These have been for certain trying times for all educators as we continue to transition into what we all can feel is the unknown. In doing so, many questions have been sparked about what is to come for our school division. With that said, as questions have come to me, I have compiled them and asked Dr. Mark Jones, PCS Division Superintendent if he would provide answers. As follows are the questions (some of them were repeat and therefore consolidated) and answers Dr. Jones provided:
Q: Any news as to when our 2020-2021 school year contracts will be available for signature?
A: The School Board reviewed the revisions to the Budget at its May meeting. Contracts should be run by June 1, 2020.
Q: If we do not get the next phase of the compensation study (2020-2021) in our contracts, and we get money from Governor Northam later this year, will that money be incorporated as a bonus or will it be a salary adjustment?
A: If the funds are available, the Division will look at both approaches to providing increases for staff. The School Board will provide the final approval.
Q: Will the school year be online, in person, both? What are the plans for how and when we start the school year?
A: At this time, we are looking at three different timelines for beginning school next year.
Timeline I: Traditional Summer Programs Reopen Date (Summer School)
Timeline 1:1: Face-to-face instruction allowed with or without a variance
Timeline 1:2: Face-to-face instruction limited or needs to be limited
Timeline II: Fall On-Time Reopen Date or Early Calendar Start
Timeline 2:1: Schools open with student and face-to-face instruction
Timeline 2:2: Schools open with limited face-to-face instruction and/or social distancing requirements
Timeline2:3: Schools remain closed until a pre-determined or undetermined date.
Timeline III: Fall Late Reopen Date/Extended Out of School Learning
Timeline 3: Fall Late Reopen Date/Extended Out Of School Learning
Q: If we start back school with students, will we have the same setup as a regular school day or will our schedules change?
A: The State Superintendent has convened a Return to School Timeline Advisory Panel to provide a guidance document to inform policy makers’ decisions and aide in the development of the planning that must happen in advance of Virginia students return to school. The committee made assumptions of what reopening may look like.
Q: Will we have full classes or modified?
A: At this time, all options for opening of school next year are being reviewed.
Q: What is the plan for social distancing and monitoring student health?
A: At this time, all options for opening of school next year are being reviewed.
Q: Are we protected from being furloughed once all of our resources are in these Google classrooms? I am a little hesitant about giving access to a completely set up Google classroom without making sure there are protections.
A: The School Board and staff made adjustments last evening during the School Board meeting to mitigate the expected loss of state revenues. This has been accomplished at this time by transferring staff and not filling vacant positions. Uncertainty about sales tax and lottery revenues continues and those sources of funding will be monitored throughout the year.
Q: Will students need to be E1ed or will they automatically be enrolled at the start of the school year by the school itself?
A: Unless we receive different guidance from the VDOE, all students will be E1ed next year. This may be handled differently if students are working from home, but the VDOE will let us know how to handle this.
Q: Teachers would like to be involved in the decision-making process for how the "new" school year takes shape. Is there an avenue/opportunity for that moving forward so teachers can be included in the decisions that directly impact them?
A: The work that teachers are doing now is essential to re-opening schools. Having high quality instructional units aligned with the curriculum and pacing that can be provided online or as take-home packets greatly improves the educational opportunity for students. These will be extremely important if we are unable to return at the beginning of the school year. The VDOE has convened committees to address returning to school, and PCS staff members have participated. When this work becomes public in the next few weeks, staff will be notified, and we will use it to adjust our plans.
Q: For the checking in process with the school nurse, will the school division be getting or start using the No Touch, forehead thermometer or an infrared thermometer? I would feel better knowing I am safer with a thermometer that hasn't been in the mouths of several other people repeatedly.
A: Yes, the infrared thermometers have been ordered and should have been here this week (Week of May 11, 2020).
Q: Will the county allow for more storage space on the computers? Images and files are taking up more space but they have to be stored somewhere in the meantime trying to move them into some form in Google?
A: Dr. Mark Jones forwarded the question to Dr. Early for a response.
Please continue to ask and send in your questions (jessica.jones@pcs.k12.va.us) and I will work to get you answers.
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