Weekly Update from the Office of the Superintendent
There has been a great deal of information emerging this week from individual schools as they very quickly finalize plans for the start of the 2020-21 school year on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Elementary school teacher assignments have been mailed home, and middle/high school schedules are on Parent Portal. Schools and teachers are sharing Google Classroom codes, which can also be found on Clever. Parents and families can find help logging in on our Technology Support page at www.ktufsd.org/TechSupport. All of this back-to-school information can be found on our back-to-school page at www.ktufsd.org/back2school, including school supply lists, welcome letters, school remote learning plans, device distribution information, back-to-school frequently asked questions, and more. We are also looking forward to continuing our parent question-and-answer sessions the week of Sept. 21 as another way of providing information to our families.

As we prepare to implement remote learning for all of our families, our objective remains to maintain academic rigor and the excellence of our programs and to ensure students continue their academic progress while also being flexible and responsive. This will be a major transition for all students, families, and staff, and it will take time to adjust and adapt. One thing we know is that instruction will not look the same on Oct. 8 as it does on Sept. 8. Our goal is to forge an adaptable long-term instructional model that can serve students at home and in person simultaneously regardless of the circumstances of the pandemic.

Erie County Childcare Funding Announcement:

As we implement our instructional model, which will phase in a hybrid schedule beginning Oct. 13, we are mindful of the challenges many of our families face with accessing childcare. On Thursday, we were very excited to watch as Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced that Erie County will use a portion of its U.S. CARES Act funding, up to $25 million, to assist families with childcare. Up to $11 million will be made available to establish new "virtual learning support centers" throughout the county in partnership with local school districts, BOCES, and childcare providers. These are intended to be childcare locations where students would be able to engage in online/remote learning outside the home. In addition, up to $10 million will be used for family childcare subsidies, and up to $4 million will be made available to existing childcare providers.

We are excited to learn more about this program and to work in partnership with BOCES, Erie County, local providers, and our families to improve and expand access to childcare. We will have more information in next week's update.

Remote Teaching & Learning Summit:

As our faculty returned to schools this week, our focus was providing them with the support and training they need to engage and support our students in a remote learning environment. The Ken-Ton Remote Teaching & Learning Summit, which all of our teachers participated in this week, was the product of months of planning as our educators shared their knowledge and experience in a variety of platforms and engagement strategies. A total of 35 teacher leaders did an excellent job presenting on the following topics:

  • Canvas and Google Classroom, which all teachers will be using to provide a consistent learning experience for students and families
  • Engagement and learning tools, including Google Apps, FlipGrid, Google Slides, Deck Toys, Pear Deck, Loom, SeeSaw, and library media resources like World Book
  • Social-emotional learning and support, such as restorative practices, mindfulness, trauma-informed practices, resilience, and strategies to serve disengaged students
  • Remote teaching and learning strategies (what worked in the spring and what didn’t, digital citizenship, distance learning best practices, etc.)

This professional development will create the foundation for instruction beginning Tuesday that will be much different than in the spring - more consistent, strategic, effective, and robust. Training will have to continue with an emphasis on developing effective remote lessons.

Device Distribution:

Technology is a top priority, and we are continuing to work toward becoming a 1:1 district with one device for each student. Device distribution began yesterday and today with middle school and high school students. Elementary school students will pick up their devices on Tuesday and Wednesday. This was a major logistical operation led by our Technology Department. Our teachers and schools understand that some students will not be able to log in until they receive their device.

There is still an opportunity for students and families to request a device by completing the electronic form at www.ktufsd.org/devices. We are prioritizing our highest-need students and families who have the greatest need for a device. If you do have a device that your child can use, we are asking that you do not request a device at this time. A variety of devices can be used for remote learning. For those who do need and request a device, the Technology Department will provide follow-up information on pick-up procedures. Students and families can also access technology support and assistance logging in at www.ktufsd.org/TechSupport.
Other Updates
Transportation:
  • Our Transportation Department is prepared to safely transport eligible students attending non-public schools, out-of-district special education sites, and CTE programs beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8. CTE students will be picked up at their bus stop.

Food Service:
  • We were excited to learn that determinations made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would make breakfast/lunch meal kits free for all students through Dec. 31, as funding allows.
  • Meal kits (with preparation/reheating instructions) will be offered weekly on Wednesdays at Franklin, Hoover, and Holmes Elementary from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Pre-order procedures are still being developed and will be communicated to families. For the first week of school, families are welcome to come and pick up their meal kits on Wednesday.

Athletics:
  • The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAAA) will soon be sharing recommendations for fall sports, with recommended protocols expected for each sport. Section VI will then review the recommendations followed by the Niagara Frontier League (NFL). We will look at all of these recommendations and then determine what we can and cannot offer, in alignment with our phase-in model, to ensure student safety.