Reopening Our School 2020-2021 - River Valley Charter School
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Reopening Our School
2020-2021
RIVER VALLEY CHARTER SCHOOL
2 Perry Way
Newburyport, MA 01950
Phone: (978) 465-0065
www.RiverValleyCharter.org
Head of School: Jonnie Lyn Evans
Endorsed by the River Valley Charter School Board of Trustees
August 11, 2020TABLE OF CONTENTS
MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL ............................................................................................. 3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY & REOPENING RECOMMENDATION ................................................................ 1
RATIONALE FOR REOPENING RECOMMENDATION ............................................................................. 3
INTRODUCTION: MISSION, PRIORITIES, AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES ..................................................... 4
PLANNING AND TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP........................................................................................ 6
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE SPRING OF 2020..................................................................................... 9
REOPENING FEASIBILITY STUDY ....................................................................................................... 12
OPERATIONS AND SAFETY MEASURES ............................................................................................. 16
Certification of Health and Safety Requirements .............................................................................. 22
MODEL #1: FULLY IN-PERSON LEARNING .......................................................................................... 23
MODEL #2: THE RVCS HYBRID APPROACH; NEARLY FULLY IN-PERSON* ............................................ 24
MODEL #3: FULLY REMOTE LEARNING MODEL................................................................................. 28
OPTIONAL MODEL: FAMILY SELECTED REMOTE MODEL (ONLY WHEN HYBRID MODEL IS IN PLACE) ... 31
PLANNING FOR HIGHEST NEEDS STUDENTS ...................................................................................... 33
RELEVANT DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION GUIDELINES ..................... 36MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL August 14, 2020 Dear River Valley Charter School Community, Laying out a plan for the 2020-2021 reopening of River Valley Charter School during a worldwide pandemic fills me with so many conflicting feelings. Over the last six months, I have spent thousands of hours reading, thinking, evaluating, and analyzing everything I could get my hands on- news articles, social media posts, survey results, political speeches, scientific studies, guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Departments of Public Health, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the list goes on and on. Every day I feel more anguished with the gravity of the decision I must make as the leader of River Valley. I take this responsibility very seriously; the consequences of the wrong decision could obviously be grave. I am eternally grateful for the faculty and staff employed at River Valley. When the pandemic closed school in March 2020, they barely missed a step. Immediately, RVCS faculty and staff continued to do what they do best- creating creative and engaging opportunities for student learning. Since then they have been thought leaders, confidants, supporters, and worker-bees in support of a reopening plan that could supplement and/or improve upon what was learned during the 65 days of remote learning. Typically, summertime is pretty quiet around a public school. Teachers take off for two months to refill their souls, recharge their batteries, and reflect deeply on their work. Only a handful of administrative staff works through the summer. This year has been completely different. There have been in-person meetings (masked and physically distanced of course), Zoom meetings, meetings in the pavilion, in the parking lot, in the gym, and via phone. Every day another group of RVCS educators has gathered to craft a plan for the safe reopening of River Valley in the fall of 2020. I am committed first and foremost to the health, safety, and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff. Every decision is evaluated through the lens of safety before being considered further. Then, we talk about what we believe is best for children and their development. We think about children holistically- their academic growth, their physical growth, and their social/emotional development. If the safety hurdle can be vaulted, what then is in the best interest of children? River Valley is fortunate to be a small school. We are nimble and flexible and have drafted a reopening plan that we believe meet the needs of the child in the best possible way at this particular time. We remain cognizant that at any moment, our plans might need to be re-evaluated and altered to meet changing information, increased incidence of the corona virus in our region, and learnings from other school reopenings across the country. We have done our part creating this plan. Now it is your turn. Going forward, your actions will inform and impact both your child’s and the RVCS faculty and staff’s future. As parents and caregivers, you must to do everything you possibly can to keep River Valley teachers and children safe. I pray that the decisions you make, like the ones I have made, are made with the realization that what you do impacts all fifty staff members, all 288 students, all 175+ families, and their extended families. If you can commit to thinking about them first, then the synergy of our efforts will ensure that we are doing what is best for your child, our teachers, and the greater River Valley community. It’s your turn. Please take your role seriously and do your part to keep us all safe. We will do ours. Sincerely, Jonnie Lyn Evans School Director, River Valley Charter School
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY & REOPENING RECOMMENDATION
River Valley Charter School administration and faculty and staff have been actively monitoring
information about the corona virus from multiple sources, with special attention paid to the Center
for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Departments of Public
Health, the Massachusetts Governor’s Office, and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education. Based on this research and analysis, and countless hours of brainstorming by
the school’s Reopening Task Force, we presented a reopening recommendation to the River Valley
Charter School Board of Trustees for its consideration on August 11, 2020. Below are findings and
recommendations for the reopening of River Valley in the fall of 2020.
Two pieces of information are of critical importance regardless what happens in the fall:
1) All plans are based on current information and are subject to change based on new information
about COVID-19, its spread, and its impact on humankind.
2) Families play a critical role in the success of the school’s reopening plan. Without their full
cooperation, the plan is pre-determined to fail. Families are implored to consider their commitment
and ability to abide by safe practices before returning their children to school for any form of in-
person learning program recommended in this plan.
• A commitment to the health, wellness, and safety of faculty, staff, and students guides every
decision being made.
• In accordance with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s directive that
all schools provide faculty and staff with ten professional development days in advance of
school reopening, River Valley Charter School will hold its first day of school on Tuesday,
September 8, 2020, following ten professional development days with staff.
• Daily in-person learning will be prioritized for children in grades K-6.
• Assuming key indicators for reopening remain relatively static, River Valley Charter
School will reopen with a program designed to offer every child time for in-person
learning.
o Grade K-3 students will return to in-person learning for half days. Cohorts of
approximately eight students will attend either a morning or afternoon session with
their classroom teacher. In the afternoon, those students will participate in follow up
work and/or online participation in specials classes such as music, art, engineering,
and physical education.
o Grade 4-6 students will return to full-day in-person learning. Cohorts of
approximately twelve students will attend school in the 2 Perry Way building or
outside, offsite, at one of four outdoor learning locations. The eight cohorts of
students from the four Elementary 2 classrooms will rotate weekly between in-
person and outdoor learning.
o Middle school students in grades 7 and 8 will be broken into five cohorts of
approximately 10-12 students. Every cohort will participate in both in-person and
remote learning from home. On any given weekday, three cohorts will be on site,
Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 1representing three in-person days for every student. Two days per week, two cohorts
will be learning remotely.
• Students designated as high need (special education, 504, and/or economically
disadvantaged) may be invited to attend in -person learning for additional time where it is
determined appropriate.
• Students who are children of RVCS teachers may be invited to attend additional in-person
learning to ensure that our staff are available to meet the needs of the entire RVCS student
population.
• All individuals in the school building will wear masks/face coverings, including our youngest
students in grades K-2.
• Families who opt not to return to in-person learning, for whatever reason, will be offered a
family-selected, fully remote program taught by RVCS educators.
o In grades K-1, the remote program will be facilitated by classroom teachers using
both Google Classroom, the SeeSaw platform, and/or Google Sites. The program will
include both synchronous and asynchronous learning. Enrichment programming will
be offered through remote programming.
o In grades 2-3, classroom teachers will oversee remote learning instruction by
including fully remote learners in both synchronous and asynchronous learning via
Google Meets, the Google Classroom, and SeeSaw. Enrichment programming will be
offered through remote programming.
o In grades 4-6, a dedicated remote learning specialist will oversee a cohort of remote
learners using Google Classroom. Enrichment programming will be offered through
remote programming.
o In grades 7 and 8, the remote program will be facilitated by current middle school
staff using the Google Classroom. Enrichment programming will be offered through
remote programming.
• Student attendance will be mandatory and coursework will be assessed for all students
whether participating in remote learning or in-person.
• Faculty and administration will participate in ongoing re-evaluation of the school’s ability to
continue offering safe in-person programming. If for any reason it is determined that it is no
longer safe to continue to bring students into the school building, River Valley will transition
to a fully remote program, overseen by classroom teachers.
• There will be ongoing collaboration with local departments of public health, the school’s
physician, the school nurse, and local area school nurses.
Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 2RATIONALE FOR REOPENING RECOMMENDATION
• The Reentry Task Force sought to follow DESE guidance, bringing all students back for 100%, full
day, in-person learning. An analysis of feasibility, based on safety, indicated that this was not safe.
• While our building is technically large enough to arrange for all 288 students to attend school
three to six feet apart, it would require the use of all building space (music room, gymnasium, art
room, etc.)
• A full return to 100% in-person learning for all students is not possible because we would not
have adequate staff coverage for student groupings and subgroupings necessary to meet cohort
and spacing requirements designed to ensure staff and students safety.
• The Reentry Task Force then attempted to follow DESE guidance, bringing all students back for
100% in-person learning utilizing outdoor space on school grounds. Despite multiple creative
approaches to educating students onsite through the use of parking lot space, playground space,
tents, awnings, etc., it was determined that it was impossible to provide appropriate educational
programming for students in this manner.
• With a firm belief that in-person learning is ideal for students and teachers, the Reentry Team
then turned its attention to creative solutions for in-person learning.
• River Valley Charter School is a regional school serving students primarily from the
Newburyport, Amesbury, Triton and Pentucket. Using the recently-released Massachusetts
COVID Command metric for selecting a learning model, and at the time of this writing, our local
area has average daily case rates per 100,000 is in the “white” or “green” categories, indicating
less than 5 viral cases per 100,000 or less than four cases per 100.
• Safety precautions have been evaluated for our ability to support the safe return of students and
staff and we have adopted a number of new safeguards including: the installation of motion
activated bathroom sinks and lighting, upgrades to our air filtration system, the creation of small,
manageable cohort sizes, limitations to the use of shared space, etc.
Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 3INTRODUCTION: MISSION, PRIORITIES, AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
This plan was created through collaboration with the goal of safely bringing students back to school
for the 2020-2021 school year. As a community, we believe that students learn best when they are
engaged in learning in-person with the support of teachers and peers. Our ultimate goals is to have
students return to “normal” in the fall of 2020 but we know that this will not be possible unless we
can create a school environment that is safe for everyone.
We have sought to create three separate learning models, and each has its benefits and
disadvantages. The three plans were developed with River Valley’s Montessori mission as its beacon
and with three main priorities held top-of-mind.
The mission of the River Valley Charter School is to provide a rigorous academic program based on
the Montessori philosophy and rooted in the history, culture, and ecology of the Merrimack River
Valley. Students will reach their full potential as scholars and become self-reliant, productive
members of society. They will be adept at critical thinking and creative problem solving and will be
fully prepared to succeed in future schools, careers, and civic life.
Key design elements of the River Valley Charter School program include:
• An educational program based on the Montessori philosophy
• A curriculum rooted in the history, culture, and ecology of the Merrimack River Valley
• A focus on the development of students’ critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
The three priorities for the development of our reopening plan that also remained at the forefront
of our decision-making are:
• Safety of staff and students
• Equity for all
• Focus on the holistic development of the child, valuing all three elements of growth equally:
physical, social/emotional, and academic.
We determined that providing a high-quality grade K-8 Montessori program, not only within the
construct of the Massachusetts public school sector, but also while facing a worldwide pandemic, is
not only challenging, it is nearly impossible. The operational safety measures we will implement are
highlighted in the Operations and Safety Measures section of this document.)
Tenets of the Montessori philosophy include the idea that the hand teaches the mind (hand-held
manipulatives), that children learn best through collaboration with their peers, and that freedom and
movement is integral to child development. None of those tenets translates easily to the COVID-19
environment.
On the topic of equity, we have identified a new calling: to ensure that all decisions, actions, and
offerings, are viewed first through a lens of equity. Recent events in our country have further brought
to light the imperceptible inequalities that exist within our country’s organizational structures and
systems and in both private and public entities. Much needs to happen to address these inequalities.
Education is a powerful tool in the fight against them.
Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 4The following guiding principles have been observed in creating this plan:
• RVCS adhered to the directives and guidance issued by the Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The first directive being the investigation into
three reopening plans: a fully in-person model, a hybrid model, and a fully remote model.
• RVCS prioritizes health and safety over convenience and efficiency. There is nothing “normal”
about returning to school during a pandemic. RVCS’ plan for reopening is one that is created to
accommodate the current state of the world, while also holding our Montessori principles as close
as possible.
• Collaboration has always been and continues to be of utmost importance. RVCS will solicit input
from key stakeholders including faculty and staff, parents and caregivers, medical professionals,
and others who will help guide our planning.
• Our efforts to reopen school are made while simultaneously understanding that COVID-19 has
had an irrefutable and lasting impact on families, children, and staff members. There is, and will
continue to be, mental health implications and academic implications resulting from having the
unprecedented experiences we have all experienced over the last six months.
• River Valley is committed to advancing student learning with a focus on equity for our most
vulnerable students.
• Feedback and reflection from our experiences during the 65-day closure can and will inform
future offerings so that we can continue to improve and enhance our remote instructional
practices during the continuation of this worldwide pandemic.
Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 5PLANNING AND TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP
Beginning as soon as the 2019-2020 school year ended, all staff were invited to join the Reopening
Task Force. The commitment was to meet weekly, either in person or via Zoom, for the purpose of
brainstorming ideas for the opening of school in the 2020-2021 school year. At that point in time,
virus containment efforts were well under way and we were hoping that by following stay-in-place
orders, things might settle enough that children would be able to fully return to school with a few
safety precautions in place.
The Reopening Task Force included representation from almost every level or department including
kindergarten, Elementary 1, Elementary 2, Middle School, special education and specialists. We are
grateful for the time, talent, and creative input of this team. The list of members, and their role at
River Valley follows:
Jonnie Lyn Evans School Director
Dan Bouchard Assistant Director
Colin Vandenburgh Middle School Coordinator
Kimberly Putney School Nurse
Katy Field School Counselor
Patti Innes K-3 Special Education Coordinator
Pam Jones Technology Coordinator
Christina Carico E2 Special Education
Mary Carpenter Tech Education Teacher
Beth McQuade Middle School Math Teacher
Lainie Ives Engineering Teacher
We initially drafted a list of areas on which to focus: Policies, Facilities, Health and Wellness,
Scheduling, Academics, Outdoor Classrooms, and Technology.
At that first meeting, we affirmed that “our north star” had to be the guidelines put forth by the Center
for Disease Control and Prevention. That sentiment has not changed. Every conversation and
decision have been informed by input from RVCS School Nurse, Kimberly Putney, with input from
our School Physician, Jonathon March, as well as the MA Department of Public Health, local public
health officials, and our local Department of Public Health.
At the end of June, we added an Outdoor Classroom Task Force that includes the following members:
Jonnie Lyn Evans School Director
Dan Bouchard Assistant Director
Colin Vandenburgh Middle School Coordinator
Pam Jones Technology Coordinator
Kristen Veale E2 Lead Teacher
Lainie Ives K-8 Engineering Teacher and Outdoor Education candidate
Mary Carpenter Technology Teacher and Outdoor Education candidate
Tori Lane E2 Assistant Teacher
Mary McCormack E2 Lead Teacher
Andrew Soracco E2 Science Teacher and Outdoor Education candidate
Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 6Ali Fields E2 Lead Teacher
Jon Ellen E2 Assistant Teacher
Rebecca Schwer Middle School Science Teacher
Drew Balanoff Former Instructional Assistant and Outdoor Education
candidate
This team analyzed the idea of an outdoor program for all students. This included studies into other
countries and schools offering outdoor education programming. Initially the idea was to recreate
school outdoors. An outdoor school might look like pods of outdoor classrooms set up such that the
teacher would deliver instruction to students similarly to an indoor program. The only difference
being that the classes were held outside. This concept was rejected because there was little indication
that a program with fully outdoor classrooms would be feasible for our site, nor supported by our
families. While many faculty members and families support the idea of “getting outside as much as
possible”, we could not create a program that would be sustainable for the long term.
At this point the committee decided to evaluate the idea of a part-time outdoor program, specifically
for a smaller group of students. Because River Valley had a couple of staff members with significant
outdoor learning experience, we were able to tap them to lead an analysis of this as a possibility. The
team was able to identify a way to introduce a small outdoor pilot program to accommodate
approximately 100 students utilizing current staff and for relatively incidental cost. The plan was
hatched and has been under development since.
During the first week of July, another Task Force was created to begin thinking about grade K-3
programming. One idea that had been percolating since early June was the idea of reevaluating the
organization of students in our multi-age classrooms, especially to support our youngest first grade
students who would be returning from a tumultuous introductory year to education in which they
spent 1/3 of their educational experience in a remote learning environment.
Members of this task force included:
Jonnie Lyn Evans School Director
Patti Innes K-3 Special Education Coordinator
Mary Lytle K Lead Teacher and future K1 Lead Teacher
Susan Bynorth K Lead Teacher
Brooke Guilbault K Lead Teacher
Nell Francheck K Assistant Teacher
Karen Popken E1 Lead Teacher
Jane Noyes E1 Lead Teacher
Melanie O’Keefe E1
Rebecca Hamel E1 Co-Lead Teacher
Emily Gala E1 Co-Lead Teacher and future K1 Lead Teacher
Lynne Taylor E1 Assistant and future K1 Assistant
Deb Collins E1 Assistant and future K1 Assistant
Melissa Wilkinson K-3 Instructional Assistant
At the end of July, a Middle School Task Force began meeting weekly as well. The team included the
following members:
Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 7Colin Vandenburgh Middle School Coordinator Laura Hunt Middle School ELA Teacher Eli Rosen Middle School Humanities Teacher Beth MacQuade Middle School Mathematics Teacher Tom Brace Middle School Mathematics Teacher Rebecca Schwer Middle School Science Teacher Betsy Howgate Middle School Special Education Teacher Joanne Lightfoot Middle School Special Education Teacher Lucinda Cathcart Middle School Arts Integration Specialist Jonnie Lyn Evans School Director The middle school team considered multiple scenarios for a return to in-person learning for middle school students including an analysis of four cohort groups, five cohort groups, six cohort groups and eight cohort groups. Ultimately the team devised a model that would maximize the number of students who could return for in-person learning by bringing in three cohorts for in-person learning while two cohorts were out for remote learning. This ensured a manageable rotation for parents, one that they could easily remember and have success with. Rotations would occur on a weekly basis such that students attended three days in-school per week, and two days out per week. The remote portion of our hybrid model includes double sessions of ELA and humanities as we found these subjects to be more conducive to online teaching than math or science. Early on the team determined that any family choosing to remain in a remote learning model (while other students returned to in-person learning) would need classes to be led by each of our middle school content specialists (the math, science, ELA, and humanities teachers) rather than by assigning students to a cohort and one teacher. The team has worked hard to find a solution to this challenge. Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 8
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE SPRING OF 2020 We collected feedback about our spring remote learning program multiple ways. Early on, teachers surveyed parents directly to solicit input on the remote learning options being provided. We also held 1:1 virtual check-ins with parents. Later, we administered an anonymous survey for parents to reflect and respond to questions about their child’s remote learning experiences. The questions were open-ended and asked parents to comment on what worked and what didn’t during their child(ren)’s 65-day school days of remote learning. Key Finding #1: There is a need for increased consistency throughout the school and especially by levels. There needs to be more consistency throughout the teaching and learning process with remote learning. This includes scheduling of meetings with students, expectations for attendance and participation, work expectations, communications, learning management platforms, and the way that teachers use them, etc. As a result, River Valley will be implementing learning platforms more consistently across classrooms. At the Elementary 2 and middle school levels, Google Classroom and Google Meets will be used. This will be a streamlined approach for students and parents ensuring they can access assignments, learning resources, educational links, and instructional platforms more easily. Students will also follow a regular schedule, varying by level, but not by classroom. Schedules will remain consistent if we move to a fully remote learning program. Faculty and staff have spent many hours during the summer to finetune their future plans for remote learning. A final set of expectations will be shared with students and parents at the start of the year. At the 2-3 level, Google Classroom and SeeSaw will be used. K-1 will use Seesaw and a custom website they created and continue to stock with teaching videos. Key Finding # 2: Faculty and staff need training in virtual teaching and learning. As a Montessori school, we tend to focus on interpersonal relationships, hands-on and experiential learning, project-based instruction, and collaboration. Making the transition to virtual teaching and learning, while trying to stay true to our instructional expertise and our students’ familiarity with it was challenging. In most cases, especially at the lower grades, our classrooms had never significantly utilized technology for teaching and learning. Grade 1-6 classrooms had a few devices to access the internet and technology was primarily usually used for research, word processing, and some basic instructional reinforcement. It was not part of our teacher’s repertoire either, favoring direct, 1:1 or small group instruction where teachers could easily check for understanding and follow student interest in tangential learning. We are acutely aware of our faculty’s need for additional training in order to deliver better instruction virtually. Over the summer many staff members used their personal time to further their knowledge and understanding of learning management platforms. Our reopening committee and especially our technology coordinator and level teams have discussed a more consistent approach to virtual teaching for the reopening of school this fall. We have settled on a set of software applications and a more unified approach to their use will occur. Further, the ten days of professional development prior to the opening of school will be used to provide training on the best use of these applications. Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 9
Key Finding #3: Parents and students need explicit training in virtual learning in order for students to be successful. Our remote program was built after we transitioned to online learning. Were we to have had time to prepare for it, we would have had a different approach. For one, we would have had more consistency (see finding #1 above). With that consistency, we would have been able to develop opportunities to share with parents and students what general expectations were. We also would have developed protocols and processes for the work we were doing. We would have frontloaded lessons in simple things like, “what lesson-ready looks like”, or what appropriate Zoom behavior is. The use of technology, more than its availability, was the primary challenge. Teaching how to use technology on different hardware devices also created challenges. It was hard to direct a student, or parent, to certain features because the location of functions was in different places across different machines and platforms. Next year all students will access remote learning through a Chromebook. This will improve our ability to support students. In addition, training teachers on their own use of technology will allow them to better support students (see finding #2 above). We have developed an extensive list of trainings for teachers, parents, and students that will be offered prior to the beginning of remote learning as well as during the school year. We have a much better understanding of our training needs and are better positioned to address them moving forward. Key Finding #4: It is very different motivating students over a virtual platform than it is in in-person programming. Our Montessori programming typically shies away from the use of traditional grading as a motivational tool, especially at grades K-6. (At the middle school we start to introduce the concept of grading systems to prepare students for their transition to high school.) As such, our teachers are masters at creative in-person motivational strategies. These strategies did not, however, translate to remote teaching and learning. We struggled to keep students motivated to do work and to stay engaged and were frequently changing up our approaches, our work assignments, and our expectations in search of motivationing experiences for students. Part of the lack of motivation could be attributed to the complete shock students and families found themselves in. No one had ever lived through a pandemic; and with the degree of uncertainty and media attention given to the situation, most adults and children were unable to focus on anything except thoughts about their physical safety. Without a feeling of safety and security, many students were not able to attend and some parents were equally as distracted from supporting their children with school work. Key Finding #5: Remote Learning needs to be more robust for the long term. While the majority of parents indicated how impressed and satisfied they were with our teaching and learning offerings, many, when asked during the summer after reflecting on their children’s experience, indicated that should remote learning return as a long-term solution to education, our programming would need to be more robust. Last spring’s remote learning experience occurred somewhat close to the end of the school year. If this will be a yearlong approach to teaching and learning, or if it happens early in the school year, we will need to have developed greater skill for teaching in the virtual world. Fortunately, our teachers Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 10
are gearing up for this now and will continue with technology professional development opportunities prior to the opening of school. Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 11
REOPENING FEASIBILITY STUDY
River Valley Charter School undertook a feasibility study that included research and analysis of
multiple areas including the school’s ability to implement the health and safety protocols as defined
in DESE’s reopening guidance, the physical spaces within the school’s 36,100 square foot facility, the
human resources available to bring students back for in-person learning in smaller cohort groupings,
lessons learned from our experiences with remote learning, as well as multiple opportunities to
collect input from staff and families. We also followed the Massachusetts Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education’s overarching priority to bring back as many students as possible to an in-
person learning environment under a prescribed set of comprehensive health and safety measures.
In addition, we prioritized adherence to our Montessori principles in our decision-making
process. Key findings from the feasibility study follow:
Analysis of Facilities
• The RVCS building has large classrooms with space to accommodate the majority of our students
if we reconfigure our multi-age groupings and the physical spaces.
• Using the Cannon Design Parametric Capacity Dashboard software provided by DESE, RVCS
measured the dimensions of each classroom, inputted the data into the Parametric Capacity
Model and determined the safe, physically distant capacity of those classrooms. It was
determined that, while many of the classrooms are large enough to accommodate 16 students at
the DESE recommended minimum of 3-foot distance, RVCS would use the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention’s recommended 6 foot distance between students. We believe that it is
more appropriate to ensure staff and student safety.
• Considering the 6-foot standard in our feasibility testing, we looked to additional space within
the school (library, gymnasium, etc.) to expand use to more routine classroom learning space.
Given the size of our building and available space, the 6-foot distancing standard would likely
accommodate all 288 of our students for in-person learning using all these additional spaces, if
class sizes were reduced across all grade levels. This would mean, however, the need for
additional instructional staffing K-8, adding excessive cost to the school.
Staffing
• The RVCS faculty is a talented and flexible group of individuals who are dedicated to their
students and are willing to support whatever plan is identified to provide the best options for
safety as well as students’ social, emotional, and academic learning.
• Staff members are eager to return to work and have confidence in the school’s ability to support
a safe and healthy learning environment.
Transportation
• While the busses that are used to transport students to River Valley are typically not filled to
capacity, our busses are dependent on the Newburyport Public School District’s (NPS) bussing
schedule. NPS’s reopening decisions, and resultant bus scheduling will impact our ability to
transport Newburyport children to school. We have initiated conversations with the bus
company to determine the feasibility, impact, and cost to adding bus routes to meet our individual
needs. We anticipate minimal issues with our morning and afternoon transportation needs, at
least on four days of the week, as we currently understand the Newburyport district is returning
Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 12for hybrid learning on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. We are working with the bus
company about Wednesday transportation.
• We have also communicated with (Newburyport) parents to assess their ability to get their
children to school if the District’s transportation efforts were different than under normal
circumstances. 100% of responding parents indicated that there were other transportation
modalities that would ensure their children could get to and from our building.
• For students attending our half day programs, and our offsite program, we are working with
families to ensure that every child has access to our programming regardless of a family’s ability
to transport them.
Academics
• In-person learning supports positive relationships, holistic education, and project-based
learning, hallmarks of our Montessori program.
• Although classrooms are large, spacing 16 students six feet apart in a classroom would drastically
change our instructional practices. We believe this would negatively impact teacher’s ability to
appropriately instruct children, children’s social/emotional health as well as their ability to
learn.
Feedback
• Multiple surveys with families indicate that 62% of families want their children to go back to in-
person learning in the fall.
• Families are fortunate to have the means to get their children to school.
• Parents understand the necessity of the proposed health and safety protocols and they are willing
to support their children in abiding by them.
• Feedback from the school’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council indicated that families of
children with disabilities recognize and value in-person learning over remote learning.
• 99% of RVCS families have access to reliable internet.
• If offered, parents would enthusiastically support an educational program that included outdoor
learning.
Solicitation of Input
In order to include as many voices and ideas into the planning process as possible, River Valley
administered a number of surveys to its constituents, families and teachers.
Parent Feedback
A number of surveys and town halls were held to share information and solicit questions from
parents.
In mid to late April, teachers administered surveys by level, directly with the parents of children in
their classrooms. Questions were fairly general:
Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 131. How would you rate your families’ remote learning experience thus far? (We are overwhelmed to We are in the groove.) 2. How do you think your child would rate the remote learning experience so far? (They are not enjoying it to It’s as good as the real thing.) 3. What describes your family’s approach to teaching and learning? (Multiple options were given including: We depend on everything the school sends to We are unschooling, to Our focus is on practical life skills.) 4. How independently is your child able to complete schoolwork? 5. Is there an adult in the home available to support your child’s remote learning? 6. Information on devices and accessibility. 7. An open-ended question about what was working well and what was difficult. In June, following the end of the schoolyear, a survey was sent to parents to assess their thoughts about re-opening in the fall. Questions included: 1. It is a given the River Valley will follow safety guidelines recommended by DESE and the CDC. Knowing this, do you intend to send your child(ren) for face-to-face learning in the fall? 2. Please indicate your level of comfort regarding your child(ren)’s return to in-person learning this fall. 3. What safety precautions would you expect to see at school in the fall? 4. Does wearing a mask impact whether your child(ren) return to school in the fall? 5. If River Valley were to offer a hybrid model, what type of program would work for your family? (Week on/week off, Day on/day off, Half days) 6. Please rate your response to the concept of a program that included regularly scheduled days of outdoor, offsite learning. 7. Are you depended on school-based transportation to get your child(ren) to school? In late July, another survey was sent to parents. It was similar to the June survey and allowed us to compare results as news about the pandemic increased. We also investigated the availability of technology and childcare more thoroughly if we were to reopen school remotely. Finally, open ended questions were asked about child(ren)’s remote learning experience. Teacher Reflection and Input Teachers were asked in a number of different venues to reflect on their experiences during the closure. They did this individually as well as in groups by level/department. They were also invited to share thoughts and feelings about their experiences during the closure in less formal meetings, both in whole group and by department/level. In early August, teachers were invited to participate anonymously in a survey to gather their input for the development of River Valley’s reopening plans. Questions on the survey included the following: 1. Please indicate your level of satisfaction regarding communication about reopening plans. 2. Please rate your level of confidence about your personal safety under an in-person return to school. 3. Please rate your level of confidence in your ability to support student safety under an in-person return to school. Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 14
4. Please rate your level of confidence in your ability to teach under the in-person model as it will be structured in the fall. 5. Please rate your level of confidence regarding you students’ ability to learn under the in-person model as it will be structured in the fall. 6. Rate your level of confidence in your ability to teach in a fully remote model. 7. Rate your level of confidence regarding your students’ ability to learn under a fully remote model. 8. What supports do you need to be successful in a fully remote model? Communication River Valley’s ability to communicate with both families and staff has always been strong and is further evidenced by the past six months. The Director remains in communication with staff on a daily basis during the school year, sending out a daily email highlighting events and sharing information that comes out of board and committee meetings. During the pandemic, this obviously continued, and in some instances, increased. Communication with families has also continued to be strong. The Director uses multiple methods of communication including text messaging, email, and live meetings. This ensures that communication is clear, streamlined, and two-ways with families. Data collected during this past summer via surveys and check-ins was invaluable for a number of reasons. For one, it ensured that parents and staff voice was considered in all planning efforts. It also provided a level of transparency for our constituency so that they could be a part of the thinking and planning process. Last, it provided valid data on which to make decisions. Response rates for all surveys were superior, representing significantly more than 80% of the respective family and staff populations. We are confident that our approach to any of the reopening models will address the concerns of our constituents. We are also confident that we will reopen with knowledge to improve upon the past. Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 15
OPERATIONS AND SAFETY MEASURES
Regardless whether River Valley returns to a fully in-person model or a hybrid model of teaching and
learning in the fall, there are multiple operational and safety measures that must exist in the school.
River Valley is committed to ensuring all safety protocols and expectations outlined in the
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s reopening guidance
documents are established and in place for the opening of school in the fall.
General Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols
The school has developed a set of enhanced cleaning protocols and procedures required to ensure
our building is kept clean and safe on a daily basis to the greatest extent possible. These enhanced
cleaning protocols build upon our existing daily protocols of wiping down all surfaces, cleaning the
various types of flooring, etc., by adding a disinfecting procedure. The daily disinfecting procedure
includes the use of electrostatic sprayers. These sprayers will be used to cover all high-traffic areas
and classrooms with a thin layer of disinfectant solution. It should be noted that the electrostatic
sprayers are completely safe to be used in the presence of students and staff though they will be
deployed late afternoon or evening.
RVCS has hired a Day Porter, who will be responsible for cleaning the building throughout the school
day, particularly high traffic areas like: handrails, entry and exit doors, bathrooms, tables and chairs
between morning and afternoon sessions for our younger students.
Physical Distancing
Physical distancing is essential to minimize the risk of COVID-19 spread. Physical distancing, also
called “social distancing,” means keeping a safe space between yourself and other people who are not
from your household. Consistent with the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
a distance of at least six feet is required to be maintained at all times between individuals while inside
the school building.
To better facilitate proper physical distancing, we are developing practices and protocols in various
settings. Additionally, signage will be located throughout the school building as a visual reminder to
students and staff. Examples of signage will include distancing markers in the classrooms and
hallways, as well as reminders to practice general hygiene, and keep masks on at all times.
Physical distancing also requires us to re-design classroom and office configurations to ensure
individuals are separated by an appropriate distance (6 feet). Our school building has designed a
layout that takes certain key elements into consideration, including the following:
• Classroom configurations (spacing students 6 feet apart and not facing each other)
• Safe office configurations
• Hallway and staircase travel plans, including one-way movement as needed
• Safe storage of individual student belongings
• Use of outdoor space on the school grounds or alternative outdoor educational sites
• Use of plexiglass table dividers will be in use for shared tables in the middle school
• A moveable wall has been brought into the middle school space to create more delineation
between learning areas
• Removal of a wall to create a larger classroom space to safely accommodate a cohort of
students.
In order to optimize the capacity of each room while following physical distancing requirements,
non-essential furniture has been removed from classrooms and other learning spaces.
Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 16It is important to remember that physical distancing is just one element of our overall building safety plan. It is essential to pair physical distancing with other safety measures such as face covering requirements, protocols regarding staff and student movement throughout the building, and hand washing and sanitizing. All students and staff will be provided with instruction and training on COVID-19 related physical distancing expectations, hygiene practices, as well as other safety protocols. Staff training will occur within the first days that employees are due back on-site, prior to the first instructional day of school. For our students, this training will occur at the very beginning of the school year. In both cases the training sessions will include clear guidelines for various school routines such as school entry and dismissal, entering and exiting the building, and movement through the hallways. Personal Protective Equipment The wearing of face coverings and masks is one of the most important risk mitigating measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. All students, staff, and visitors are required to wear a face covering at all times while on school grounds. The only exception to this requirement is for students while eating lunch, and every effort will be made to eat lunch outside, or while partaking in a designated mask break. Masks must be worn in a manner so that an individual’s nose and mouth is covered at all times. Parents and guardians will be responsible for providing students with face coverings or masks each day while in-person learning is in session. River Valley has an inventory of disposable masks available, should a student not provide one for themselves. Staff may choose to provide their own face covering, or have one provided by the school. Time will be provided at designated points throughout the day for “mask breaks” where students and staff do not have to wear masks. These breaks will ideally occur in an outdoor space but could occur indoors if absolutely necessary. Regardless of location, all mask breaks will occur where at least 6-foot physical distancing can be maintained. Additional safety precautions and more extensive PPE is required for school nurses and those staff supporting students with disabilities because physical distancing protocols cannot be reasonably maintained. The additional PPE that will be made available to these staff members include eye protection (face shield or goggles), N95 respirator masks, disposable gowns, gloves, etc. All nursing staff and those staff members supporting students with significant disabilities will receive additional training prior to the start of school on what types of PPE are required to be worn during certain scenarios. All students and staff will receive direct instruction on the correct way to properly use face coverings/masks. For staff members, this training will occur prior to the start of the first instructional day of school. For students, the training will occur on the first instructional day of school. To reinforce the importance of wearing proper PPE by students and staff, signage will be placed throughout the building to serve as a reminder of school PPE policies. Personal Hygiene All students and staff are expected to practice frequent handwashing and hand sanitizing throughout the school day. Washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is a simple but effective precaution that can prevent virus transmission. Hand sanitizer dispensers will be provided by the school in all classrooms, building entrances, and other common areas. Regular opportunities for students to wash hands or utilize hand sanitizer will be incorporated into the school day. Protocols regarding the correct way to wash hands and use of hand sanitizer will be shared with students and staff, along with protocols on when hand washing and sanitizing is expected throughout Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 17
the day. Hand sanitizer will be provided in our Outdoor Education program as well. Students and staff will be reminded frequently of these routines and expectations through the use of signage located throughout our school building that reinforce personal hygiene practices to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Screening Students/Staff for COVID-19 Symptoms RVCS is working diligently to establish and reinforce a culture of health, safety, and shared responsibility. For this reason, it is critical that all families assess their child’s state of wellness each day before leaving home for school. If the child has a temperature greater than 100° and/or any symptoms of COVID-19, they should not go to school. The family should follow the routine procedures and notify the front office to indicate that the child will be absent and the reason for the absence. If ill, the school nurse will follow-up with the family regarding the child’s symptoms, and check if the child was seen by a healthcare provider and if a COVID-19 test was performed. The student can return to school once cleared by the school nurse or the health care provider. Families will be provided with clear protocols in easy-to-understand language prior to the start of school. Staff members are expected to follow these same protocols. If a student is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms on the school bus while on the way to school the bus driver and/or monitor will call ahead to the bus company dispatcher, who will then reach out directly to the school nurse or front office, notifying them of the potentially symptomatic child. Once arriving at school, the child will be met by the school nurse and guided to the designated school medical waiting room. The child’s parents or guardian will be notified and instructed to come pick up their child at school. If a student is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms while at school, they will be met by the school nurse and guided to the designated isolation space, and the child’s parents or guardians will be notified and instructed to come pick up their child at school. There is a separate exit from the isolation area directly connected to the medical office. In both of these scenarios, the student will be required to either self-isolate at home for 14 days from the onset of the symptoms or receive a COVID-19 test. If the student tests positive for COVID-19 the parent or guardian should notify the school, as well as the local public health nurse. If a staff member is not feeling well, they should adhere to the existing procedures regarding calling in sick. If they are exhibiting any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, they should follow these same procedures, as well as contact the School Director and school nurse. The school nurse will follow-up with the staff member regarding their symptoms, and check if the staff member was seen by a healthcare provider and if a COVID-19 test was performed. The staff member can return to school once cleared by the school nurse or the health care provider. Additionally, all staff should be aware of the symptoms of COVID-19 and should observe themselves and their students throughout the day. Staff members, including bus drivers, should refer students who may be exhibiting symptoms to the school nurse, ensuring strict adherence to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations which protect student privacy. Nurse Facility and Isolation Room RVCS created a new Nurse’s office on the first floor of the building to provide more space for potential needs of our Nurse and to provide an isolation room with separate exit from the building in the event of a suspected case of COVID-19 during the school day. To minimize the spread of COVID-19, protocols for students visiting the nurse’s office have been developed in accordance with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and DESE guidelines. Students Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 18
who are ill but not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, who are injured, who need medications, or who otherwise need to access the nurse’s office will follow the existing procedures already established for our school. Facility Alterations Multiple alterations have been made to the RVCS facility. We have installed touchless faucets for all classroom sinks and we upgraded several kitchen sinks to help reduce the risk of spreading disease such as COVID-19. Motion activated lights were installed in all bathrooms in the building to minimize contact wherever possible. A wall was removed between two classrooms to increase the size to create a single K-1 classroom. A new nurse’s office was created to provide more space for potential needs of our Nurse and to provide an isolation room and a separate exit from the building in the event of a suspected case of COVID-19 during the school day. Plastic, fillable jersey barriers were purchased to create safe, protected direct drop-off/pick-up areas for all students on the first-floor classrooms. Shared Use of Equipment As a Montessori school, the use of manipulatives is an important part of the learning process for children. This presents a challenge for our teachers to effectively educate our students while staying faithful to our Montessori roots, while being as safe as possible. In that vein, teachers and students will be responsible for sanitizing each material that they use, after each time they use it. Additionally, students will have their own personal supplies for pens, markers, paper, scissors, etc. Lastly, our day porter will be cleaning the classrooms throughout the day and more thoroughly between morning and afternoon sessions which will quickly and effectively clean the surfaces of the classroom and the materials. Face Coverings/Masks The safety of our staff, students, and overall community are our highest priority. As part of our continued commitment to safety and wellness, River Valley Charter School will be requiring ALL students and staff to be wearing masks/facial coverings upon arrival and during school hours while the pandemic persists, until further notice. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) attest that wearing a face covering or mask reduces the potential for transmission of COVID-19 between individuals. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children over the age of two wear face masks when they are out in public and cannot maintain a distance of six feet from others at all times, and/or if they are unable to control the impulse to touch frequently used surfaces. COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that is known to be spread through respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets are dispersed when an individual coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Spray may be visible to the naked eye, or microscopic. Individuals may be symptomatic for illness or may not present with any symptoms but still spread illness to others. In a school setting, the implications are that the virus could spread between individuals and infect entire cohorts. If cohorts were to mix, larger groups could become infected, and students and/or staff could then infect family or community members after leaving school. The mortality rate for COVID19 has been reported as high as five percent and while the initial R naught (reproductive number) was determined to be around 2.2, some literature reported the R naught peaking as high as 5.8, meaning that the transmission and fatality rates are higher than average for a virus. River Valley Charter School believes it is responsible for all students and staff to Reopening Our School in 2020-2021 Page 19
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