Grand Valley Local Schools

Safe Return to In-Person Instruction

and

Continuity of Services Plan

REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF A LOCAL PLAN

1. Policies for Mitigation Strategies: Plan for incorporating eight different mitigation strategies Included in current CDC guidance.

2. Continuity of Services: Plan to address academic and non‐academic services for students and staff.

3. Periodic Review: Review at least every 6 months through September 30, 2023 and revise plan as appropriate.

4. Public Input: Seek public input and incorporate revisions as necessary.

DEADLINE: June 24, 2021

DIRECTIONS: Post the plan to the school or district website and then email that link (URL) to: continuityplan@education.ohio.gov

RESOURCES:

ODE American Rescue Plan: Safe Return to In‐person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plans

CDC Operational Strategy for K‐12 Schools through Phased Prevention

District Contact: Dr. Ellen Winer, Director of Pupil Services

(Email) ellen.winer@grandvalley.school (Phone) 440‐805-4543

POLICIES FOR INCORPORATING MITIGATION STRATEGIES

Describe to what extent the following policies have been adopted to incorporate CDC Mitigation Strategies and provide a description of any policies being implemented.

During the August 17, 2020 meeting, The Grand Valley Local School Board of Education approved the district’s Reopening Guide for Families and Staff which outlined the strategies to address the following guidelines:

· Learning options – Families were offered the choice of attending school face to face or a remote learning alternative. In grades K-5 face to face learning took place all day, every day. In grades 6-12 a hybrid model was put into place. in order to maintain social distancing and was modified second semester from students attending 2 days a week to 4 days a week.

· Face Coverings – All staff and students were expected to wear a facial covering. All workers entering the building were required to do so as well.

· Physical distancing – There were signs throughout the buildings reminding students and staff to maintain a six foot distance from one another. Cafeteria tables were marked to indicate where students were to sit as were the indoor and outdoor bleachers. There were no shared materials and classrooms were cleared of all furniture except desks and chairs so an average of 20 desks and chairs could be placed in the classrooms safely.

· Temperature monitoring – The district purchased eight Thermal Screening Systems which were placed at each student entrance. These were additionally placed at entrances for sporting or arts events.

· Handwashing – Signs were posted throughout the building, particularly in all restrooms, with directions and reminders about handwashing. Hand sanitizer was available in every classroom, office, cafeteria, bus and gymnasium.

· Cleaning and maintaining the facility and buses – The district purchased three Total 360 Electrostatic Sprayers for each building and 5 Green Gorilla Disinfectant Spray Systems used for the buses. Rooms and buses were sprayed throughout the day. Additional systems were used after every lunch period and desks were cleaned after each class in the Middle and High Schools. Air filtration systems were upgraded to Merve 13 air filters. These were placed in all 14 of our air handler units.

· Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine – The district’s strategy in this area was modified several times as CDC and State and local Departments of Health guidelines changed. The GV School Nurse led the contact tracing and quarantine procedures. In addition, each building maintained seating charts for classrooms and cafeterias. A Covid Room for staff or students who developed symptoms during the school day was maintained as well.

· Efforts to provide vaccinations to staff and eligible students – In February and March 2021, the district, working with the Ashtabula County Board of Health administered vaccines to all GV employees. In May 2021, eligible students were offered vaccines.

· Accommodations for students with health issues and/or disabilities – The district provided Plexiglas screens to place on student and staff desks when requested or needed.

PLAN TO ADDRESS CONTINUITY OF ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC SERVICES

Describe how you will address continuity of services for students and staff, where needed, in the following areas:

· Academic Services

o All students, face to face and remote, were given the NWEA MAP assessment in May to establish a baseline for growth and determine areas of need.

o The district is providing Summer Intervention for remediation as well as credit recovery for approximately 10% of our K-12 student population.

o Data from MAP assessments indicated significant gaps for students in grades Kindergarten and 1 in the area of ELA and in grades 4-10 in math. Consequently, the district is hiring tutors and teachers to help address these deficits. Additionally, a focus on differentiation in grades 6-12 will be emphasized with PD throughout the school year and professional learning communities will be established.

o MAP assessments will be given three times during the school year to measure growth and address student needs by providing enrichment or intervention.

· Social Emotional Learning

o The district is in the process of developing a new strategic plan focused on a set of beliefs and one goal:

All Grand Valley stakeholders will work collaboratively to maintain a school environment which will celebrate student success as measured by academic achievement, attendance and behavior data by promoting GRITT (Getting Results In Tough Times), personal responsibility, hope and optimism.

With this goal in mind, the district has taken the following steps to ensure that the social/emotional needs of our students and families are addressed:

· Employed a School, Family, Community Liaison to help families and students needing help to strengthen social/emotional skills and learning by helping. The Liaison will coordinate services available through community agencies.

· The entire Grand Valley School Community will be focused on GRITT. A PD Plan is being developed to address trauma, social/emotional needs and dealing with adversity in a positive way.

· Mental Health

o The district currently contracts with a community mental health agency to provide Community Psychiatric Supports and Treatment (CPST) in each building on a daily basis to provide services to students.

o CPSTs conduct student support groups and provide individual support.

o The district provides space for other community mental health agencies’ counselors to support individual students during the school day.

o Staff have been and will continue to be provided with Professional Development to work more effectively with students who have experienced trauma or who are experiencing mental health issues.

o Staff mental health will be addressed and support will be provided as needed.

· Physical Health

o The district will work to maintain social distancing whenever possible.

o Hand sanitizer and daily sanitization will continue both in the facility and on buses.

o Students and staff presenting symptoms consistent with Covid or its variants will be sent home immediately.

o Materials will not be shared.

o Students will utilize their own electronic devices.

o Remote learning will be implemented in the event of an outbreak and schools need to close.

o All mitigation strategies implemented during the 2020-21 school year will be continued.

· Nutrition

o The district provided all students in grades K-12 free lunched during the 20-21 school year and will continue to do so during the 21-22 school year.

o During the summer Country Neighbor, a community organization, provides lunch and breakfast to students who are on campus for camps, summer school, or athletic events.

PERIODIC REVIEW

1. Describe how you will conduct a review of your plan at least every 6 months.

a. The plan will be reviewed by the District Leadership Team and Administrative Team every six months.

2. Describe how you will revise the plan as appropriate.

a. The plan will be updated based on new or additional guidance from the Ashtabula County Health Department, Ohio Department of Health, and public input.

PUBLIC INPUT

1. Describe how you will seek public input.

a. The plan will be posted on our district website with a link to submit feedback.

b. The plan will also be shared at a public session of the Board of Education.

c. To date, the district has released an anonymous survey related to reopening and school services. Responses from students, families, staff and community members have provided feedback regarding a variety of topics including school start up in the fall, suggestions for services and identification of district needs.

2. Describe how you will take public input into account when making revisions.

a. Public input will be shared with the Board of Education and reviewed as part of the revision process as changes are made.

b. The district will continue to seek stakeholder input as we review the Continuity Plan.

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Grand Valley Local School District