Northern Bedford County School District Health and Safety Plan
Covid-19 Sports Health and Safety Return to Play Plan
Census Takers will begin visiting households that have not responded online, by phone or by mail beginning the week of July 20.
Please answer the door and provide the answers to the questions the Census Taker asks. By answering, you will help ensure we’ll get our share of funding for the next 10 years.
More information is available in the link below:
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2020/nonresponding-households-follow-up.html
July 10, 2020
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The response to COVID-19 has created tremendous fluidity and uncertainty as we are planning for the start of school. In the meantime, we have taken steps to increase our levels of sanitation for 20-21. We have purchased equipment that will allow our staff to sanitize rooms more efficiently as well as providing sanitation wipes in each classroom for use throughout the day. We also increased the number of hand sanitizer devices throughout the building for students to use during the day. Students will be able to bring their own water bottles to school and we are purchasing water fountains that are designed to refill water bottles. We will also be purchasing equipment for the bus drivers to sanitize the bus fleet each day. Providing a safe learning environment for our students will be our number one priority.
On the education side, we are purchasing laptops for students K-5 making NBC a 1:1 school K-12. Teachers have completed additional training on Google Classrooms, Canvas, and SeeSaw. With the experiences of the last ten weeks of school, teachers are taking the information from the training and improving upon last year’s work. With regards to athletics, Mr. Batzel is monitoring the situation and reviewing all information that is posted through PIAA and developing plans accordingly.
By taking these steps, we intend to have students return to school on August 27, 2020. The Pennsylvania Governor and Secretary of Health, however, are currently making it difficult for us to have all students return each day. On July 1, the Secretary issued an order that in part requires the wearing of facemasks while outside if six feet cannot be consistently maintained and in school buildings unless one has a medical condition. If this order remains in effect for the beginning of the school year, we would be required to enforce the wearing of masks for students on the bus. All students, staff, and visitors would be required to wear masks within the building during the school day and for all school activities. This will be required because we are unable to maintain the six-foot requirement with all students in the building.
The only way to maintain the six-foot requirement would be to implement a hybrid plan which means that only half of the student population would be at school on any given day. We recognize the inconveniences a hybrid model creates for parents; however, it does provide face to face opportunities with teachers. The final option is to be completely on-line as we were for the last ten weeks of school.
The administration has been discussing what a hybrid model would look like. We have discussed several scenarios:
On days when students are not physically present in school, they will be required to complete on-line assignments and activities. Days that no students are in the building, the custodial staff will complete a deep sanitation cleaning.
A survey will be sent to you via email for input into which hybrid scenario would work best for you along with other pertinent questions. I am planning a meeting to discuss the results of the survey. If you would like to attend, please contact Mrs. Pressel at 766-4702. The administration will review the input provided by the parents as we continue to refine and eventually implement the best plan given the status at the time.
On a different note, I understand that some parents may be considering an actual cyber school option if NBC is required to return to on-line schooling; it is important for parents understand and consider the ramifications of this decision. If twenty percent of NBC parents choose to go to cyber school, the district will be required to pay an additional 2 million dollars, at a minimum, over the course of the 20-21 school year to the cyber schools. This cost is not accounted for in our 20-21 budget and would financially cripple the school district. If the district were required to pay the same amount for the 21-22 school year, NBC would cease to exist as we know it without changes at the state level to provide cyber finance reform and/or money directly to the district from the state.
As you make your decisions, please understand the district is limited in the decision making process because we are bound by the state mandates and orders. Information seems to change daily, so I would encourage you to check our website for updates. Again, I would encourage communication with your state representatives and governor to ensure your voice is heard.
Sincerely,
Todd B. Beatty
Superintendent
Cc: School Board
Click here https://www.schoolcafe.com/ to determine if your child(ren) qualify for free or reduced price meals at Northern Bedford County School District. You will be prompted to register into the website before you begin the application process.
