Albion seeks parent input on reopening
District plans for Pre-K to Grade 6 for in-person Monday through Friday; Grades 7-12 would alternate between in-person and remote learning
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Albion Middle School will see more cleaning if students are approved for in-person learning this school year.
ALBION – The school district wants to hear from parents if they plan to have their children return for in-person schooling in 2020-21 and if they will have their children be bussed in the mornings and afternoons.
Albion in the survey also is asking families about their internet access at home.
Albion is asking families to complete the survey by Aug. 7 to help the district as it prepares for a new school year. Click here to see the survey.
“I thank you for your patience and understanding as we proceed through the process of determining how best to meet the needs of your child(ren) over the next several months, while maintaining the health and safety expectations that are required,” interim superintendent Scott Bishoping said in a message to the community.
Albion also completed a 48-page reopening plan on Friday that was submitted to the State Education Department. The plan was also posted on the district website.
Albion’s first option for reopening would be in-person schooling Monday through Friday for grades prekindergarten through 6.
In grades 7-12, there would be an A Group and B Group that would alternate between in-person and remote learning. Wednesday would be remote learning for everyone in grades 7-12. The students would be in-person at school two days a week.
In option 2, would have Pre-K to grades 6 doing in-person everyday but Wednesday, which would be remote learning. Grades 7-12 would alternate between in-person and remote on Monday and Tuesday and Thursday and Friday, with Wednesday remote for all students in 7-12.
Option 3 would have PreK to grade 6 doing remote learning three days a week and in-person two days a week. For grades 7 to 12, the A group would do in-person learning on Monday and Tuesday and then remote learning Wednesday through Friday. The B Group would do remote learning from Monday through Wednesday and then in-person learning on Thursday and Friday.
Students will need to maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet as much as possible and wear masks when social distancing isn’t possible.
• Minimize student movement: This potentially means having students eating lunch in their classroom instead of the cafeteria and eliminating assemblies, field trips and other large-group activities, the district states in the reopening plan.
Special area subjects – art, music, physical education – may be pushed into the classroom. “Whenever possible, students will utilize outside space for physical education instruction,” the plan states. “We will adhere to 12 feet between students when engaging in physical activity and music rehearsals.”
• Social Emotional Learning team: The district will have a team with certified teachers, certified school counselors, a licensed mental health professional/community partner through Orleans County Mental Health, school psychologists, school social worker, school resource officer (SRO) and school administrators.
This task force team will develop a cohesive and strategic plan, regardless of the re-entry phase, to support students and staff upon for the 2020-2021 school year. This includes a means to identify and actively support student and staff well-being and mental health concerns.
• The district will have a “Helpdesk” for parents/students/teachers to report technical issues that might be experienced during remote learning.
The school district will provide all students with access to learning materials and resources in multiple formats, wherever possible.
In the event students do not have sufficient access to devices and/or high-speed internet, the district will provide the students with alternate methods to access materials and instruction by picking up materials at school or dropping off materials to students’ homes.
