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SOMSD Announces Reopening Plan

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2020-21 School Reopening

We are excited to welcome our students and staff back to school in September, whether we see you in-person or virtually. We are working to ensure a safe and productive environment for all. See below for current information regarding plans for reopening schools. Please note that details are subject to change based on guidelines from local, state and federal authorities.

Key details 

Reopening School Plan

The 2020-21 Reopening School Plan is a valuable resource which contains details about learning models, training, procedures, safety requirements and more.

Restarting school transition: remote for the first two weeks.

For the first two weeks, from September 8 to September 18 all students will attend school remotely, get to know their new teachers, readjust to “school hours”, and learn to use a program called Canvas.

Families who select hybrid learning will begin attending classes at school on Monday, September 21, 2020.

All extracurricular activities, with the exception of some athletics, will be significantly diminished to the fullest extent possible to allow for proper cleaning time; social distancing and hygiene protocols will be maintained by these groups under the supervision of their coaches and activity leaders.

In addition, SOMSD will cancel field trips, assemblies, and/or other large gatherings.  Finally, external community organizations that use school/district facilities will not be allowed.

Two learning options for students - which is right for you?

SOMSD families will be required to select from two options that will begin after the two-week virtual (remote) start. You will have the opportunity to choose the best option for each child.

On Monday, August 10, all families will receive an email that contains a “Return to School Preference" form to select the learning option that you feel is best for your child(ren).  

  1. Hybrid Model (PreK, Elementary & Middle):
    Students will be split into three groups - A, B, and C. Each group will have at least two days of in-person learning (4 hours each day) and three days of at least 60 minutes of live virtual interaction with a teacher along with three additional hours of remote learning activities. Group C will have additional in-person learning opportunities per English Language Learner and Special Education programming needs.
  2. Virtual Only Model (PreK - 12):
    Students will have 5 days of virtual instruction which will include a mix of: live virtual instruction, pre-recorded instruction, teacher-led small-groups, and independent practice. (CHS Virtual-only students will follow along with the hybrid students and receive synchronous, direct learning from their teachers four days a week, but will not attend the weekly check-ins at the school.)

  3.  Hybrid Model:  Mostly Virtual Phase-In:  Columbia High School:   

    CHS students will begin the school year with a “mostly virtual” phase-in approach. Students will have synchronous, direct instruction with teachers every day when not in the building. Students will be divided into cohorts and will have check-ins to meet with their teachers in person once every two weeks. Group C will have additional in-person learning opportunities per English Language Learner and Special Education programming needs. Learn more about the CHS Hybrid Schedule from Principal Sanchez:  bit.ly/CHSGHybrid

 

 

A Message from Superintendent, Dr. Ronald G. Taylor: SOMSD Rethink-Reopen Taskforce

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Dear SOMSD Community,

I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well in the midst of what has become our new shared reality.  I’m grateful for your support, understanding, and patience as we’ve weathered the many facets of the COVID-19 pandemic. As you know, educators all across the country are grappling with how to reopen schools.  While education systems are inherently designed to promote and facilitate social interaction, the health and safety of our scholars and staff remain our highest priorities and at the center of our decision-making. 

To engage multiple voices and perspectives in our planning process, we established the SOMSD Rethink-Reopen Taskforce to weigh state recommendations, identify reopening strategies across the world,  identify community concerns and needs, and to make realistic recommendations for reopening. The Taskforce is comprised of  14 sub-committees and consists of over 100 members of our district community including:  senior leadership, school administrators, supervisors, teachers,  nurses, mental health professionals, social workers, our Townships’ health department leaders, health-care professionals, members from the teachers’ union, South Orange Maplewood Education Association (SOMEA), and administrator’s union, Administrative, Supervisors, Coordinators Association (ASCA).  

We recognize the importance of hearing and weighing staff, parental, and student voices as we work on reopening in the fall.  Therefore, to guide our reopening plan and to ensure that our planning is well-informed, we have developed several ways in which our SOMSD stakeholders can share their feedback.  

  • In late June, we provided a survey to staff members to provide them with an opportunity to share their feedback/concerns regarding reopening.  
  • Subsequently, on Tuesday, July 7, we administered a “Return to School” survey, (https://bit.ly/SOMSDReopeningSurvey) with parents/guardians to also provide families with an opportunity to share their individual feedback.
  • I am meeting with members of the school’s PTAs, President’s Council, HSA, and Community Coalition on Race to gain further insight.    
  • In addition, The Parenting Center in partnership with my office is hosting two virtual focus group discussions with a parent panel that is representative of our schools.  A parent panel interest email was sent to parents/guardians on July 7, and a follow-up email with information and the link to the interest participation form ( https://bit.ly/2AYPnKt) for assembling the parent panel focus group on reopening our schools was sent on July 14.  
  • Finally, we also want to hear from our students; a return to school survey is in development and will be sent to middle school and CHS students this week.

The Rethink-Reopen Taskforce began meeting in June and will continue to work together through mid-August.  To guide our reopening planning, the Taskforce began its work by reviewing comprehensive literature of reopening plans and recommendations from around the country. This information was disseminated to the Taskforce members as a prerequisite review to set the expectations for our conversations. 

We have also gained a great perspective via our experiences (and feedback) from the emergent closure distance learning methodology, as well as our current virtual learning programming (Extended School Year (ESY), Summer School, Middle School Bridge, etc). Our Taskforce is now moving expeditiously towards the development of specific plan recommendations, within the following subcommittee areas:

  • Cleaning & Disinfecting
  • Communications
  • Curriculum & Assessment
  • Elementary Schools
  • Emergency Closing Plan
  • Health/Wellness
  • Policy
  • Pre-K
  • Scheduling
  • Special Education
  • Sports & Co-Curricular
  • Staffing
  • Transportation
  • Virtual/In-Person Learning

We are preparing to take several precautions to reduce the inherent safety risks as we come together in our schools, while also working to develop offerings that give parents and families options that best fit their particular needs and comfort level during our current circumstances. 

We thank you in advance for sharing your insights and helping to improve our plans. To ensure that you have the latest and most accurate information, please visit our webpage frequently and follow our Twitter and Facebook pages. Our final School Reopening Plan will be released in early August.

Educationally yours,

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor

Reopening Updates (Feb 2020 – June 2021)

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For all previous COVID-19 school updates, presentations, and plans  (March 2020 - June 2020) click here

Reopening News/Updates (from July 2020 - June 2021 SY)

Summer Reading

IMPORTANT Resources for Families:

June 2021:

May 2021:

April 2021:

March 2021:

February 2021:

January 2021:

December 2020:

October 2020:

Updates for week of December 14:

October 2020:

September 2020:

August 2020:

July 2020:

Return to School Preference Forms (January 2021)

To gauge where our District families currently stand, we are sending a revised version of the "Return to School Preference Form."  We understand that some families may still be apprehensive about sending their children back to school during this pandemic. Knowing this, the District would like to provide parents/guardians with flexibility, but also needs to plan in advance for scheduling purposes and ensure we are abiding by social distancing requirements.  Final responses will be due by:  January 4, 2021

  • PreK - 8 “Return to School Preference” Form:
          • PreK - 8 Return to School Preference Response Results (click here to download)
  • CHS “Return to School Preference” Form: 
          • CHS Return to School Preference Form Response Results (click  here to download)

 

Informational Events:

To help families make a more informed decision on whether your child will attend school in-person (hybrid instruction) or continue with all-virtual instruction we are inviting the community to join us for a few upcoming virtual events. We encourage families to attend these events.  If you are unable to attend, all presentations will be sent to families via email and WebEx recordings will be posted to the District website.

          1. All-District Return to School Town Hall (Pre-Recorded Webinar) - December 17, 2020 - Click here to view video
            • Questions for 12/17 pre-recorded Town Hall can be submitted here (submit questions by 12/10)  https://bit.ly/THQuestions
          2. Board of Education Virtual Meeting - Monday, October 19 @ 7:30pm - View recording
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