Update of Reopening Plans

Dr. Glenn Brand Superintendent of Schools

August 26, 2020

Update on Reopening Planning

● Work has continued with regard to scheduling and assignment of students but delayed until next week

● Additional guidance continues to flow from DESE ● Negotiations continue with the Wilmington Teacher’s Association (WTA) ● The presentation this evening is intended to provide an update for our educational

community on the many moving parts associated with our re-opening○ Family Learning Model Survey Results○ Special Education & High Needs Student Information ○ Department of Public Health & DESE Safety Requirements ○ Interscholastic Sports Guidance ○ Student Transportation ○ Overview of Cleaning & Disinfecting School Facilities ○ Planning for Staff Training and Professional Development ○ Next Steps

2020-21 FAMILY LEARNING MODEL SURVEY SELECTION BY SCHOOL

SPECIAL EDUCATION AND HIGH NEED STUDENT INFORMATION

Per DESE Guidance on July 9, 2020 students with complex and significant needs include:

● Students already identified as “high needs” through the IEP process on the IEP form entitled “Primary Disability/Level of Need-PL3.”

Such students must meet at least two of these criteria:

○ Services provided outside of the general education classroom;○ Service providers are special education teachers and related service providers;○ Special education services constitute more than 75% of the student’s school day;

● Students who cannot engage in remote learning due to their disability-related needs;● Students who primarily use aided and augmentative communication;● Students who are homeless● Students in foster care or congregate care; and/or● Students dually identified as English Learners.

SPECIAL EDUCATION AND HIGH NEED STUDENT INFORMATION

In response to this guidance we have reviewed all student IEP and PL-3 placements to assist in identifying “high needs” students. It is the District’s plan to support the following:

● Students identified as High Needs and whose placement is in a substantially separate program will attend in-person 5 days per week.

● Students identified by DESE criteria as having “complex and significant needs” will attend 4 in person days per week (two with their hybrid and two engaging in remote learning supported from within the school), and will complete Wednesday as a remote learning day from home.

● Low/Moderate level of need students with Full or Partial Inclusion IEPs who do not meet any other DESE criteria will be Hybrid-receiving services through a combination of in-person and remote services.

● By Friday, August 28, 2020 families will receive a letter by email notifying them of their child’s in-person schedule (Hybrid, 4 in-person days, 5 in-person days).

SPECIAL EDUCATION AND HIGH NEED STUDENT INFORMATION

● IEP meetings will continue to be held virtually to ensure compliance with DPH guidelines and reduce visitors to our schools

● Students on a hybrid schedule will continue to receive special education services both in-person and remotely

● Parents will receive a “Special Education Learning Plan” (SELP) within the first few weeks of school from their liaison, outlining how services will be delivered. This replaces the previous “Remote Learning Plan”. SELP not provided if your child attends 5 days per week.

● IEPs will continue to be written as if we are traditionally in school.

DESE/DPH Health and Safety Requirements for Schools

Besides the Flu vaccine requirement, here are some highlights from the DESE/DPH Memo to clarify key health & safety requirements for schools & important information regarding physical exams & health screenings:

● Close Contact – only those who have been within 6 feet of distance of the individual for at least fifteen minutes, while the person was infectious● Self-Quarantine of Close Contacts - All close contacts should be tested but must self-quarantine for 14 days after the last exposure to the person who tested positive, regardless of test

result.● Return to School after COVID-19 Symptoms - If a student or staff member has COVID-19-like symptoms, they may return to school after they have tested negative for COVID-19, have

improvement in symptoms, and have been without fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications; If a student or staff member presents COVID-19-like symptoms and chooses not to be tested, they may return to school 10 days from start of symptoms, as long as their symptoms have improved and they have been without fever for at least 24 hours prior to their return to school without the use of fever reducing medication

● COVID-19 Related Fever - the threshold for a COVID-19 related fever by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been updated from greater than 100.4˚F to greater than 100.0˚F. As a result, going forward, a fever as a COVID-19 symptom will be defined as 100.0˚F or higher.

● Students Wearing Masks - Whenever possible, students in pre-kindergarten through grade 1 who can safely and appropriately wear, remove, and handle masks should do so. Even if students are spaced six feet apart in classrooms, the use of masks is still required unless students are eating lunch or taking a mask break.

● Physical Distancing Guidelines - DESE recommends that districts aim for 6 feet of distance where feasible. When 6 feet is not feasible, 3 feet is an acceptable minimum as long as staff and students wear masks covering the nose and mouth at all times.

● School Immunization Requirements – maintaining school immunization requirements is required for all students who are enrolled in remote or hybrid learning.● Physical Exams - For students entering school for the first time (typically pre-kindergarten or kindergarten), an in-person physical exam should be conducted one year before or within 90

days of school start; for elementary and high school students (typically, 4th and 10th grade), the exam may be conducted up to two years before or within 120 days of school start; for middle school students (typically, 7th grade), the exam should be conducted one year before or within 120 days of school start.

● Vision/Hearing & Heights/Weights - At this time, requirements for health screenings pursuant to 105 CMR 200.400 and 105 CMR 200.500 remain suspended

Current Status of Wilmington

Information as of August 19, 2020

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/community-level-covid-19-data-reporting

MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL IMMUNIZATIONREQUIREMENTS 2020-2021 - GRADES 7-12

INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS

On Tuesday August 18th, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Massachusetts Interscholastic AthleticAssociation (MIAA) announced a joint recommendation for a four season athletic calendar. This guidance was based on the Youth and Adult Amateur SportsGuidance recently provided by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA).

On Wednesday August, 19th, the MIAA Board of Directors approved the following proposed athletic calendar for the 2020-2021 school year:

**Those sports in bolded font are the sports currently offered at Wilmington High School

FALL9/18/20-11/20/20

WINTER 11/3020-2/21/21

FLOATING SEASON 2/22/21-4/25/21

SPRING 4/26/21-7/3/21

Boys GolfBoys & Girls Cross Country

Field HockeyGirls & Boys Soccer

Girls VolleyballSwim & Dive

DanceFootball Practice**

Cheer Practice**

Boys & Girls Indoor TrackSwim & Dive

Cheer Girls & Boys Hockey

Girls & Boys BasketballWrestlingGymnastics

Alpine/Nordic SkiDance

Football Cheer

Unified Basketball

**Sports unable to play in earlier seasons. Schools that offer only remote

learning in early fall may use this season for play that was missed during remote

schedules.

BaseballSoftball

Girls & Boys TennisBoys & Girls Track and Field

Girls & Boys LacrosseBoys Volleyball

Girls GolfBoys & Girls Rugby

Sailing & CrewUnified Track and Field

INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS

What is the goal for Wilmington Public Schools and more specifically the WHS Athletic Department in the Fall of 2020 (andpotentially longer depending on the impact of COVID-19)?

a. Option 1: Full participation (for the outlined MIAA/DESE approved sports) in interscholastic competition at all levels. Fallofferings: Boys and Girls Soccer, Field Hockey, Golf, Girls Volleyball, Boys & Girls Cross Country. At this time it seemsCheer and Football are deemed high risk contact sports and will not be possible this fall (based on guidelines by MassGov.).

i. Please note, it is under each individual school district’s discretion to move certain sports to “Floating Season”.b. Option 2: Modified Interscholastic competition. This would be to limit travel, numbers on buses, number of total

participants, number of teams, and interactions with student-athletes from other towns and potential exposure.c. OPTION 3: No interscholastic athletics. The goal only to safely return to school and only offer potential intramural

options to students who are interested (i.e. running club, strength and conditioning program, fitness class after schooland outside). Option for skills and practice for teams.

INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS

Additional areas for consideration:

Benefits of Participation in HS Athletics Health and Safety Logistics Coaching

Better Educational OutcomesEnhanced School EngagementSense of BelongingPositive Youth Development/Life SkillsHealthier BehaviorsPost High School Positive ResultsDeveloping Better Citizens

COVID-19 Waivers/ReleasesCOVID-19 Negative Test Daily Temperature CheckLocker Room Safety ProceduresNotification of Possible ExposureSanitization of EquipmentImplications for Learning Cohorts

Start DateTransportationRemote Learner ParticipationFans/Spectators

Offerings in to supplement Athletics including but not limited to:

● Leadership Courses● Mentor Program● Strength and Conditioning

Expectations for Coaches

INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS

Middlesex League Collaboration● All League Athletics Directors and Superintendents met earlier this week to discuss plans● Overarching commitment to align the safety procedures and participation in the modified program

School Committee Approval● While the current DESE Guidance does not appear to include a specific requirement of the School Committee to take action

to approve a particular ‘athletic plan’ it appears that many/most districts in the League and beyond intend to have theirCommittees formally approve a direction

● DESE Guidance: “ Districts designated as yellow, green or unshaded based upon the DPH metric that nonetheless have their high school students learningremotely at the start of the season may similarly delay their season to the floating season.If a yellow, green or unshaded district that is only offering remotelearning to its high school students wishes to participate in the regularly scheduled sports season, this must be approved by the local school committee.”

● It would be our recommendation that our School Committee vote at the September 9th meeting

Next Steps● Continue dialogue with the Middlesex League ● Monitor further developments from MIAA, DESE etc.

● School Committee approval in early September

Massachusetts School Immunization Requirements 2020-2021 - Childcare/PreK-6

TRANSPORTATION

Updates On Wilmington Public Schools Approach to DESE Guidance

● Ridership - A bus pass program has been established for all students requesting bus service. Parents and Guardians have been asked to register their children for transportation and we will be providing students with a pass card to board their assigned bus. The pass program will ensure ridership never exceeds the maximum occupancy set forth in the guidance of 25 students per bus, or 1 student per seat. Students who have not been issued a pass will not be permitted to board the bus.

● Monitors - After careful thought, it was determined that we would not be able to provide monitors on the buses. With an industry-wide staffing shortage, employing monitors would be extremely challenging. We are confident that with lower ridership, distancing, seating arrangements and a low tolerance policy resulting in suspension of bus privileges for failure to adhere to the new guidance, we will be able to provide a safe ride to and from school. We will use the camera systems on the buses to ensure that the guidance is being followed.

● Hand Sanitizer - Hand sanitizer will be provided to the students by the driver on all vehicles.

TRANSPORTATION

RIDERSHIPBased on the August survey results:

School Students Requesting Transportation

# of Buses Being Used Average # of Students per Bus

High School 370 Students 9 Buses 20 Students/ Bus

Middle School 345 Students 16 Buses 16 Students/ Bus

Woburn St./ North Int. 330 Students 11 Buses 14 Students/ Bus

Shawsheen/ West Int. 245 Students 12 Buses 12 Students/ Bus

Wildwood 50 Students 2 Buses- AM Program2 Buses- PM Program

13 Students/ Bus

Boutwell 51 Students 2 Buses- AM Program2 Buses- PM Program

13 Students/ Bus

TRANSPORTATION

Future Considerations in Transportation

● Although at the moment we are able to accommodate the community’s needs in transportation it is likely that, in the near future, we will have to reconsider the current policy and adhere to the School Committee’s guidelines on walking distance and deny transportation services to students within a specific radius of their school.

CLEANING AND DISINFECTING PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES

● Cleaning removes dirt and dust, and disinfecting kills most germs

● Routine cleaning and disinfecting will be performed on a daily basis by custodial staff assigned to the building○ This includes daily cleaning and disinfecting of all classrooms, desks and chairs, office areas, table surfaces, restrooms, floors, emptying trash and other

building areas○ All employees performing cleaning will be issued proper PPE as recommended by the CDC

● All bathrooms will be cleaned and disinfected twice daily○ This includes cleaning all frequently touched fixtures, stalls, and mopping of the floors. Disinfecting is a key component of bathroom maintenance.

All touch surfaces will be wiped down with district supplied disinfectants. If a bathroom is found to be overly unsanitary during the day, it will be closed until it can be addressed

○ Custodians will be disinfecting all touch surfaces such as doors, handles, push plates, dispensers, stair railings, etc. throughout the day○ Trash receptacles will be emptied daily with a new liner inserted

● Hand Soap and Sanitizer○ Foaming hand soap will be available in restrooms throughout the building○ Classrooms with sinks will have a soap dispenser supplied with foaming hand soap○ All classrooms will have hand sanitizing stations installed and use a foam hand sanitizer solution○ The hand sanitizer is a certified USDA Bio-Based product and meets FDA and CDC guidelines for hand sanitizer

● Safety Data Sheets (SDS) of all disinfectants used will be maintained on site per OSHA requirements

● Copies of all safety data sheets will be made available upon request

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PRODUCTS

Bioesque: Botanical Disinfectant nontoxic solution: used in the Victory electrostatic sprayer for disinfection and sanitizing

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PRODUCTS

Hillyard Arsenal 1 Suprox Multi-Purpose Peroxide Cleaner• Suprox Multi-Purpose is a stabilized hydrogen peroxide with

natural citrus solvent cleaner.• General purpose cleaner, carpet spotter and window cleaner• Green Seal certified

Hillyard Arsenal 1 Re-Juv-Nal• Phosphate free, PH neutral disinfectant/detergent cleaner• May be applied by a mop or used in a sprayer• EPA registered disinfectant

Hillyard Arsenal 1 Q.T. Plus: Q.T. Plus▪ Hospital grade disinfectant/detergent cleaner, sanitizer, fungicide,

mildewstat, virucide and deodorizer▪ Designed for use on walls, countertops, fixtures, restroom and

shower rooms, and other hard surfaces▪ May be applied using a sprayer▪ EPA registered disinfectant

Hand Sanitizer Stations and Sanitizer – located throughout the schools• Betco-Alcohol Foaming Hand Sanitizer• Meets FDA and CDC guideline for hand sanitizer

Soap Dispensers and Soap – located in bathrooms and classrooms that have sinks• Top Notch Foaming Hand Soap• Starco Cleanfoam Foaming Hand Soap

SUMMARY OF PPE, DISINFECTING/SANITIZING SUPPLIES AND REOPENING SUPPLIES (AS OF 8/24/20)

DISTRICT-WIDE COVID PLANNING TEAM MEMBERS

Doreen Crowe, Chair Coordinator of Nursing Services WPS

Shelley Newhouse Director, Wilmington Board of Health Town of Wilmington

Andrea Stern-Armstrong Director of Human Resources WPS

Jennifer Fidler WTA President WPS

Kerry Feyler Educational Assistant Boutwell

Carrie Fitch School Adjustment Counselor Wildwood

Noel Cali Grade 2 Teacher Shawsheen

Gary MacDonald Grade 3 Teacher Woburn Street

Heather Peachey Librarian North Intermediate

Denise Bresnahan Educational Assistant West Intermediate

Louise O'Hanley Grade 7 Math Teacher WMS

Kate Durkin Library Media Specialist WHS

PLANNING FOR STAFF TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

● Finalizing a framework for our ten (10) days of training and professional development for the beginning of the school year

● Prioritizes five areas:○ Health, safety and well-being○ Addressing the overall needs of all of our students including a focus on SEL, trauma and individual student

needs○ Curricular planning time to support hybrid and remote learning○ Meaningful re-engagement of school staff to plan for the upcoming school year○ Educator use of various technology platforms to support remote learning

● Staff are welcome to work remotely the week of August 31 as we await HVAC assessment reports and support the opportunity to inform staff of our health and safety protocols prior to returning

● During these ten days we will also have a keynote address by Dr. Robert Brooks, international author and speaker and a clinical psychologist of the Harvard Medical School, who will present on nurturing resilience in our students and our staff.

NEXT STEPS IN OUR PLANNING

There remain a number of areas that we are still working through:

● Negotiations with the WTA ● Awaiting HVAC assessment results● Determining staffing availability● Monitoring the related metrics● Continuing to assess our current plan which includes a phased re-opening that moves us to offering a hybrid model

It is important to note that the plan remains tentative for us to prepare to reopen for students and staff depending on the following: ● Sound Protocols & Procedures - it will essential that we have in place protocols and procedures that will appropriately allow us to

safely manage students within the school setting.● HVAC Assessment Results - any required remediative work or repair to meet the ASHRAE Standard 62.1 Ventilation Requirements

must be completed before occupancy.● PPE Availability - if the District does not have on hand the necessary/required PPE for staff and students then this will delay either

the opening and occupancy of a program/school or the district.● Metrics - any shift in the local or state level metrics could will dictate our ability to open schools.● Direction/Decisions By State Agencies - DESE or Governor decisions could impact our ability to operate.● Appropriate Staffing Levels - insufficient staffing could impact our ability to operate a program or school.● Negotiations – many elements of our plan must still be negotiated with the WTA.● *New* - Scheduling Logistics - particularly at the high school