Planning underway to develop back-to-school plan

— from Orcas Schools Superintendent Eric Webb —

This past week, we received the guidance that we have been waiting for from OSPI and the Department of Health. OSPI’s recommendations echo our goals to provide students with more in-person instruction and will further guide our work. It is important to read beyond the headlines and understand the full extent of the plan when layered with the additional guidelines from San Juan County Health and Community Services and the Washington State Department of Health. DoH K-12 Schools – Fall 2020-2021 Guidance

Below is a quote from Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Reykdal from the 55-page resource document provided to districts this week:

“Learning is a social activity, and we want to see our students back in the classroom,” SPI Reykdal said. “Protecting the health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. If schools can meet the guidelines laid out today by DOH, they will likely be able to open their doors in the fall for in-person instruction.”

I’ve included some of the text from the guide below. The complete guide can be located here: Reopening Washington Schools 2020, District Resource Guide

While face-to-face learning is the goal, the guidance includes three concepts for school districts to consider adapting and building from should they be limited in face-to-face learning in the fall:

• Split or rotating schedules with distance learning
• Phased-in opening with continuous learning
• Continuous learning 2.0, a more effective remote learning system

How a district reopens school will be decided in partnership with their students, staff, families, and their local health authority.

Orcas Island School District will work in partnership with the above groups over the summer to create a plan that safely brings students back to campus in September. In an effort to bring structure and alignment to the planning process, I have created an OISD Safe Return to School 2020 Steering Committee.

The primary goals of the steering committee will include:

• identifying areas that will need to be addressed and revised prior to the start of school
• refining and reviewing multiple work groups’ plans that address identified areas
• preparing the compilation of the final plan to present to the School Board on August 6 for approval

Over the summer, several work groups composed of students, staff, parents and community members will be researching and developing plans to address the identified areas of concern in an effort to develop what will work best for our schools and community in the fall. These specific plans, after being reviewed and refined by the Steering Committee, will be compiled to form the district’s reopening plan that will be presented to the School Board for approval on August 6. This plan will then be submitted to OSPI and the State Board of Education two weeks prior to the district’s fall start date.

The work groups and steering committee have a great deal of work to do in a short time frame amid constantly changing conditions. It is through the work of many individuals that the district will be able to develop and refine a plan that is adjustable and flexible to meet the current San Juan County and Orcas Island health events that may occur in the upcoming school year. As the plans develop and a clearer picture develops of primary and secondary models, the Steering Committee and district will communicate the information to students, staff, and families. In the meantime, enjoy the last week of the 2019- 2020 school year and have a safe and wonderful summer!