Hempfield approves reopening plans with phases

After months of work, Hempfield leaders approved a health and safety plan that will welcome students back through a blended approach.

On Monday, board members unanimously approved the plan, which will bring back students in a phased approach starting Aug. 27. An initial phase has students following a staggered schedule based on grade level. Students will follow a more traditional schedule in the second phase.

In the first phase, kindergarten students will attend half days — with morning and afternoon sessions — to promote social distancing, giving students a chance to meet teachers and other kids. Students will remain with one teacher for the entire session.

A morning session will run from 9:30 a.m. to noon, and an afternoon session is scheduled for 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Transportation will be provided to school for the morning session and home from school for the afternoon session, but mid-day buses will not be available due to financial impacts.

“This is a temporary approach and we recognize the inconvenience,” school leaders wrote in guidance submitted to the state Department of Education. “We anticipate welcoming kindergartners to attend for a full day within a few weeks of the start of the school year.”

Students in first through fifth grades can attend in-person classes daily beginning at 9:15 a.m. in the first phase. A delayed start gives teachers time to prepare for student arrival. Smaller class sizes will be utilized, with students organized into smaller groups by assigning special area teachers, reading specialists and intervention coordinators.

The school day will end at 3:30 p.m., with staggered dismissals running through 4 p.m.

Instruction in the second phase will start at 9 a.m., with student arrival beginning at 8:30 a.m. School will end at 3:45 p.m.

Students in grades six through 12 will attend school every other day during the first phase, based on a rotational schedule determined by last name. Online learning will be used when students are not in school.Lessonbot will stream lessons live and give students options to watch recordings of classes at a later date.

Students will eat lunch in the cafeterias with half the student body. Seating will be arranged to ensure 6 feet is between each student, and they will not face each other when eating.

In the high school, almost 200 desks face the entrance of the cafeteria where students will eat lunch. Up to 17 desks are placed in classrooms to ensure social distancing measures are met. Signs promoting face masks and maintaining 6 feet between staff and students are posted on the walls and floors in the hallways, and plexiglass is placed on the front desk.

Almost 200 desks fill the cafeteria at Hempfield Area High School where students will eat lunch. pic.twitter.com/69R38JQCmK

— Megan Tomasic (@MeganTomasic) August 11, 2020

Following the initial phase, students in sixth through 12th grades will attend school daily. For all grades in the second phase, students will be separated by at least 3 feet of social distancing, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Masks will be required if students and staff are within 6 feet of each other as long as Gov. Tom Wolf’s mandate is still in place.

It was not specified when the second phase could begin, but district leaders previously stated they are anticipating it could start within the first few weeks of school.

Through both phases, hand washing will be enforced with signs posted above sinks to remind students of proper techniques.

High school students are encouraged to drive to and from school with proper documentation and a valid license. School bus routes will be based on students who have indicated they require transportation. Parents of younger students are encouraged to carpool.

Visitors and volunteers will be limited. Parent events like open houses will be held virtually and holiday parties will not include parent volunteers or visitors. Visitors who are permitted into school buildings will be required to fill out a visitors form asking if they have been around anyone who tested positive for covid-19 or if they exhibit any symptoms.

If students would become sick, there are designated areas reserved for students and staff who develop covid-19 symptoms while at school. The “sick” areas will be separated from the nurse’s office. Student exhibiting coronavirus symptoms will be sent home.

Approval of the plan came hours after the state released new guidance for teaching students based on data for coronavirus cases per county. Hempfield leaders said the guidance is in line with what the board approved.

“It really lends credence to the plan, the foresight and the amount of effort I believe that the team put together to create our plan,” Matthew Conner, assistant superintendent of secondary education, said during Monday’s meeting.

The 69 page plan can be found by going to the district’s website, hasdpa.net, and searching for the Aug. 10 agenda.