyed our families at the end of June, beginning of July,
almost 72% of our families noted they would send their children
back to school in a normal five day week schedule
with health and health and safety measures in place.
Additionally, following the most recent guidance from the CDC
for preparing a safe return to school, one of the key
factors to monitor is making decisions about school operations.
Is the level of community transmission.
To date, there have been 77 cases in the 17033 zip code.
Hershey Out of 15,878 residents,
a 0.48% and 88
cases in the 17036 Hummelstown zip code area
out of 25,062 residents, a 0.35%,
according to the CDC, with minimal to moderate community transmission.
The strategies we have in our plan address all the items noted,
including the use of cloth face coverings,
reinforcing everyday preventative actions
such as cleaning and disinfecting and cohorting as much as possible.
Given all this guidance and information, we are recommending
the approval of the plan before you tonight
so that we can continue to develop our continuity of instruction, planning
and prepare for the start of the 20 2021 2021 school year.
It should be noted that this plan may be updated throughout the year as needed,
and any updates to the plan would come back before the board for re approval.
And then all plans are then submitted to the state.
I just want you to have that background.
Is we going to do okay?
Is there any other discussion?
Madam President,
if it pleases, I'd like to get the last among the board members for comment.
Okay.
I have a number of questions.
If it's okay for us to move through, I don't know if it.
Is just to go through a section.
But I didn't know
because I'm not sure what other, you know, what other questions other board members
may have.
So instead of going back and forth, if we could just go by each section
of the plan to address the questions,
Also just clarifying that we're discussing the health and safety plan this evening,
not the curriculum portion of the return to school.
And so this will all be focused on the health and safety
components of the school reopening plan.
I know that you touched on this briefly in your
most recent update to families, but can you discuss the rationale
between a total reopen decision versus a scaffolded reopening
and how, given the transmission cases, you know, why you feel that
a total
reopening face to face for students and staff is the best plan?
Sure. So thank you.
As were we were looking at all options and we looked at fully virtual.
We looked at the hybrid model, the AB, which you're hearing about,
and we looked at full reopening.
We also tried to look at the flexibility that each one offers
if we have to move from one to the other.
In looking
and also looking at the academic needs of all of our students,
and I'm using the word all because it is all of our students
looking at the feedback that we got from the emergency
learning that we did in the spring
and looking at the social emotional well-being of students
and taking into consideration even the CDC guidance about
full reopening of schools.
That is why we chose to go with the full reopening.
We feel it gives us the most flexibility with what we're looking to move.
It also prepares everybody we can get everybody in
and develop the routines and build the relationships.
And it provides us the flexibility if we have to navigate from one to the other.
I don't know, Dr.
Winslow, if you have anything else you want to add to that.
Just from the instructional end,
even though this is not the continuity of ED plan.
I don't know that I have anything specific to add.
We did look at a variety of different options
and considered many different plans before settling on this one as the
as the best opportunity for the students.
Definitely, equity is an issue.
Making sure that everybody has a full opportunity to engage with school
and certainly social emotional well-being also
for the students to provide a routine.
And also knowing the impact for our families.
Our families did indicate over
72% said that they were hoping that students would be coming back.
When we did that initial survey.
So all of those factors together.
Thanks.
I know this is
feels very difficult because when I read the survey,
I think that was such an important component.
I also recognize that
this is all very
new territory and answering these questions.
Some time ago, I think that there has been a lot of conversations since then
and understanding more about the different models and structure.
So my hope is that
community members will participate in conversation
in the town hall forum and whatnot, because the answers that were provided
at that time may may have, you know, fluctuated since then.
Moving into I guess one of their final question
is just confirming that our physician of record,
I believe at some point it was discussed,
felt as though the full face to face return
actually provided for less exposure
than the blended model for our staff as well.
Is that correct?
That is that is correct, yes.
Okay. Based on whatever.
Your ideas, a week versus here part time and then wherever else,
whether it's child care outside of the home.
Thank you.
Yes, That was another point she did bring up.
Moving into the facilities, cleaning,
sanitizing, disinfecting and ventilation stage.
I do have a number of questions.
I think one of my overall comments
and perhaps you can give some insight on this,
is that a lot of it feels very ambiguous and very vague.
There's a lot of to the extent possible or if you know if possible,
if if this if that can.
Understanding that this is for the plan that needs to be submitted to the state
and then it's board approved, but it is not PD or Department of Health
approved, it's just to file on record with the state.
But also understanding
that many members of the community are going to be using this as a guide
to determine their level of comfort in sending their students back.
How would you
recommend people find comfort in that?
And maybe I can further elaborate as I get into specific questions.
But so, for example, with
the first item, cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting,
you know, it says the district staff will clean
and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, etc., within the school
and on school busses at least daily or between use as much as possible.
What are the barriers to being able
to disinfect the busses in between uses from morning to afternoon?
And is there the opportunity
that there can be comfort of knowing that the same students are going to be
sitting in the same seat on the bus or is not potential cross-contamination?
Right.
So there will be seating charts on the busses.
So they will be to find seats and where that is,
if you think of this as sort of policy, sort of the high level of review.
And we also have to think of
that there there are going to be, like you said, between morning and afternoon.
There may be time, but between secondary in elementary, there may not be time.
So it's at least daily or as much as possible.
So, you know, if we can do it, which we can between the the AM runs and the PM
runs, but not necessarily between the AM
secondary run and the AM elementary run.
Okay. Okay.
So the bus the bus situation, I'm a little bit hung up on the bus situation
so it's apparent says I'm going to draw my child to school.
They don't obviously the child standing outside,
we pick the child up, right.
We can have a seat assigned to them on the bus.
But if they the previous fully committed to being driven
in, how do they have an assigned seat on the bus?
I have to give them one.
We'll have to we have to have a seating chart.
So let's say you show up a day,
but you were supposed to be designated, will pick you up, will take you to school.
We'll give you a seat.
That'll be your assigned seat.
Whether you use it in the future or not.
So everybody on that bus route has a seat?
Mm hmm.
Whether they occupy it or not, every day.
Right.
Because whether parents say their best intention is to drive their children,
we know that's not going to happen 100% at a time.
So we have in place to catch that. Okay.
Right.
Yeah.
Questions regarding like, air quality and ventilation.
They're
ensuring our ventilation systems will operate properly, increasing.
Have we done any upgrades to the ventilation systems
to to make sure that the air filters are in
a different ratings are up to the highest level.
Sure.
So Mr. Anderson is virtual, so I believe Mr.
Swiger can allow him to speak and and respond to the board
and the public will be able to hear around the HPC issues.
Okay.
I can't hear you right now. Mr. Edison.
We have engaged train
who is our air conditioner provider of equipment,
and we are going to enter into agreements
of a real time assessment of of our
air conditioning system.
24 seven.
That said, these systems are designed
to what's called ashtrays standards,
which means that
we cannot open the vents
to allow 100% outside air,
but we can adjust it to the maximum that we can.
The amount of air permitted into any given space
is based on the occupancy of the room when it was designed
and the equipment is then sized to that level.
So we are changing our filters.
I will be making the recommendation the administration currently train.
We change filters every three months.
We will be outsourcing those changes of every two months.
And then moving forward, we will be looking at and adding
some ionization units to the larger units on the roof, which would address
large spaces, for example, gymnasiums,
cafeteria and those units, service hallways directly.
That is your question.
Yes. Thank you.
Are there any other board members who have a question in this section?
Are you finished with the section?
I do on the next page, but I didn't finish.
That section. Though.
Okay. So.
So that is cleaning, sanitizing that section.
Oh, I'm sorry.
The next one?
Yes, the next one I have goes to social distancing.
Okay.
We're on facilities, cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting and ventilation.
Just want to say one more thing about this.
The school busses.
This is just a thought.
It is not a question, but
I think our school busses on a good day are really difficult.
It's a lot on the bus driver and I'm concerned
about I'm going to say I'm concerned about the kids on the bus.
I'm also concerned about what we're asking our our bus drivers to do.
So I know we can't fix everything, but that is definitely a concern.
I mean, and our teachers and our staff and I'm concerned
really to thinking about the bus drivers.
So I'm just putting it out there.
I don't know.
I, I,
I also can you just touch on with the cleaning protocols,
the use of shared objects, you know, examples and things like that.
I noticed that there was one place saying that no cleaning products will be used
near the students, but obviously there will probably be some expectation
of cleaning, you know, in the classroom or high touch areas during the day.
What does that look like?
How have we changed the products that we're using for cleaning?
I know that
we've brought in a new line of products that that are for a higher level.
Mr. Anderson, Can you
speak a little bit to the cleaning products?
I certainly can.
We will be using we need to classify those.
There's differences between disinfectants
and sanitizers.
The custodial staff will have
disinfectants.
Who will be using disinfectants to wipe down desks, common touch points,
those kind of things, both during the day when needed and in the evenings.
Each classroom will be issued a bucket for lack of a better job.
They will have sanitizing
tablets in as much due to a lack of a Clorox, where it kills
99.9% of the germs.
But it can't it won't guarantee it kills everything.
And that will be available to teachers in every classroom
and out of the reach of children.
We will also put
in a spray bottle with the same chemical in it.
And towels, wipes or paper towels.
Dispensers have been installed.
During the evening, we also have airborne mysteries
that will be used to sanitize the rooms
when desks are wiped down.
The the code that approves chemicals we have called halt.
You have to wipe it on.
Let it stand for 10 minutes and then wipe it off.
So that's what we really can't issue to the classrooms during the day,
but it will be used in the evenings and as a custodian,
as a particular situation, they will have access to that same chemical.
Have we had to hire more maintenance
staff and custodians because of the now?
We have not.
Into teaching wash.
The question was just have we had to hire
more maintenance and custodial staff?
What I'm doing at this point to address that issue
is I'm going to be moving one of our second shift utility custodians
to first shift for at least the first two months of the school year
to assist with lunches and cleaning of bathrooms
and whatnot between the high school and the middle school.
And I'll be doing some offloading
of responsibilities between the two elementary buildings.
And I have designated the grounds portion every day to be available
to go at the elementary for the UCC building.
Before we continue, there's two things
that I think are good is for the people that are attending virtually.
If you could say your name. Board members.
When when you when you're talking.
And then also make sure your mikes on
in that you're close because with the masks it's hard for some at home to hear.
Okay.
So this is still Lindsay Drew,
regarding the training for staff
members and teachers using these products in the classroom, will that be conducted
during the August in-service training days prior
to the return of students? Yes.
There's a whole plan for professional development of things
in this that have to happen. Okay.
Thank you.
I just have a question.
This has struck my head. When when, when.
Donna Cronan.
Make sure you're close enough.
When we talk about the bucket of goodies that the teacher will have in terms
of the the solution spray and the Clorox wipes
and obviously just for staff, not for students.
What if parents send their students or what happens if parents
and their students, which they might with wipes that they might want to use?
I know a lot of kids carry their own hand sanitizer around.
You know what?
As students have their own wipes and want to wipe their own dust down.
Is that going to be allowed?
I don't know. Okay.
I just thought of it as I was thinking about that.
Allowed to some. But
and all classrooms will have access to students
with a sanitation or sanitization product for handwashing and.
Hygiene and or hand sanitizer. Okay.
And bathrooms will be cleaned daily or throughout the day.
Mr. Anderson.
Yeah.
Did you hear that question?
I did.
I was trying to unmute myself.
Yes. Part of the reason we're going to be bringing a custodian from second
to first and moving people around during the day is to allow for that to happen.
The key point for us is going to be a focus on the common touch points would be
toilet handles, urinal handles,
sink and all those kind of things to make sure they're clean
and that the trash is removed from, you know, as the day goes on.
So we will be checking bathrooms on a more regular schedule. Yes.
And many of our bathroom facilities already have automatic
flushing and water turn ons, correct?
Some of them do.
Some of them do not.
We've replaced a number of them, but not all of the for example, the paper
towel dispensers in the elementary building, our motion sensor.
The other ones are paper towels, the and the
high school.
And honestly, from what I've learned, the paper towel dispensers
are a better option for the students because
instead of blowing germs all over the room,
they get your hands off the paper towel.
So we are working or looking at removing the
the air drying units from some of the buildings
or some of the bathroom. Excuse me.
Okay. Thank you.
Are there any other questions about that first section?
Okay.
Cause we're going to move on to the next session section.
Social distancing and other safety protocols.
This is Lindsay, Drew.
I have questions regarding that.
At least three feet apart, but will be six feet apart when feasible.
Do we have any idea as to what the actual percentage of that is?
I know in another area of the plan, it talks about the
maximum number of
people that will be in a room at any given time.
How are we anticipating being able to accommodate the distancing measures.
So we can guarantee three feet apart
in our in our classrooms and six feet when feasible?
And that'll depend on how many kids are in a in a classroom.
And can you talk to the where you got the three feet?
Sure.
And it's very scary to jump in at any time, too.
But the World Health Organization had had the three feet.
CDC and the Penn State Department Health
have six feet when feasible or where feasible.
And so that's exactly where the language came from
and the guidance came from.
And this is on a current, and that's three feet with a mask.
Three were correct.
And that's that's the other thing, too, is that we masks will be required
of all staff and all students in the facilities.
The only time they'll they'll be allowed to offer for lunch
while they're eating at their seat.
This is kept for the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Also endorses three feet of special air with masks.
This as the safety approaches that of six feet.
Relative Lindsay
drew relative to the masking.
First, will we be providing
staff with the appropriate face coverings and masks
so as not to, you know, put that additional burden onto them?
And what masks are determined as appropriate?
I know many parents have been looking at the face
shields versus like the actual face coverings that cover their nose and mouth.
Can you address. Sure. So requirement when you Yes.
When you look at the left hand requirement, it says face covering.
We are saying face mask. So
the requirement will be a face mask that covers your nose and your mouth
combined face shields that that's not
what we're we're considering a face covering.
Now, we may have individuals that,
you know, according to medical reasons or whatever, can't wear a face mask
that we will look at other other ways, whether it's a face shield.
But that will be in a very limited basis.
This is Maria, Mommy.
Under elementary school.
It says lunch and breakfast will be consumed in classrooms.
So does that mean that
when an elementary student
goes into school in the morning, that student
and the teachers in that room will all be in that room the entire day?
Yeah, that's the cohorting.
Mm hmm.
Yeah.
They'll go to the cafeteria to pick up their lunch for students Who Correct.
For breakfast. Or. Right.
How will allergy classes in those?
The only classrooms that will eat in the cafeteria are the allergy classrooms.
And what about the teachers?
And what about, like, the there any breaks built in for them?
Yes, they will.
In this schedule,
they will have their their planning time and their their duty free lunch.
Okay.
Thank you.
This is Don Cronin.
I just had a question about don't ever talking to the mike the staggering.
I'm trying to read
the stagger sing use of communal spaces in hallways.
I know for the elementary school
they're going to have a line down the middle of the hallway
for like for high school students and even middle school students
when the timing, the changing at the bell is always
not mass chaos, but mass bodies around will be staggering.
The change of classrooms in any way, like how do you maintain the staggering
of the school we use to address that a little bit.
It's we've done the best that we can with that.
At the middle school,
students, the sixth, seventh and eighth graders already on different schedules.
So they're never all out in the hallways.
At the same time, however, they do kind of congregate.
They have class in their own hallways, but they are also potted
by teams, which helps to keep with the cohort.
So a team will move only in their particular area
and we are not assigning lockers to anybody.
So there won't be any congregating in hallways.
It'll just be moving through at the high school.
We are looking at an alternative schedule
that would allow for fewer moves throughout the day.
Instead of like what?
Normally we have ten moves throughout the day.
This would reduce it to, I believe, 6 hours and it would also
help us to mitigate lunches to to spread kids out at lunch time.
But still the same number of kids for people to sit
still the same number of kids, but fewer fewer movements.
And so if we're reducing the schedule and changing the obviously,
I guess, the length of the periods, will that be addressed in the academic portion
as to the implications on the on scheduling?
Yes, that will be covered on on Wednesdays staff and parent form.
Dr. Winslow, the this is Cathy Zika.
You said that students will not be given lockers.
What about jackets in the winter, you know, extra items?
Have you thought about that yet?
I know we might be reproving issues as they come up, Right.
So, yes, so
we have not talked about jackets yet.
I suspect that we will probably use home rooms to some degree
and students will be permitted to carry their backpacks
so that we're carrying things around a little bit more.
But we will also help, too.
We don't want them carrying like, you know,
£20 of books all over the place all the time. So
we'll figure out ways for them to leave things in the spaces
where they need them.
Any other questions or discussion
in this section about social distancing and other safety protocols?
Yes, I can talk about the elementary, the lunches in the class at breakfast
and lunch in the classroom. We have purchased
clear like I called study.
Carol's but I think also at lunch and breakfast
they'll put them up on their desk because of their mask off.
And so they're that provides more individual protection
for each each student.
That's helpful.
Ms.. Mr.
Anderson, Can you speak to the masks that we will be providing
to certain staff who want it, like a higher grade mask?
Thank you.
Mr. Seger Yes, We've purchased we have a pretty big inventory of masks.
We have adult identity, one use masks.
We have we're probably in excess of about 6000.
We have some of the size mask we're trying to access for about 3000,
and we have about 500 masks for teachers.
I was requested to fill entry level
to get masks for speech therapist.
You can see there their mouth would be have some water.
They would have a in opening that you could see
the person's lips move to answer questions.
So I did the administration earlier
today a complete inventory of what we have
the Hershey Foods Corporation was very generous
and donated just shy of 2001
use masks force that will be distributed
both in offices to, you know, people that come into the office.
But if someone forgets one, we have them available for busses
and we have ones available for students that are appropriately sized.
Oh, can you speak to the higher level masks,
The higher.
End 20.
Point 95. Yes.
It is not.
It is a single use mask
that you would see
at probably any any steelworkers point.
We are going to be setting the bus drivers with carry a 95 masks.
There is a three we're working on now and have a firm commitment
to take those for us so that they're appropriately fitted
and would would meet the CDC and FDA guidelines.
This is one teacher.
Why would we limit that offering to just the bus drivers
and not building employees?
So we'll have extra.
So we want them for the drivers
because they're going to be on the busses with the kids and and
the population of our drivers, but also be for nurses
and then for any high risk or people that need them.
So we will have some extras
for that and.
Linskey Let me just say that
our supplier that we've been working with AmeriCares has been very forthright
in helping us, and I can get more of them if I get it.
But this was the direction I was given initially to do just this.
But again, I am able and willing to expand it as necessary.
So all employees would be
offered that opportunity if they would if that would
any further enhance their comfort level.
And we know we may not have all of them right away because of ordering
and supply chain. But
we're also we've also purchased a cloth mask for every employee as well.
Washable it
I will say that the K and 95 as well, they provide greater protection both ways.
They're not as comfortable to wear,
you know an eight hour day without taking them off.
I thought they were appropriate for the bus
drivers, given a lot of our bus drivers age
and then and potential like just because the kids are walking past them
and they're they can wear them for shorter periods of time and maybe tolerate them.
And I certainly think the teachers, however, would want them,
should be able to get them, but I suspect they're not going to enjoy
keeping them on for 8 hours.
But I'm thinking about like teachers who perhaps are doing bus duty
or something where the student, you know, monitoring the entrance and exit.
You know, any time a teacher would or a staff member would be, you know,
put in a potential larger risk environment than just their classroom and cohort,
that we would have that available just to provide further protection for them.
Because they look back.
Let me say this.
We we can the firms coming in
to fit people with the K at 95.
So we can certainly expand that.
The supply of the cans is
way more available in 95.
And if there's a high demand can be constructive response
that.
Thank you
again this is Lindsay Drew still
in the same section on page ten it refers to
students will be encouraged to bring their own meals to school as feasible.
Can you please discuss
how this would be communicated and identified?
I have concerns about how we are going to protect the dignity of students
who are on the free and reduced meal program if we are
creating, you know, isolation and encouraging as much
packing lunch as possible.
Yeah, and that's actually wording from the CDC guidance
in our survey that
will go out where we are asking parents just to at this point,
are they thinking, given it's going to be a cold lunch, options
for kids, do they see their child packing or buying?
And that helps the food service know about giving an idea of what they're going
to need for supplies.
So while it says encourage to,
we're not going to say you have to wear anything,
but it cuts down on the the back
and forth from the cafeteria to the classroom.
Okay.
And any student that that needs to be reduced, they still get it.
And anybody wants to buy will still be able to buy.
Okay.
I just want to make sure it doesn't
become some inadvertent form of lunch shaming that would
unintentionally identify students who are on a free and reduced program
because they're unable to to bring a pack to prepared lunch from home.
We don't want that either.
Okay. This is Maria Miami.
I notice in here about the water fountains being closed.
So there's concern that I'm having four children
that would not bring a water bottle to school.
Like how would they how would they get water?
Sure, That's a good question.
The water fountains, the traditional water fountains will be closed.
We do have some bottle filling stations
and we are we are getting more.
So every building, one bottle filling stations.
And so they'll be there touchless.
Oh, to be able to to fill so they will have that capacity.
And then for students who don't have a water bottle or something,
we have water bottles if they're the ones you,
you know, buy at the store and just refill.
Okay. Thank you.
This is Tricia Steiner.
I just wanted you to briefly review and touch on
since we're talking about lunches.
Okay.
Lunches for the middle school and high school and whether or not
there is going to be assigned seats there to help identify students.
If there was a breakout for tracing and if there's going to be
any additional lunches added to allow for the limited capacity.
So the way the capacity is going to be addressed in both
those buildings is that
they will be seated to expand out
beyond the cafeterias into the hallways and in the middle school.
The LGA will also be used and in the high school, I believe
part of the gym will be utilized to to spread that out.
And I believe and correct me if I'm wrong, Dr.
Winslow, the high school in their schedule is it will add a lunch period in there.
Is it four versus three? I think
the three.
Okay.
So they'll be spread out there and at the middle school they'll,
they'll be able to because it's a grade level at a time,
because they'll be able to assign seats.
The high school will not be able to do that.
But we have cameras
that if we had to, we can identify who's well know who's in each lunch.
But exactly if I were sitting next to you
or I will have to look at the cameras for that.
Right.
And the other board discussion in this section,
will any of our building employee this is Lindsay Drew.
Well, any of our building employees, when we're talking about working telework
or flexible work sites, will we read will will we be reducing any, you know,
very specific groups of staff to that to minimize the number?
I don't I don't see that
happening just because of the roles and responsibilities.
Okay. I was just curious what. Like.
Who that applies to in that section.
Okay.
Let's move on then to
monitoring student and staff house.
How will we be enforcing this?
Lindsay Drew, How will we be enforcing the
daily health checks?
I mean, obviously, we're putting forward a good faith, you know, that
we are all a part of this and we are going to be relying on the
and responsibility of parents and staff members
to self-monitor and monitor their children.
But where is a reinforcement?
How will we address this from a policy perspective,
both for the checks as well as the mask and face covering requirements?
Yes, I'll start with the masks and the face covering requirement.
That is that is an expectation if you are choosing the face to face learning.
So it's not optional.
If we have someone who doesn't have one
on, we'll offer them one, They don't have one.
And if they still choose not to wear one
for whatever reason, we will take them down to
the room, the quarantine room.
We have to will contact the parent and they'll have to come pick them up.
And if they are choosing not to continue to wear,
then they'll have the online option of learning.
So that's how that will be handled.
As far as the self, the health checks at home for staff
and students, that is, again, the recommendation that's coming from
the CDC, the Department of Health and everything that everyone does.
A self-check and that there's a protocol to follow.
We will communicate and encourage and talk about being a community
and the need to to do that on a daily basis,
just like any other time.
If a student is showing signs of, you know, a
cough or a fever or anything at school, they'll go to the nurse and be checked.
And if there is a fever, they'll have to go to the
we have to set up a room, as called a quarantine room.
They'll be there until the parent can can come and get them. So,
you know, I know.
And that was even some of the questions we're seeing about the self-check at home.
We've looked at all the options there.
And following the recommendation.
That's that's what it is.
And we do know, too, that,
I mean, at times we've maybe all done this, that,
you know,
our child wakes up and not feeling well and they give them a little Tylenol
and send them to school and they don't have a fever when they get to school.
So even to do a self temperature check at school isn't a guarantee.
So we are we are looking for the the self checks at home every day.
Well, and even if we did checks at school, they've already ridden the bus through
school right
now. One of the updated
guidelines from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Health,
I believe discussed the temperature checks prior to entering the bus.
So what we're saying is
the parents should be taking the temperatures at home, Correct.
We as the school will not be doing any entry checks.
Correct. On our doing.
That's great.
I just want to clarify that so that there's no question about.
That is correct. Yes. Okay.
When someone does test positive,
can you walk through just because it kind of jumps around in here
what their level of contact tracing looks like,
how we're going to be doing that for staff and students,
The mandatory quarantine that we would be asking
and requiring any staffer, student and procedures for what occurs
when there is a if there were to be a positive test
or known case in a family of a staff member or student.
Sure. So I'll I'll start.
And then Mrs.
Stephen Miller is on Zoom as well.
I can let her talk and the right center.
But the guidance we have from the Penn State Department, Health and PD is
that if the Department of Health is made aware of a presumed positive or positive,
they will contact us and let us know and then they will tell us what we need to do.
In that case, if we are you know, if a parent calls us and says,
let us know, then we are to call the Department of Health and alert them.
And then we also take our guidance from them
as to what our next steps are.
We will not do the contact tracing.
They would
they would do that and give us that information.
And then, Mrs.
Miller, maybe you can talk about like how the notification would have
and how we do that in our incident response plan.
Certainly could even
see it in all honesty, as Mr.
Macfarlane was stating, the Department of Health
really takes the lead with what
with that entire process.
So once they are
aware, made aware of a positive case,
they actually will assist us with that risk assessment, isolation, quarantine,
any of those recommendations as well as the communication.
So as Mr.
Macfarlane shared, our incident response plan has
a number of communications, things that are
preset, if you will,
and prepared with regards to response to
just about any type of situation, including pandemic.
But we would certainly be deferring to the guidance
from the Department of Health as to what that communicate would look like.
The appropriate letters and communications
as far and in addition to any
specific information that, you know, should be shared either
with that small group or with with the school in general.
Okay. Thank you.
Just in follow up to that, So if there were a positive
or presumed positive situation, any staff or any student
who would fall into a category of needing to quarantine
the students would be able to move into an online format
with relative ease of transition.
Will staff be covered under paid leave policies to make sure
that there is not any disruption to them for being exposed while in the workplace?
Is there anything can you address that at all?
As far as from the H.R.
perspective, they
as far as leave
or maybe teaching, Right, Because what we're looking at
with our model would allow them to teach if they are
possibly quarantined but
are still healthy and could still teach.
So teachers who are in face to face and then would have to quarantine
would
transition automatically into online, even if they still had face to face
students.
Yes, that's with the model we're proposing. Yes.
Give me an explainer.
Yes. Yeah.
Can you because. Yes, I'm I'm not spreading.
Yeah. You might be thinking to yourself, what does that look like?
So we would actually have if the teacher was was able to
we want to be as flexible as possible and we want to have teachers teach.
I mean, that's the whole goal.
Have our teachers who are great teachers teach
so provided they can they would they would work from home.
All right.
They would zoom into the classroom.
We would have a substitute
or another adult in the classroom facilitating the classroom.
So learning at the secondary level would occur in the classroom and at home.
Of course, if the teacher can't teach because they're sick, then we would follow
our normal procedures in the substitute would be assigned to teach a classroom.
Okay.
So it would really be on a case by case basis based on
whether there was a presence of symptoms or not. Absolutely.
If there were a presence of symptoms.
And back to your original question, of course, therefore, S.R.O.
provides for for ten days of of of leave, emergency paid leave.
Okay.
Thank you.
Any other board members want to ask questions
or have discussion a bit about the section?
I have just
a general concern about our nursing, our nurses
and how they're going to stay protected from really being.
It feels as if it feels like every adult in the in the buildings on the front line.
I feel like nurses here three times.
Yeah.
So I've been working with the nurses all summer long.
So as we mentioned before, they will have the k95
if they so desire to use those, they'll also have additional PPE.
So it would be no different than than
going into a hospital or any health care facility. So,
you know, so they're ready.
You know, we talk quite frequently and what they need and where
we're getting them, what what they feel they need to be comfortable.
That's cool.
Thank you, Jason.
Hi. I just have a comment about that.
I was on the pandemic team meeting team with Tricia Steiner, the two board members
and one of our nurses was on there as well.
And I we did get to ask a lot of these questions
over the two hour meeting, so I'm glad that we're asking those questions.
But I shared my words of wisdom from having, you know, three months
of closing our dental office and then having to reopen
into a profession that is now one of the highest risk professions,
because dental hygienists are looking in people's mouths without a mask on.
So, you know, they wear K and nine hides
eyewear and face shields.
To date, there haven't been any documented spread of cases.
And our offices,
many hospital
workers are doing the same things in working with COVID positive patients.
So right now that's standard protocol.
Okay, that makes me feel better.
Thank you.
I assumed that this was all worked out right? Not.
Not assuming that you didn't talk about it.
I just want to make that clear.
Yeah, and I'm asking these questions more just so that we have the understanding.
Because I know that for me, you know, even as a board member,
I wasn't on the pandemic team.
And so I don't have the details that support so many of these.
And I think that, you know, it's really important details
because while we have a low case rate, you know, in this area,
the world that we're living in right now, there is a
you know, there is that what if and we want to make sure
that we've addressed all of those things so that we're providing as much,
you know, reassurance to parents as they're making the decision
and to our staff, you know, who are coming back and
and essentially being, you know, somewhat of a front know,
they are an opinion being, a frontline essential, you know, worker.
And so I just know that that's where these questions are coming from because
I think it's important to choosing a hospital approach.
Right. Like, I didn't even I didn't even put that correlation together.
Being for the nurses. Yeah, for the nurses.
For the teachers, like you're saying, Kathy?
For Dennis. So thank you for that.
I know one question that was asked in the pandemic team meeting was,
will you be asking parents and students to limit travel during the school year?
If you look at the way a lot of colleges are reopening,
they're reopening without a break straight through Thanksgiving,
and they're asking the students not to leave campus
and actually live in cohorts and not go off campus.
So would we be sending out information asking our parents, please,
you know, don't travel over the weekends and
Jason,
I know we can't mandate it, but it would seem as a community we might want to.
So so we'll definitely strongly encourage parents not to travel
to states that that are on Pennsylvania's list.
We can't we can't mandate that they stay home.
But are leave policy.
We'll work with the building principals because that was addressed as well as in
the pandemic team will be as flexible as possible.
So if the family does travel,
certainly we're not going to penalize that that student,
you know, for a decision that they had to make or,
you know, or chose to make.
It would seem like limiting nonessential travel would be a good idea.
Absolutely.
And we're taking that approach with our employees.
But but it's tough to take that outside of our employees.
So if we. Now this is Mary. I'm Amy.
So if we know that a family goes to Disney and comes back
and then do we enforce to that child like
you have to quarantine for two weeks now.
We'd ask them to self-monitor, isn't there?
I think that mandate and ten days isn't there anything in Pennsylvania
right now for quarantining?
There are going to other states. Yeah.
So it's just the language right now is strongly encouraged.
A recommended rate,
not required.
Okay. Well, that could change. Absolutely.
Then that's what about approval of trip forms?
We have a good question.
It's a good question.
We all it's a question.
If the question was what about approval of trip?
And that's again, where we we can look at strongly encourage.
We can't we can't say you can't go.
Okay.
I guess for me, I think what this is, Lindsay Drew, what this comes down to
is that we have a plan in place and we're going to be addressing
all of these things to the absolute best of our ability
in public education and in life in general.
There are a number of things,
and I look at it specifically to public education that while we do
everything that we can, we can't make guarantees.
And that's kind of where, you know, we are.
I think in this situation, it's no different than school safety.
Obviously, this one is just a little bit
scarier in the
sense of the unknowns and, you know, so many things going on.
But I think that ultimately what I would hope is that as a community,
we are being mindful of the decisions that are made by individual parents,
the comfort level of staff that we all have patience and grace
and understand that people are in, you know, positions that may be uncomfortable
or, you know, that they're fearful of as they're going through this
and that we do all do our our own part to make sure that we're,
you know, mitigating the risks, especially if we are to experience
any surge, you know, heading into the fall.
And as we start mixing into flu season.
All right. Thank you. Yes.
You know, this is Terry Singer. I just wanted to
sort of second
what Leslie just said in the first paragraph of the of the plan.
It says the district acknowledged is there are no strategies
that will completely eliminate the risks associated with COVID 19.
Rather, the district's goal is to develop plans
that will minimize the risk to the greatest extent possible,
allowing the district to resume school activities. So
with all the efforts, I think the bottom line is
and all good efforts will be made, that there
there can be no foolproof guarantee in this kind of environment.
And I think it's I think it's really important,
Donna Cronin, to note that we are we're utilizing a lot of data
and we're using a lot of we're utilizing the survey data as well.
And we're giving parents options.
We are not mandating where we are doing our best to mitigate
and we're going to be nimble and respond as things change.
And that's I think that's all as a parent that I would ask.
Thank you.
And I do feel we all do that.
That's the plan that we're putting forth.
And we'll obviously talk more about what the instructional part
looks like on Wednesday that we have to this point
provides a greater level of flexibility and addresses,
meets the needs, social, emotional, academic needs of all of our students.
Any doctor child deal.
We can go to the last section yet that we have.
I don't know because you're awaiting to be last so.
All right so the last section
we have other considerations for students and staff.
Yeah.
So the question the big question to me is
you know, the masks.
So the only time they will be able to be removed
without being addressed by an adult is at lunch.
So we are looking especially at the elementary of
what the what the recommended calling mask breaks.
But we haven't made any decisions on on where or when that is,
because we have to look at doing that in the safest way possible.
But we're exploring when those mask breaks might be able to occur.
So mask breaks are contemplated
there being. Yes.
Yeah.
Go ahead, Terry. So.
I mean, I hopefully we're we're past the
the politically charged aspects of the masks.
It seems like maybe, you know,
as a society, we're starting to to move a little bit away from that.
But that's going to that's a tough issue.
And for that to have to be monitored
by the adults.
Well, we're not making judgment that.
We're just saying if you choose the face to face option,
the expectation, it's just like a dress code.
The mask is required if you for whatever reason other than medical reason.
Right. We'll work with individuals.
But other than that, if you're if you don't want to or
choose not to, your other option is the online.
Right. Okay. No, I understand that. I just
hopeful.
I just hope that our our staff is not put in awkward situations
escorting, you know, noncompliant students to
to the quarantine, you know, the quarantine room,
the social distancing room and and all that entails practice.
And as Lindsey said, that our community
will act as as one in honoring that and take the appropriate option
if they have an issue or concern with that.
And hopefully we're all as the adults modeling that.
This Donna Cronan has.
I know you said that there would be expanded space
for for lunchtime, and I know there been several community
feedback forms that have mentioned outside space.
Has has will there be any type of pseudo open
campus types set up where there might be out outside
distance areas where students could go and have a facemask break
but still socially isolated, whether it be tents or just tables
or any anything like that where?
There be a little bit use of the outside.
We've got a beautiful campus in some organized fashion. So.
Dr. Winslow.
We've had discussion about that and what it might look like.
I don't have firm answers on it because we're still in discussion
about where and when and how and who's monitoring and all those different pieces.
But we've also talked about, you know, opportunities.
If an art class can go outside for art, like go outside,
you know, there's other times that you can go outside, go outside.
Same with like recess at the elementary school.
You know, if that's an opportunity for a mask break,
if the students are, you know, socially distanced,
that would be an opportunity because we're staggering recesses.
So there's there's lots of discussion about there's just not
firm absolutes on it yet.
But those are all definitely things that we are also thinking about.
And I think even staff are going to need times.
When we.
Need to like take their mask off for a second and breathe.
Right.
And it just as an aside, we had the senior picnic last week for those who attended.
We had 150 maybe in attendance.
They were great as far as wearing their masks and
doing everything they were asked to do.
Like they knew upfront what it was going to be and they were fantastic.
We have a doctor in the house.
I mean, I've had to take
dropped my mask off a little bit just to get some fresh air a few times.
Mm hmm.
Is there any information at all about
any kind of health effects related to breathing in the recently exhaled carbon?
Whatever comes out of
the mask, the mask doesn't trap that.
I mean, you you get a sense of humidity
or even maybe a sense of condensation.
And so the air doesn't seem as fresh. But
there's you know, there are certainly people
who are incapable of taking a mask off, should wear one.
And there are individuals with certain health conditions
that may preclude them from wearing a mask.
And in a lot of people, it does take some time, adjustment
time to spending hours in masks, but no health effects.
You're getting the same fresh air you need with each breath you take. Yep.
Thank you.
Mr. McFarland, this is Lindsay Drew again.
My next set of questions in this in this section.
For the other other.
Consideration.
Other considerations for student and staff
revolves primarily around the staff component it.
And so I'm going to make some kind of
general questions, you know, as it applies.
There are references in here to the district across train staff
when possible to designate appropriately certified personnel to assume the sick
employee job duties, that the district will train staff on all safety protocols.
You know, obviously, volunteers and visitors are required as volunteers.
Visitors are required to wear a face covering and undergo health screening.
But we're not actually allowing visitors
and volunteers to to go into the building beyond the office at this time.
Overall, I I'm just from the Health and safety.
When we're talking about the health and safety
as it relates to the precautions for COVID,
as well as the social, emotional, mental health and well-being.
You know, here it says the administration will encourage
employees and students to talk with people they trust about their concerns
and however they are feeling.
I just want to ensure from the staff
perspective that we have those communication
channels in place If we are providing additional relief.
I think about how as being a volunteer in my son's
elementary classroom, how
trying it is on any teacher and on the best day
to have 20 to 25 students that they're trying,
you know, to work with and and get through the challenges that pop up,
are we going to be able to have additional help relief, you know, in there?
Is there a way that we can alleviate any of the, you know, other
responsibilities that are placed on our staff members
that are perhaps not as necessary during this time?
And how are we able to meet
the and measure what we're saying about cross training and providing
all of that to make sure that our staff feel as comfortable as possible?
There are a lot of questions.
A lot of hard.
So the
the well-being of our staff, that is obviously important.
And we know that we have a responsibility as educators for our kids.
So the beginning of the year,
we know that we're going to need to spend a lot of time
on the social emotional part and the well-being.
And that's that's for all
that we do have our employee assistance
that's available, and I know that's been shared regularly with four staff.
We'll be doing
more with the students which also involves the staff as far as
your own well-being and watching yourself for signs of stress.
Your question about reducing,
I think it was reducing some
extra duties or anything like that.
I know we're going to have X needs that were like getting kids in in the morning.
So. Mr.. I can I can jump in there.
So we are in the process of securing additional building subs.
So we're
actually that was one of my questions because there's always been a shortage.
Yeah.
So we're actually in the process of doubling our request for building subs.
Traditionally in the past had eight or requesting 16.
I just sent out an email today to see where we are, where we're at.
We already have identified 13,
so we're looking for three more at this point in time.
So provided no one is absent, we have we have 16 certified teachers.
Well, I shouldn't I should backup certified substitutes
to to help with some of those tasks.
In addition to that, in the past, we have not supplied
our building substitutes with with additional training.
So the plan is to bring them in during orientation and induction
and during and also the two weeks in-service to get them up to speed.
As you know, we also
approved a support staff agreement that includes assistance.
So if the need arises that we need to hire
some classroom assistants to relieve some of those jobs.
Earlier you talked about teachers teaching from home if if they're healthy,
but we're asking them to self-isolate because of they've been exposed
to COVID 19.
That might be an opportunity for those assistants to step in.
So we have a lot of things in place, but we don't want to start hiring
without the actual need for those bodies at this point in time.
So we have things in place.
You know, we're assessing our staff to see where they're at
and to see what needs they have
within the next week or so so we can make some of those determinations.
Okay. Thank you.
I think at the end of the day, for me, you know, there's
so much emphasis on students as there should be. You know, as a mom.
And I'm trying to make these determinations and what's
right path, you know, for for my son, were
that emphasis is there.
I think looking at it from the staff component
and it could probably come from I have a sister who's a teacher.
So, you know, hearing kind of what her fears are
and having to return to a classroom environment
has made it stand out even more.
But I want to make sure that throughout this entire process, in our health
and safety plan and the things that we're that our staff
feel, you know,
that they don't feel disenfranchized,
that they feel included and important and valued,
and that there is the reassurance that we are
are looking out for their health and safety as much as our students,
and that we don't differentiate
in making these decisions and accommodations
between the two, right? Yes.
Thank you.
And then my final question,
whichever and I'll probably be really happy for at this point is
will we be having a acknowledgment form for families to acknowledge
that they have reviewed our health and safety plan and that they will comply
with anything such as mask wearing temperature checks and whatnot?
The same that we do with student handbooks.
We haven't
discussed that yet.
You're saying like a sign off, right?
So so saying that they understand that we if they are choosing
to return full time, that we have these plans laid out in our health
and safety plan and that to make sure our staff and students are,
you know, protected in any way possible, that they understand
will require face coverings, that we will require the temperature check,
and that these are the symptoms that if they present with
whether before or after or during school, that
they understand, you know, what the protocol will be for handling it.
We haven't discussed that.
We can certainly look at what that would look like.
Okay.
Any other comments or discussion about this last section?
I just wanted to say this is Tricia Steiner
that Lisa Miller part of her job as the district's pandemic coordinator
will be to do daily monitoring of the local numbers, specifically
our zip codes in Hummelstown and Hershey and and how that affects our community.
Spread correct.
And Lisa did that for us in the spring, even though the kids weren't here.
We got a a daily update on numbers and everything to keep us up.
So, yes, that is part of her role.
Madam President, this Ajani, I would like Mr.
Foreign, can you just address generally the UN?
The question was posed during the public session about
how is this task force compiled ensure the selection of those people.
So the state guidance
was that every school district had to identify a pandemic coordinator
and or a pandemic team, and that the pandemic team
was if you chose a pandemic team, which I think most schools have,
that had to have representation from the the constituent groups.
So we have a fairly complex,
robust incident response team
that addresses all of our
hazard, all hazards.
So they were part of the team and that's pretty much a lot, the administrators.
And then we also
had a school nurse,
we had a the ACA, the Teacher association president,
the Support Staff Association president, our school physician of record
to parents and to school board members on the team.
Thank you.
And wanting to try to keep the team to a manageable level because
we may need the team again if we have to modify or you know, as things go along.
That team, they didn't realize it, but they agreed for the amount of time
that we need them.
But that's how it was selected.
Thank you.
I know this is Lindsay.
Jurgen. I know that Dr.
Shah wanted to comment last,
so I'm going to try and just get my my final thoughts in on it.
But I this is not an easy decision.
The idea of a school board of directors
who are elected to do a number of tasks and have a number of responsibilities
determining how to safely return our students during a pandemic
is not one of those things that was on the list
that we all signed up for when we ran for office for this.
And so it has been an absolute
surreal place to be.
I struggle with the
the the way that so many of these things
have become divisive and political in the when it comes down to our students,
to our children, to our friends and family who are, you know, educators
and that I wish that Pennsylvania
were doing a better job right now at providing guidance.
I appreciate the ability that individual districts to address
how they return students safely to school, given
all of the different budget constraints and things to take into consideration.
But this is an enormous undertaking for every single school district,
administration team staff, parents at school boards.
And so
I don't know that there's a right decision,
you know, when it comes to doing this.
I'm not a physician.
I'm not an epidemiologist.
We can look at the data all we want, but we
we also have to take into consideration the general feeling
and tone and environment of, you know, what's going on as.
And so I really feel that our public schools are set up
for a lose lose situation with these making these decisions.
And so
I struggle with voting to approve this tonight
as a parent because I wish that the plan were a bit
more complex in detail to
to provide assurances that the people don't have to listen to this meeting
and hear all of those details, that it would be laid out further.
I've sampled the viewing of other districts
and feel that ours is very late compared.
But I appreciate all of the the, you know, extra detail and information
that you've given this evening because, you know, it does
answer a lot of those questions.
I trust our teachers.
I trust our administration.
You know, we'll do the best.
But I ask that and to Derry Township Forum
that we not just look at minimum
guidelines, that we not just check boxes, that we hold ourselves
to a higher standard like we do in every other situation,
and that we not wait for a certain percentage of cases, that
we not look at this version of data or that version of data,
because as we all know, that changes every single day
depending on who you're talking to and that we stay at the forefront of
what is best for our community
and what is best for the safety and health of our students and our staff.
Thank you.
Dr. Scholl Shah.
Kip shot just a brief comment
to provide some context.
My daughter is entering
fifth grade and she is intent on going back to school.
I'm currently in my 16th year of treatment for incurable metastatic cancer,
and so I'm at significant risk this infectious disease.
My personal stake in this plan is very high.
My life's work as an emergency physician and was at the point of the sword
for two pandemics, Sars-cov-1 and the H1N1 in 2009,
at which time I was the physician director for emergency preparedness at PINNACLE,
and our committee was Chance Pinnacles Emergency Response.
This plan is excellent, achieves the goal
of having the students physically present in the school.
It's well-thought out.
It provides excellent mitigation strategies, multilayered
and as has been stated many times elimination of risk is not possible.
It follows the standard guidelines of the official organizations
through the CDC, American Academy, Pediatrics, and it's very, very flexible.
We should approve this and revise it as needed.
So thank you.
I'm going to call the vote.
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I always opposed say no.
Okay, The plan is approved.
Thank you for your discussion.
Thank you for your patience as I went through those questions.
Thank you.
Okay.
We are on to the next item,
Section 404 of the Pennsylvania
Public School Code of 1949, Revised
2000, stipulates vacancies in the Office of the Board Secretary
shall be feel filled for the unexpired term.
I will accept nominations to fill the position of Board Secretary
for the balance of the unexpired term beginning July 1st,
2020, retroactive and ending June 30th, 2021.
I Move that Michele AG be nominated to serve
as Board Secretary for the unexpired term, ending June 30th, 2021.
Second,
second week. Thank you.
Is there any discussion?
I would just like to thank
Michel for taking on this role
for us and I'm excited to have her working together with SBA
and the training that they provide and and having us, you know,
just have a little bit more of a holistic
potential about this role and can be for for it to help all of us.
So thank you.
Yeah, I feel like it makes sense for her.
I hope she feels the same way.
For those who don't know.
Michelle is the superintendent, administrative assistant,
and we've just wanted to reorganize some of the roles of the board secretary.
So we thought she would be a good fit to help us with that,
including some committee work and some help with the board members.
And so we do appreciate her stepping into that role to fulfill this term.
Okay.
There's standard voice vote.
All those in favor say hi all as opposed to say now.
Okay, you are approved
high school, National School Breakfast and Lunch program.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends a return to
and participation in the National School Breakfast
and Lunch Program at the High School for the 2020 2021 school year.
May I have a motion to return it to and participate
in the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program at the High School.
So move.
Tricia Steiner Second Marami Is there any discussion?
Are there any attendant capital expenditures associated with this move?
And as it has been discussed in the past?
That's a good question.
Dr. Shaw.
At this point, I don't see that because the capital expenditures were for hot
selections and
the the reason the main reason for doing that going back
this year is all of the cold selections will qualify
under the National School Lunch program and therefore it gets us subsidy.
Thanks for confirming a nice opportunity for us.
I have this is Lindsay Drew.
I have been a
somewhat outspoken advocate of going back to the program for the health
component of it nutritionally for students, as well as
taking advantage of the federal subsidies that are available.
So I appreciate this, but I really just want to thank Mr.
Hummel for the work that he's doing as he's going through these changes
and for recognizing that this makes us compliant with that program
and looking at budget potential budget deficits that, you know,
this is just another way that we can help to to offset some of those.
So thank you to him.
Okay.
This is standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I oppose say now.
Okay.
We are back on the National Breakfast and Lunch program.
May I have a motion to approve personal resignations?
So moved.
Maria, my second one.
Did you. Is there any discussion?
I was in favor?
Say I, I suppose say now say the resignations are approved personnel.
General. Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends
the approval of the listed personnel and recognition of any listed transfers.
May I have a motion
to approve the listed personnel in recognition of any listed transfers?
So I'll move to Maria.
Money.
Second, Donna Cronan, any discussion?
Yeah, I just had a general question.
I think.
Do I need to pull that person off to ask that question?
Just know you can ask it.
I just wondered why the approval of the weight room supervisor is occurring now.
And for this bring of, I'm not sure,
21 Correct.
So if you remember, we approve all limited service contracts the end of June.
These are ones that were not filled yet at that time.
Okay. Thank you for approving for the year.
Okay. Thank you.
Hey, all those in favor say I. I.
Others opposed say, now Personnel General is accepted.
The SIU report is attached.
Mr. Steiner, do you have anything to add?
Thank you. Yes.
I would just like to to add that disclosure also that the
the SIU, the intermediate unit, which is sort of
in charge of the multiple school districts in our region,
they're working really, really hard through all of this.
I know we all are, all the school districts are,
but they're doing as much as they can to try to support the school districts,
to try to increase bandwidth and Internet access,
while also, you know, paying attention to the security issues that that comes
along with and and signing
up new school districts to help with online learning.
So the are you I just want to let you know is is is doing a lot of work and
and preparation for all of us too and it's a good system
for us to lean to lean on if we need it.
The CBA report is attached. Dr.
Cronan do you have anything to add?
There were
there were so many items
I didn't want to have to summarize on myself,
but I'll just I'll just read off the highlights of the title
just so you can look to them if you're interested.
One of them is a school board reopening Task force report.
A second is a national report on why pediatric groups are pushing
to reopen schools serve PSB Coaching hosting Virtual Advocacy
Day this fall for national hybrid school
schedules, More flexibility, including big logistical challenges.
Number five, National districts
boards respond to calls for change of civil rights protests.
Six students and school employees must wear masks under secretaries orders.
Seven school districts race against the clock to plan reopening, and then eight
busses pose particular changes to schools pandemic plan.
So everyone that everything that we've been discussing today
clearly is issues across the state.
So good information in there.
Thank you.
Any other delegate reports?
I did want to let the board know that Dauphin County Technical School
is having a special board meeting
Wednesday night to approve their health and safety plan for reopening
and I'm sorry, I did tell you about that, Treasurer.
However, stock is on vacation, so you'll fill in.
Okay. Thank you.
I'll be there to
board members.
Is any dissent?
Are there any board members who would like to give a report?
I would just like to make a request that we utilize
the tax system to make sure that parents are aware of Wednesday evening,
Wednesday evening's parent
forum so that folks can participate for that.
Excuse me as possible.
Yeah, we'll smile.
We have over 600 pre-registered.
Okay, so I think it's working.
And the other board members,
Mr. Macfarlane, do a superintendent report.
I do. Thank you.
Just a couple of reminders.
First of all, information
regarding the opening of school will be sent to families via email this evening.
This will include an informational letter, along with several links
and attachments to assist families in making the best decisions
for their family with regard to face, face or virtual learning for next year.
One of those links is some really good
information and things to consider
from the CDC for parents as they consider their options.
Also, the reopening of School Parent Forum will be held
via Zoom webinar on Wednesday, July 29th, from 6:08 p.m..
Registration is required and information for that is
the link will be in the email communication
that goes out tonight and is also on the district website and the calendar.
Just click on it and it takes you to where you need to register.
And then our bridge day, which we've been talking about
and planning for,
for a rising 6/9 graders, that's going to be a virtual format this year.
So be more of a welcome
and more information will be
forthcoming from that for the middle school in the high school.
And then the first day of school for students is Monday, August 31st.
And that's my report.
Thank you. Board President Report.
I just wanted to thank Mr.
Swiger for making our livestream meeting happen.
This is the first time we've attempted to do something like this.
So for March, April, May and June, we were on Zoom webinars,
which I remember the week that happened.
We were scrambling right to figure out how to do that.
And now I appreciate the board members coming in for this meeting.
I like this so much better than Zoom.
I don't know about everybody else, but
this is better.
And I did see our highest attendance tonight just being livestream was 256.
So that's probably a record for a school board meeting.
So hopefully we can work on keeping something like this up
so we can be more transparent and the community can watch what we're doing
and we'll
move on to the recognition of citizens.
This is an opportunity for residents and taxpayers to address the board on
matters related to the agenda or matters of district governance, not on the agenda.
Those who speak, if present, are asked to come to the microphone
and state your name and address.
For the record, those who are attending virtually are asked to enter
your name and address and comment in the box on your screen.
Your entry will be read aloud for the record.
Those giving comments are asked to follow the same guidelines
outlined in the initial public comment portion of the meeting
as reminder, this portion of the board meeting is not for questions
and answers of the board, but more a public comment portion.
Those wishing to present private concerns or questions
any follow up outside the board meeting
may go to the District Office website and submit a community correspondence.
I did want to comment that since this is the first time
we have been livestreaming through this webinar
that the chat box is called question and answer.
So that's not really what it's for.
It's for public comment.
And while we were having the meeting.
There were some questions popping up.
We're not going to go back and answer those questions
because they were not typed in during the public comment portions of the meeting.
But we will take comment right now in the comment box.
So are there any residents or
taxpayers who would like to comment at this time?
And just for the livestream
audience, we do have three in person participants,
so feel free to come to the microphone
and then those online.
Now is your time to type it into the topic.
Chat Box.
Christine Jackson, 28 Penzance Road
Cocoa Box has been on the front lines
since March.
Your staff
has been on the front lines with us since March.
Your nurses have been on the front lines with us
since March.
I feel the weight of the world
as an organization
if someone were to get sick.
So I applaud
the effort that you are taking
for the safety of students
and the safety of staff.
It's a lot.
It's a lot and it's a lot for everybody. And
what we are seeing is dire, absolutely dire.
Every single week.
Every single week we are enrolling children
who need help because of what's happening through COVID.
But what I want you to be fully aware of, and I am so excited
that you are really focusing on some of the mental health is that
every single week we are pulling cars up
so that we can provide a listening ear so that we can
take $2 from a mom because that's all she can give.
Moms that are now in our drive thru line that don't want to be there,
students who are struggling, not being in the classroom.
So the mental health component has been
really difficult
and it's it's about that love and that kindness and compassion
and your teachers are
doing that on the front lines with us.
They are seeing their students, they're interacting, they're helping maneuver,
you know, have previously helped maneuver
some of the systems that were in place to help parents.
So I echo what Mr.
was said this evening with regards to your staff.
Please protect them.
Please do everything in your power to value the gifts
that they are to our district
and as well your maintenance staff.
I have watched
the last several weeks the heart and care of your maintenance department
and what they are giving and giving and cleaning and cleaning.
We as an organization will be making sure that we continue
to show our appreciation to them and I hope that the district does the same.
Their heart is just as huge as.
Everybody else in our district
and I watch it, they care about students just as much. So
I'm very proud
to live in this district and I'm very proud
to work collaboratively as a nonprofit with our district
that cares so much about the students that we serve.
Thank you.
And thank you to Cocoa Parks for all you've done.
Any other taxpayers or residents in person,
I think. Mr.
Swiger, Let's start at the time at 840.
Yes. Okay. Thank you.
So the first one is Rachel Theresa at 1416 Springhill in Hummelstown.
She says, I have a few comments.
Superintendent McFarland's previous video message said
that families could choose distance learning if preferred,
but the health and safety plan implies that a medical reason may be needed.
It would be helpful to have clarification of distance.
Learning can be chosen out of preference.
It would be helpful to have the health and safety plan address the metrics
that will be used to determine
if the hybrid plan is being enacted or if the school to be closed,
for example, based on numbers
of positive cases, amount of absenteeism, etc..
The CDC recommends health screenings at the door to the facility when feasible,
and some other local schools are including the screens at the door.
If most parents are providing transportation, a check at the door
could still be effective.
This could be an additional consideration if the county moves to yellow.
There also needs to be education provided to parents
for the list of symptoms, fever, threshold, etc..
Thank you.
Yeah, you can keep going.
Yeah.
Can he just clarify that?
You don't need to have. Yeah, I can easily.
If that is a choice.
You choose either face to face virtual.
That's a parent choice.
Not a metric needed, right?
No. Thank you.
Okay.
The next comment comes from Ritchie to number
she's at 236 Hilltop Road.
Can high schoolers have the hybrid option?
Well, just keep going.
We're not doing question and answer yes.
Brian Saunders from 335 Maple Avenue in Hershey.
What are the metrics to be used that will trigger a to the hybrid model
or a completely online model?
Will this be a number of infected, a rate of infection, a local hospital
capacity, etc.?
Amy Rinehart
1050 Peggy Drive in Hummelstown.
Thank you for all your hard work and dedication
in making some very difficult decisions for safety of students and staff
for this upcoming year.
Miles Ribbons at 1848 North Road.
My son's mother lives in Derry Township on Wexford Road
facilities are called out and the health and safety plan
by high school, middle school and an elementary school
do the plans for elementary also apply to the SCC?
If not, where can I send and find health and safety plans?
For the SCC I can address the elementary is the K-5
conglomerate Kay
Ann Marie Durden 236
Jacob's Creek Drive in Hershey
Concerns has anyone asked how many teachers,
how would the teachers feel about the five day proposal for school busses?
Has anyone considered how bus drivers are?
Encourage social distancing while bus drivers are trying to focus on driving?
Why aren't temps being taken of children?
Michelle DAVIES 1524 Church Road in Hershey, PA
Thank you for making school nearly normal.
Kellie Stover 254 Jacob's Creek Drive.
Is there a hybrid plan being devolved?
Susan Glatt
At 1461 Spring Hill Drive in Hummelstown,
she had a comment above
which we could address
and Kelly
Silver said that meant to be available.
Okay, last comment.
Jennifer.
At 322 Cocoa Avenue, will you require parents
to sign COVID waivers absolving the school district from responsibility?
Should my children test positive?
Because let's face it, there will be parents
that send sick kids to school because you aren't making a sign
and acknowledgment of safety procedures, as suggested by Lindsay Tyrrell.
Okay.
Or is one mama the other?
There's more and more.
Jessica Dimopoulos at 204 West Arena Avenue.
Many schools across the country are doing a hybrid approach
and dividing the students into thirds, having them do in-class
instruction for one week and online for two weeks, allowing
time for sanitizing on the weekend, providing smaller group instruction
and giving time for the incubation period to expire in between groups.
Given the current statistics with COVID cases rising rapidly across the South
and heading in our direction, we should be considering this as a model.
We are asking our businesses in our community to sacrifice a lot.
Some of those sacrifices have cost them their business for school to start,
but then expect to push school forward with the same schedule
and no thoughtful hybrid plan. Short
and make
make all those sacrifices fruitless.
And we have one more Tracy Brown at 319 Park Avenue in Hershey.
If an adult employed in the district gets a positive COVID result,
will the class get a 14 day quarantine?
If so, will this cycle go on throughout the year?
And Susie Glyde, if you scroll up, she didn't have her
name and address in her comment, but now she did put it in there.
So can you can we scroll up to her comment
at 842? Yep.
I am also a physician.
This is from Susan. Glad.
I am also a physician
who has provided direct patient care to COVID positive individuals.
And while I respect Dr.
Shaw's opinion, I agree that the lack of detail of this plan is concerning.
Although the risk to individuals is low, it is not zero.
I do not feel that this plan
has been sufficiently considered and is overly aggressive.
W.H.O.
guidelines should not our school our own policies.
These were intended to be effective for nations at all socio economic levels.
Okay.
And I believe that is it.
Okay,
How can I go back here?
Is there anything else for the good of the order?
I just would like
Lindsey Joycelyn to echo to Mrs.
Rexha's comment to thank Coco Pax and the Dairy Association.
I believe that was Mr.
Tony Potter that provided the milk giveaway over the last several weeks.
I know that that was something that was very beneficial to our students
above and beyond everything that Coco Pax has been doing
during this time since school shutdown.
So thank you truly for all of the work that everyone in the community
is doing to make sure that students are taken
care of and have food and
resources available to them.
Anything else for the good of the order?
I just had a quick question that came to me as a result of
one of the citizen's comments
as far as
data and information that would trigger us to take
action to limit
the options or foreclose certain opportunities.
My understanding is that we will rely on direction and guidance
from the Department of Health, Department of Education in the county.
We will not make independent decisions based on
rises in case or positive testing or anything like that, correct?
Correct. Okay.
Thank you.
Okay.
The next public board of directors meeting will be held August 10th, 2020,
starting at 7:00 here in the District Office Board of Directors Room.
May I have a motion to adjourn this meeting?
So move on. Teacher Second, Maria.
Manny Okay, All those in favor say I.
I was to say no.
We are adjourned at 851. Thank you.