Hoover City Schools
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HCS Reopening Plan 2020-2021
Plan last updated: November 28, 2020
1) Equity of Education
Updated July 16, 2020/posted July 6, 2020
Dear HCS Family,
As we begin a new academic year, we realize there will be opportunities to celebrate and challenges to address. We are grateful you are by our side through it all.
Last year, our school district focused with great intensity on addressing equity, celebrating diversity and creating unity. However, recent current events in our country and community associated with racial violence and civil unrest give evidence that there remains much work to be done. What we have seen are injustices that leave human beings feeling targeted, attacked, hurt and disparaged. We condemn those injustices in any form!
We believe we are all here for such a time as this. We are here because we have been entrusted at this moment to make a positive difference in the lives of our students. We are here to understand and own the problems that occur on our watch, and we are here to find appropriate solutions.
We must eliminate any barriers in our school district that have the effect of impeding a child’s academic and social-emotional development. We must level the playing field for the success of all. We must hear our students’ voices.
Our school district will continue the work it started to address policies, practices and procedures specific to our desire for equity in education. While no one person has the answer to the injustices and unrest that plague our nation, we, the Hoover City School Family, can and must find solutions to those issues that confront us.
Regardless of color, creed, and nationality, we must encourage our students; empower our students; and ensure that our students are ready to go forward in life in pursuit of their dreams. As we approach a new school year, with all of the challenges before us, let's commit not only to confront those challenges, but let's also commit to care about each other without reservation; to treat each other with dignity and respect without limitation, and, just for good measure, let's commit to love one another. We hope you would agree…after all is said and done, it's hard to love a person and mistreat them at the same time.
Thank you for entrusting your child to us, and thank you for joining hands with us as we embrace the opportunity to serve your children.
Sincerely,
The Hoover City School Board and Superintendent Kathy Murphy
2) Student Health, Wellness, and Safety
Last updated: August 24, 2020
In the area of health, wellness, and safety, it is important to emphasize that the parent is the first line of defense for the child. Please take your child’s temperature every day before school and determine if signs of illness exist, and, if so, please do not send your child to school with a fever or when exhibiting signs of being sick.
Please encourage your child to wash hands often, as we will do the same. We will have no-touch hand-sanitizer dispensers throughout our buildings, but encourage you to send personal hand-sanitizer to school with your child.
With some exceptions, masks/face coverings/face shields will be REQUIRED on school buses for all grades. While in school, masks/face coverings/face shields will be required for employees and students. The face coverings must comply with the 2020-2021 Code of Student Conduct (refer to pages 48-49).
Social distancing is very important. Remind your child what the distance of six feet looks like and encourage your child to maintain this distance from others as often as possible.
We all must understand when larger groups of people come together, indoors, in limited spaces, such as a school bus or classroom, the chances of exposure to any illness, including coronavirus, increase.
Our school nurses are committed to assessing and assisting your child with health needs. When called by our school nurses, thank you for assisting us in the care of your child and, in doing so, giving protection to other children.
The best way for us to ensure we physically stay in school is to honor requests and abide by the requirements for safety as given by school and district leadership.
See more on the Student Health/Wellness Plan.
3) Learning Options
Last updated: August 4, 2020
The HCS Learning Options Plan outlines in draft form the differences among full-time in-person learning, blended learning, and full-time virtual instruction.
4) Transportation
Last updated: August 24, 2020
For those choosing in-person instruction and who will need bus transportation, please consider the following precautionary measures, all subject to change:
- Parents are strongly encouraged to check students' temperature before leaving home. Students with temperatures above 100 degrees or who exhibit the following symptoms should not proceed to the assigned bus stop: fever, cough, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue, body aches, runny nose, flushed cheeks, extreme fussiness, vomiting or diarrhea.
- HCS school bus drivers and aides will wear masks and gloves at all times.
- All students will be required to wear a mask/nose-mouth covering/face shield while on the bus.
- Windows will be open for ventilation when weather permits.
- Handrails, handholds, door handles, seat bottoms, seatbacks, heating and air conditioning vents will be cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected daily after morning and afternoon routes.
- In addition to the daily cleaning processes, HCS Operations has developed a COVID-19 Response Team to clean and sanitize areas where COVID-19 infected persons may have been. Buses will be taken out of service for 24 hours prior to the deep cleaning process. Once cleaned and fogged with a virus-killing disinfectant, the bus will return to service. These measures sit on top of existing, daily cleaning efforts.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be installed on every bus. Students should utilize hand sanitizer when boarding and/or departing the bus.
- Additional routes may be added to minimize the number of students on a bus. Even with additional routes, it is likely we will have two students per seat.
- Assigned seating will be utilized to ensure the same students sit together each day. Members of the same family will sit together when possible. Students boarding the bus at the first bus stop will proceed to the rear of the bus.
- Students must remain in their seats, facing forward, and clear of the center aisle at all times while on the bus.
5) CNP
Last updated: August 24, 2020
Please review our cafeteria precautions. The following information is subject to change:
- Breakfast Meals will be served by CNP staff in cafeterias: Hot meals or cereal.
Dining location will be local school choice; all students will enter the serving area to receive meals and check out at the Point-of-Sale; cashier will enter the account PIN number.
Green Valley ES – All students served Free Breakfast in the Classrooms. - Lunch Meals will be served by the CNP staff in the cafeteria: Hot Meals or Boxed Salad; All students will enter the Serving Area to receive meals and check out at the Point of Sale.
cashier will enter account PIN number; some classes will eat socially-distanced in cafeteria; some classes will eat in classroom, outdoors or designated location. - Employee Health and Personal Hygiene Reporting Agreement - CNP employees will continue to self-assess and report to management prior to working.
- CNP Staff Face Coverings - Cashiers will wear a plastic face shield; All other CNP employees will wear cloth face coverings.
- Disposables - All foods will be wrapped or served in closed containers: breakfast, lunch, salads, fruit.
Individual Bags will be provided for transport of food back to the classrooms. - Sanitation and Disinfection
Dining room tables will be sanitized by custodians or principal designee between classes and at the end of the meal session; serving line tray slides/point of sale will be sanitized by CNP between classes; dining room tables and ALL touch points in the cafeteria will be sprayed with disinfectant at the end of each day. - Account Payments
On-line payments through www.PayPams.com are preferred; checks will be accepted; please do not provide cash; however, if only means of payment, cash will be accepted. - No Guest Meals
Guest will not be allowed to eat in the cafeteria until further notice. - Cost of Meals
Breakfast: All grades $1.55, Reduced price $.30; Lunch: Elementary $2.40, Middle/High $2.65, Reduced price $.40 Apply for Free or Reduced Meals - Curbside Meal Pickup - Bagged meals, containing ready-to-eat lunch and breakfast food items, will be available at curbside pickup for students enrolled in Hoover City Schools. Pricing will be based on a student's eligibility: Free, reduced-price, or Elementary price ($3.95) or Secondary price ($4.20) Monday through Friday 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at four locations: Green Valley Elementary; R.F. Bumpus Middle School; Simmons Middle School; and Berry Middle School.
6) Social/Emotional Well-Being
Last updated: August 24, 2020
Social/Emotional Curriculum (grades K-5): Counselors in elementary schools utilize the Second Step curriculum to teach social-emotional learning throughout the school year. Second Step, a scientifically-researched program, is used in classroom guidance for grades K-5. The program addresses skills for social and academic success and it promotes school success, school connectedness, and safe and respectful school climate. Topics include, but are not limited to: empathy and respect, listening with attention, being assertive, accepting others' feelings, calming down, and responding with compassion. Music, video clips, and puppetry are integrated in the program. You can learn more about this curriculum on the Second Step website.
Social/Emotional Curriculum (grades 6-12): Hoover City Schools will use Edgenuity’s Purpose Prep curriculum beginning this Fall. Purpose Prep curriculum encourages student interaction with relevant topics, provides opportunities to define and understand emotions and behaviors, and build the confidence to make more positive, healthy choices. Lessons will be delivered throughout the school year and will include topics including but not limited to: decision making, overcoming adversity, goal setting, and coping strategies. You can learn more about this curriculum on the Purpose Prep website.
Parent information bulletins will be shared on a regular basis. Topics may include depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Other topics might be parent-focused in nature regarding how parents can help children in areas such as coping, managing stress, internet safety, or making good decisions. A form will be placed on all HCS websites where a parent, guardian, and/or student can request to speak to a counselor. Some reasons for making this request include: anxiety regarding returning to school, difficulty coping with stress, support with grief or loss, concerns regarding drug and alcohol use, feelings of sadness or depression, or any other issue that is affecting a child's social-emotional well-being. Counselor Request Form for students
7) Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs)
Last updated: August 4, 2020
Many common questions have been submitted to us through this planning process. We have assembled those frequently-asked questions in this document. For employees, the Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB) has issued a FAQ document outlining questions surrounding school reopenings in the context of employee considerations.
8) Newly-Revised School Year Calendar
Last updated: July 14, 2020
The 2020-2021 School Year Calendar has been modified to reflect a number of changes, most notably a new start date of August 20. See all the changes on the 2020-2021 School Year Calendar.