The school board approved a health and safety plan, including the hybrid education model, at a meeting July 27, and parents and guardians were notified July 29. Districts across the state are required to create COVID-19 health and safety plans that be approved by the state Department of Education before classes can resume.
Parents and guardians can select a hybrid option with two days of in-person and three days of virtual student learning per week or a full-time virtual learning option.
There is no option for full in-person learning at this time.
The plan can be viewed on the district’s website.
Here's what the plan looks like:
First day of classes:
• Aug. 31.
Instructional model:
• Students in kindergarten through 12th grade will attend in-person classes on alternating days. Days for in-person attendance will be assigned based on a split of last names, A through K and L through Z. Students residing in the same household but not sharing the same surnames will be assigned the same days, based on the last name of the oldest registered child.
• Parents and guardians also can elect to have their child enrolled in the Wyomissing Area Virtual Education, or WAVE, program on a quarterly basis with the flexibility to enroll or unenroll as circumstances associated with the COVID-19 pandemic change.
The district will distribute devices for virtual learning to students without technology resources in their homes.
Background
• Wyomissing’s plan was created in consultation with local health agencies and can be adapted to changing conditions.
• The plan is based in part on the responses to a parent/guardian survey. The survey results also are available on the district website.
Cleaning and disinfecting
• The plan also addresses cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting school property.
• Custodial staff have been trained in recognized best practices and will disinfect furniture, high touch areas and surfaces, restrooms, hallways, instructional spaces and offices.
• Among other precautions, water fountains will be turned off. Students will have access to touchless bottle fillers, and disposable paper cups will be available.
Social distancing
• The plan for social distancing includes removing unnecessary furniture, rugs and other materials to maximize classroom floor space.
Classroom and learning spaces will not exceed 25 students at a time. Individual student desks will be forward facing and students will be separated by 3 to 6 feet.
Health monitoring
• Anyone who appears or becomes ill at school will be monitored in the school health office and screened for COVID-19 exposure and symptoms such as a temperature greater than 100.4, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, stomachache, headache, rash and loss of appetite.
• The district will advise and provide training for parent monitoring of students prior to coming to school.
•Staff and students will be required to stay home if they are sick.
Transportation
• The plan does not address transportation of students.
Sports and extracurricular activities
• A decision regarding interscholastic sports and extracurricular activities is pending. The district expects to revise plans for sports and other activities when additional information becomes available from the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and state Department of Health.
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