Dedicated to excellence in education
Update October 23, 2020
Board Briefs and Updates: October 23, 2020
School Reopening Updates
At last night’s Board meeting an update on school reopening was presented along with the District’s goals of minimizing disruption for students and staff, while concurrently maintaining health and safety precautions and delivering the highest level of instruction possible for all students. Please keep reading.
Elementary Education:
During the last two weeks, Elementary school principals have been reaching out to both families and staff to learn who will return in Hybrid and who will remain 100% remote in a school’s Virtual Academy.
Matching students to their current teachers is the primary goal, which is dependent on both student and teacher having the same schedule, which on rare occasions may still necessitate a change due to other site-based scheduling needs. In instances where schedules do not align, every effort will be made at the student’s site to accommodate the family’s wishes for their child. Families whose priority is to stay at their school of residence will have that opportunity, however, teacher scheduling requests may not be possible. School sites are rebalancing class rosters now. Families will be notified of placement by end of next week.
Timeline of decision making for Elementary
- 9th - Initial surveys to staff and families
- 15th - Q and A Session for Elementary Reopening specifics
- 16th - Resurvey elementary staff
- 21st - Resurvey/Communicate to Families
- 23rd - Rebalance classes based on gathered information
- 30th - Parent notification of placement
Other Information
- Transportation will be offered for Elementary PM sessions
- Lunches will be “grab-and-go”
- Breakfast will be provided for schools that provide this service
- Recess will look different. Supervised, small group Breaks will be part of the school day, allowing students to eat a snack and to stretch, move, and play, with all health and safety guidelines in place. Students will be kept with their AM or PM small group cohort of students during the Break.
Secondary Education:
The complexity of secondary schedules creates challenging circumstances as we transition to offering both Hybrid and Virtual scenarios simultaneously.
Staff leaders in Curriculum & Instruction and ETIS, are working together to bring technological solutions to this complex challenge. Livestreaming capabilities in the classroom will help foster student/teacher interaction and minimize schedule disruptions.
Please note: Livestreaming will be synchronous instruction and will follow the Board approved A/B schedules.
The technology equipment needed to set up livestreaming is being procured now, and is scheduled to begin to arrive on October 30.
Key notes:
- Students can attend in-person or virtually for synchronous learning
- Students in-person and virtual will be able to interact with one another and their teacher by using the newly installed cameras and the current classroom AV systems
- Technology for livestreaming was purchased with one-time CARES Act funds.
For more information on livestreaming, please see the most recent FAQs below.
Budget:
From 4:00 p.m. - 5 p.m., the District presented a Budget Study Session to examine the overall budget and projections for the next three years. We began public Budget Study Sessions in November 2018, and continue informing and engaging public participation. We are in a funding deficit. As we look at ways to balance the budget, we affirm the guiding principles:
- Reduce expenditures
- Minimize impact to students
- Minimize potential layoffs
- Review programs
The presentation is attached here
The next Budget Study Session will be:
November 5, 4:00 pm. To 5:00 p.m.
During the Board Meeting, Rhonda Crawford, the Chief Business Operator presented the 2020-21 Revised Budget Book.
Updated FAQs:
These will be added to our website: www.fcusd.org/ReopeningFAQ
Cameras in Secondary classrooms
Once the livestreaming is procured, how long will it take to be installed and teachers trained?
Installation and training time will vary. ETIS will map our installation schedules with the secondary sites. Every effort is being made to complete installation as soon as possible. Allowing teachers the maximum time to learn the equipment and plan for the Hybrid and Virtual environments.
Will this livestreaming take place in elementary?
No. Elementary Hybrid sessions are close to three hours long, with a single teacher. Such a lengthy time for livestream synchronous screen time would be undesirable for Elementary students.
Have we considered staggering the Middle School reopening times to coincide with the different grading periods? Are Middle Schools still opening on November 30?
Mills and Mitchell are on a semester schedule and will begin their second semester on January 4. Folsom Middle and Sutter are on trimester schedules. Their second trimester will begin on November 9. For more information please see the 2020-21 Instructional Calendar.
There is not a “one-size fits all” that will accommodate the two different grading periods for all four of our Middle Schools. Other factors to consider with Middle School reopening is the time for installation and teacher training of new, live stream technology, student needs for in-person or virtual instruction, guidance from SB98, and staffing considerations.
Reopening timelines for Middle Schools will be an agenda item at the upcoming Board meeting on November 5.
Who would monitor students in a classroom if the teacher is virtual?
FCUSD staff will be present to supervise students.
What is the timeline for livestreaming equipment to arrive?
The technology equipment needed to set up livestreaming is being procured now, and is scheduled to begin to arrive on October 30.
What does it look like if a teacher is working remotely? -
Teachers currently have laptops which they are using to deliver instruction. They will continue to deliver instruction as they have for Distance Learning. The supervising staff in the classroom would utilize the classroom AV to display the teacher and instruction on the screen. While the technology for projection and sound will be improved for classroom application, livestreaming will be similar to video conferencing during Distance Learning.
Will students in class and students at home be able to hear each other?
Utilization of the current classroom AV students and the new camera/microphone/speaker equipment will allow students at home and in the classroom to interact.
How secure is the camera that will be used in class
The same securities in place now, to keep the videoconferencing channels secure will be in place for livestreaming in class. Teachers will be utilizing the technology tools that are best for teaching, demonstrating or displaying information. The cameras are an instructional tool, and the teacher will decide how and when they are best used to deliver/enhance instruction.
What is the difference between the cameras teachers are currently using now for Distance Learning and the cameras that would be used in the classroom?
A laptop camera is not sufficient when attempting to display the teacher or other resources in the classroom. The new equipment offers more robust options, but the parameters of usage are the same.
Transportation, Schedules, and Sanitization...
What will bus schedules be like in Hybrid?
Safety protocols are being determined at each school site. While sites have unique situations, all sites will abide by consistent safety measures per public health guidelines.
Bus service will be available for students with special needs, PM Elementary sessions, and Secondary education. More information and details will be forthcoming.
Parents will need to apply for a bus pass at 2020-2021 Bus Pass Application.
Transportation guidelines for the 2020-2021 Hybrid model:
- All students will wear cloth face coverings.
- Windows and air vents on top of the bus will be opened to increase fresh air flow.
- Staggered seating - transportation will attempt to have 6 foot distance between driver and passengers if possible.
- Maximum of 27 students on larger buses. Walking distances will be revised in order to accommodate fewer students.
- Hand sanitizer upon entry to the bus.
- Presence on bus means parents have screened students and are not sending a sick child to school (see FCUSD Symptom Screening Checklist English or Spanish)
- Daily sanitization of high touch surfaces on buses.
Can Hybrid students transfer to being Virtual?
Yes, in fact, that is one of the advantages of having teachers livestream. Hybrid students who may need to stay home for a period of time, can still have access to their class, and then return to class when ready.
Sanitization and cleaning
Can teachers be in the classrooms while the custodial staff is sanitizing between cohorts?
Individuals can be present during sanitization. Because of the non-toxic disinfectant we use, it is safe for teachers to be in rooms while it is sanitized. Please continue to remember, that the less cluttered desks and surfaces are, the more effective sanitization will be.
How often do you recommend cleaning the bathrooms and high touch areas?
Restrooms are scheduled to be "cleaned" once a day (not counting "situational" cleanups). We are also setting a minimum goal that they are sanitized two times during the school day, in addition to cleaning. Cleaning involves wiping, scrubbing, mopping, filling dispensers, as well as sanitizing. Sanitizing is spraying disinfectant on all fixtures and touchpoints.
Other updates…
COVID-19 Health and Safety:
As in-person presence is increasing on our campuses, and we are slowly bringing back our students in small groups, we want to reinforce our health and safety procedures. Before coming onto campus, please screen for symptoms by referring to the atta documents”
Please refer to these daily before you our your student comes onto to campus
Additionally, please remember when on campus to:
- Wear a mask
- Follow directional signs
- Wash hands frequently
- Practice social distancing
ICYMI: Please watch the informational night we hosted last week. You will hear from local health professionals to address current data on COVID and answer staff questions.
Click here to view the Oct 13 FCUSD Staff: COVID Health and Safety Information Night and Q&A
Reminder: Free Flu Shot Clinic!
Provided in partnership with Sacramento County Public Health
Place: Cordova High School
Date: November 3
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
No appointment. Walk-up service
Athletic conditioning to expand
Per approval from Sacramento County Public Health on 10/22/20, FCUSD will increase the athletic conditioning cohorts to 25 students per 2 coaches for outdoor activities and maintain the 14 students per 2 coaches for indoor activities beginning Oct. 26, 2020. The usage of sports balls has been approved. For more information, please contact Peter Maroon at pmaroon@fcusd.org
Plans to expand and allow other extra-curricular activities are forthcoming and as we create the necessary safety measures to begin as soon as safely possible.
Music Instruction is going strong!
Did you know that we expanded music instruction during Asynchronous learning? The Elementary Music department was excited to begin the 20200-21 school year while embracing Distance Learning. They were given the assignment to expand from teaching our 3,100 4th and 5th grade students to include grades TK-3 as well! Their group of 10 Music Teachers is currently serving all 9,000 Tk-5th grade students while we are in the Distance Learning phase.
Head over to the Music Instruction website to learn more, or click on these links to watch some of their group music videos: The Lion Sleeps Tonight Arirang Team FCUSD Pass the Pumpkin Dem Bones