Elected officials learn soon after taking office that no
matter how hard they work, not everyone will be pleased with their efforts.
A case in point is school boards. Those elected to the Goochland
School Board last fall probably anticipated working to continue the upward
trajectory of excellence of our school division to realize the potential of
every learner.
Then the black swan of Covid pooped on the world.
With little notice schools were ordered closed in mid-March,
initially for a few weeks, then for the remainder of the school year. Goochland
school administrators swiftly crafted, almost out of thin air, ways to continue
learning. This was complicated by the absence of internet access in many parts
of the county. It was not perfect, and many families were frustrated by the dearth
of broadband access.
As 2020 inched along, hopes that the virus would be in the
rear-view mirror by summer were dashed as the number of cases rose.
Goochland’s school will start in August as scheduled, but instruction
will be quite different from last year. School administration worked long and
hard to devise an in person learning schedule that prioritized health and
safety with as much flexibility as possible. Like every school division in the country,
options ranging from full time in person instruction to virtual distant learning
were considered.
Following many hours of discussion and consideration at an
afternoon retreat, at its July 14 monthly meeting, the Goochland School Board
unanimously approved a hybrid plan with some in person instruction and virtual
learning. The plan may be viewed at http://goochlandschools.org/2020/07/15/school-reopening-plan/
.
To achieve social distancing, students will be divided into “cohorts”
to be determined by early August. They will attend in person classes, by
cohort, only two days per week, either Monday and Tuesday, or Thursday and
Friday. Wednesdays will be used to deep clean all facilities according to CDC guidelines,
and for teachers to plan and provide supplemental support for distant learners.
Start and end times have changed.
Health plans were crafted according to CDC guidelines with
input from the local health department. Students and staff must wear face coverings
at all times. Parents are charged with ensuring that students have no temperatures
or other Covid symptoms before leaving home.
Transportation will be a challenge. Buses, whose usual capacity
of 60 students, will carry about 20 students to ensure adequate separation.
The plan was devised with maximum flexibility to allow
students and families to navigate instruction options. (See http://goochlandschools.org/2020/07/16/gcps-reopening-2020-2021-frequently-asked-questions/
for answers to questions about specific parts of the plan) Some students may
switch from all virtual learning to in person classes.
Pandemic conditions will be constantly monitored. The instruction
plan could change as the situation improves or worsens. Parents are encouraged
to contact school officials with any questions.
The coming school year will be challenging. May it prove to
be an anomaly, that next year will be closer to normal.
9 comments:
"They will attend in person classes, by cohort, only two days per week, either Monday and Tuesday, or Thursday and Friday."
This only applies to pre-K-K, and high school. 1-8 will go FOUR days a week at FULL class sizes.
Social distancing will be impossible.
"Parents are charged with ensuring that students have no temperatures or other Covid symptoms before leaving home."
Unacceptable. Instant, non=contact thermometers are all over Amazon.com. Every school should use them and no one allowed in the building unless their temperature has been taken.
They are putting our children and teachers lives at risk.
The key thing about the plan laid out by GCPS is CHOICE. If one chooses not to attend school in-person, there is the option to attend virtually. Why should all children be forced to only partake in virtual learning when 50% of GCPS parents favor in-person instruction?
That said, while the previous poster wants to take away the option of attending school in person from ALL parents and children, maybe we should take away other choices. Drunk driving kills, so lets get rid of alcohol. Some people view abortion as immoral, so perhaps we take away that choice as well.
Seems like it can become a slippery slope very quickly!
I didn't know, People in favor of full school openings = People who are pro-abortion.
Thanks for the info!
"The Goochland County School Board will hold a special board meeting on Monday, August 3, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Goochland Administration Building, 1800 Sandy Hook Road, Goochland VA. The public is invited to attend."
http://goochlandschools.org/school-board/
Perhaps the School Board is going to cave-in to bullying (https://richmond.com/news/local/chesterfield-supervisors-auditing-school-system-education-association-over-bullying-allegations/article_94596792-2f1b-53d5-bfab-68175cfac736.html) on in person learning?
Agenda Item #5 - EVALUATION OF SCHOOL REOPENING PLAN
If the school board decides to ditch in person learning due to pressure from certain groups, I urge all parents that support in-person learning to file a civil rights complaint with the US Department of Education...
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html
It appears a couple of GCPS encore instructors were unhappy with the school board's approval of the reopening plan July 14th...
https://vadogwood.com/2020/07/15/virginia-teachers-push-for-remote-learning-in-the-fall/
Yet there are already a number of signatures on this new petition...
https://www.change.org/p/dr-jeremy-raley-return-goochland-students-to-the-classroom
FYI -
Good morning,
Tonight's School Board special meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium at Goochland High School, 3250-A River Road West, Goochland VA. This is a location change. The public is invited to attend.
Masks are required. Please sit two seats apart and one row away from the person in front of you for social distancing.
Thank you,
Andy Armstrong, Assistant Superintendent for Administration
The board delayed a vote on the revised reopening plan until the regularly scheduled board meeting next Tuesday.
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