FAQ - From Reopening Plan & Parent Survey

UCSD #1

Will UCSD #1 be offering an on-line virtual school for district students? Yes, more information will be coming regarding enrollment and course offerings. The program will be a “classroom based virtual school” that is described in the reopening plan.

Are masks required? Yes (FOR NOW, NOT FOREVER), when you cannot physical distance at least 6’

Will they wear a mask the whole day? No, when outdoors or with the ability to physically distance in the classroom at the discretion of the teacher.

Will a mask or face covering be provided for the kids or do parents need to supply them? The school will provide a gaiter for all students. It is recommended that parents provide a reusable mask as part of their back to school supplies. Parents should take the appropriate precautions based on their student’s needs.

Are students going to be required to wear a mask or face covering during physical education? No, efforts will be made to take students outside as long as weather conditions permit.

What will be done if students do not wear a mask or face covering or if they do not wear it properly? Students will be asked to comply, and/or encouraged to comply with the mask requirement. If a student refuses, parents will be contacted to help support the requirement or switch to the on-line option.

What are the health risks associated with wearing a mask for an extended period of time? We have been assured by public health that wearing a mask is not a health risk. It may be uncomfortable, but it is not a risk to students or staff.

When there is a positive COVID case in a classroom, will all students be required to quarantine? That decision will be up to public health. In our conversations with public health it is doubtful that all will be quarantined unless the exposure was close and for an extended period of time without a mask.

Will the school close if there are any positive cases and who makes that decision? No, we will follow the recommendations of public health. On a typical day, we have an average of 275 students out of school for a regular illness, COVID may increase that number but we will function as usual as long as allowed by public health.

How will the school transition from Tier I to Tier II or Tier III? If a decision is made by public health requiring UCSD #1 to change tiers, we will take an appropriate amount of time to transition to a different tier. We do know that any school time lost to move to a different tier will have to be made up day for day sometime during the school year or we will have to extend the school year.

What will be done for students that are not following the rules and potential expose others (students and staff) to illness? Students/staff must comply with public health guidelines in order to keep schools open. Students/parents who do not want to comply with health guidelines will be asked to switch to the virtual school option or homeschool.

What will be done about the student attendance policy? Will I still get the dreaded attendance letter if my child misses school due to illness? Attendance is still required by state statute, but our policy will be modified as necessary to meet the needs of our students during Phase I of reopening. The dreaded attendance letter will only be sent if attendance is adversely affecting academic performance, and it is not due to a (documented) health issue.

Will students and staff be health screened before starting school, including a temperature check? If so, will there be a temperature re-test if over 100.4, or will they just be sent home? Yes, we will follow the guidelines recommended by public health for screening. Recommendations do include a re-testing protocol that we will follow.

What is the plan for school lunch, will they be serving a regular hot meal. Will breakfast be served every day? Each school will provide a lunch/breakfast plan that is specific to their school. Lunch and breakfast will be served daily, and menus will be provided via school websites.

What is the plan if there is an outbreak at school? We would follow the directions provided by local Public Health. Please see the Smart Start Talking Points provided by Public Health for more information.

Is there going to be fall sports? Yes, please see the WHSAA Smart Start Plan for more information.

How long will this “reopening plan” be in effect? Is this a forever thing? UCSD #1’s plan is based on the latest Governor’s “Statewide Public Health Orders”. Modification will be made as orders change, that is usually once per month, but can be every two weeks. Students/Parents will be notified immediately if orders change.

If some students return to school and others do not, how will equity for all student learning and grading be insured? UCSD#1 is responsible to provide FAPE to all students. That is a Free, Appropriate, Public, Education for students. We are responsible for students who are enrolled in our schools including the on-line virtual option. To be clear, the “best possible” education is in-person, face-to-face, but the on-line virtual option is “appropriate” given the situation of a pandemic and the fear to attend school. Parents who choose to homeschool their children must accept all responsibility for learning and academic preparation.

Will students be forced to take a COVID test if they want to return after a fever? What about other symptoms? Will they be required to stay home for 2 weeks? No, but if symptoms persist it is recommended they be tested for COVID or see their primary care physician. Please see the Smart Start Talking Points provided by Public Health for more information.

How will students understand (hear) their teachers who are wearing a mask or face covering? Each of our classrooms have an amplification system that can and should be used by our teachers.

If a student has to stay home because they are sick or they have a virus, how will they be educated? How will they keep up with their class including homework? Students will be provided homework just like they were provided in the past. Work will be expected to be made-up in an appropriate amount of time, just like previous years. Teachers do have the ability to use an on-line learning management system like CANVAS to allow sick students access to homework from home. If an extended amount of time is required for recovery, a student may use the on-line virtual classroom offered for that grade level and/or content area until the student is healthy enough to return to school.

How will students participate in band and/or choir? Our music instructors K-12 are working on a plan on how our music classes will be taught to meet the restrictions placed on them by the current health orders. These plans will be provided by the individual schools when completed. I have great confidence in our music teachers and know they will provide a quality program and stay within the current health requirements to keep students/staff safe.

Parts of the plan sound very unfriendly (desks facing front, lunch in classrooms), what will be done to help students have social opportunities? Our teachers and staff will do all that they can to make learning enjoyable for students. They will work very hard to meet the social and emotional needs of every student.

What will happen during transition times or passing times (students moving from class to class)? Will learning time in class be shortened to provide additional time? Students will have to wear a mask during transition times at our middle and high schools. Schedules may be modified to shorten passing times to keep students moving from one class to the next. We do not anticipate a significant loss in instructional time due to the added health requirements.

If students are suffering from allergies, or sneeze for some reason, will they be sent home? How do we differentiate something non-contagious with other health issues? Students will be screened at our schools by trained personnel following protocols provided by Public Health. Please see the Smart Start Talking Points provided by Public Health for more information.

In summer school, COVID broke out at an elementary and secondary school. How does the district think with all the staff and students in the schools in the fall, they are going to prevent an outbreak? Facts are important, during summer school, one student was screened and sent home with symptoms. The student and her family later tested positive for COVID. Public health did not require any students or staff to quarantine, and no student or staff contracted the virus. Two summer school staff members were quarantined by public health due to exposure from their own family members, and later did test positive for COVID. Two different staff members were quarantined due to close contact with the two who tested positive, they did not contract the virus. All of the staff members returned to work after their quarantines, with no community spread at school. This is proof that screening does work, public health is on the ball, and procedures that are being followed by UCDS #1 did work. Summer school continued with no community spread of COVID. It worked because students and staff followed the recommendations from Public Health and wore their masks or face coverings.

I have multiple kids in the district, and I am a district employee, if one of us have to quarantine, do all of us have to quarantine? No, especially if protocols are followed and mask or face coverings are worn. Please see the Smart Start Talking Points provided by Public Health for more information.

Some of the district classrooms are small, will there be enough space to allow physical distance in every classroom so masks do not have to be worn? No, class size and the size of the classroom will determine if mask or face coverings have to be worn during class. We will do everything possible to allow students to remove their masks or face coverings during class time and/or to provide them with breaks so their mask can be safely removed.

Will children be cleaning with Clorox wipes in their work area? Depending on the age of the student, disinfecting materials will be available if they would like to wipe off their own desk. Younger students will not be asked to clean their own desks.

Will children be allowed any contact with their peers at all? Yes, our teachers and staff will do all that they can to make learning enjoyable for students. They will work very hard to meet the social and emotional needs of every student, including group work when physical distancing can be maintained.

Will parents need to bring a doctor’s excuse each time their student stays home with a temperature over 100.4 degrees? No, public health recommends 2 day (48 hours) with normal temperature (without fever reducing medications) before returning to school.

If a child comes to school with a fever above 100.4 degrees, or they have symptoms of COVID-19, what is the protocol? Students will be given a mask and be isolated in an area under the supervision of a school nurse (or other district personnel) until a parent can take them home. Parents will be advised to contact their primary care physician.

If distant learning is required, will teachers use one platform to lessen the frustration on kids and parents. Will teachers be available to help students, especially their class time instead of what fits the teacher’s schedule? UCSD #1 will be providing a “classroom based virtual on-line learning” option for students who do not want to attend school at this time. There will be a schedule when the student can meet with the teacher via an on-line platform face-to-face, and scheduled office hours for students and parents.

What measures are being taken for possible shutdowns in the future? The UCSD #1 Reopening plan is in place to allow our community to have in-person, face-to-face school, and an on-line virtual option. The main goal of the plan and it’s requirements is to get school open and then keep school open. If required to close schools and move to Tier III (virtual), students and parents will be notified and provided an appropriate amount of time to make the transition.