May 18, 2020
Good morning,
As a follow up to
my video
from May 11, I’d like to provide more specifics on how we are planning for the 2020-2021 school year. Educators and parents everywhere know that school is more than a brick and mortar building that students report to each day to learn. It is a place for children to learn social skills with adults and peers. It is a place to experience success and failure in a safe environment. It is a place to enhance music and drama competencies. It is a place to celebrate academic and athletic accomplishments. And so much more. American writer, Terry Tempest Williams, says,
“What is the most important thing one learns in school? Self-esteem, support, and friendship.”
It is next to impossible to predict what the fall of 2020 will look like to start the new school year. Therefore it is critical to be prepared for several different scenarios. As I said in the video, we know how to begin a school year in the traditional fashion. We are well equipped and prepared for that situation. Dean of Academics Mrs. Widders and myself have been building the schedule for this model (Model A). Upon completion of a master schedule that meets the needs and requests of as many students as possible, we will save that schedule and essentially start from scratch to begin preparations for the third scenario (Model C), which I will discuss shortly.
The second scenario (Model B) involves continuing to teach online just as we finished the 2019-2020 school year. We will offer numerous opportunities for our faculty to enhance the skills they’ve begun to acquire this spring. Expectations for lessons, assessments, homework, attendance, etc. will be developed and shared well in advance should this model become necessary.
The third scenario (Model C), which is receiving the most traction in the education community, is a hybrid model. This model involves returning to school in person, but with significant restrictions. Expectations for social distancing, limitations on the number of students in each classroom, and limitations to common areas of the building: Student Center, LRC, Arena, etc. would all be components of this plan. In this model, teachers would need to be prepared to switch to 100% online learning at any time should the whole building need to be shut down. Model C would involve separating the students into smaller groups each day (assuming we could accommodate 50% of the student body within set guidelines). Instruction would occur in person for half of the students and digitally for those at home. There are a number of different designs that Model C could take. One option we are currently considering affords all students the opportunity to be at school each day. Half of the students would report to the building in the morning (8:00-11:00 am) for in-person instruction, while the other half log-in from home to participate digitally. There would be a one hour break for lunch while classrooms and common areas are cleaned and sanitized. Then, the students who were learning online in the morning would come to school for in-person instruction for the afternoon (12:00-3:00 pm) and the other students would continue with online learning at home. Students would rotate mornings and afternoons weekly to ensure in-person instruction from each of their teachers. There are still many holes and questions with this model, but I merely wanted to share one possibility that is being considered.
We recognize that we have a number of students and faculty members that are in a high-risk category. Necessary steps are being taken to ensure the health and safety of these individuals. It is with these individuals in mind, that I predict that no matter what model we open school with, we will have some members of the STVM family working or learning from the safety of their home. This facet of our population is being considered in the discussion of all three models.
The Ohio State Board of Education has developed a
draft plan
for Ohio educators to begin the conversation of what schools will look like in the fall. The Diocese of Cleveland recently established a task force to discuss a multitude of situations and will be providing suggestions for our consideration. At STVM, I am establishing a brainstorming committee of school employees to begin discussing the three models to exhaust all questions and begin to design an educational plan under all three scenarios.
While it is unrealistic to develop an overly detailed plan because of many uncertainties, we recognize our responsibility and the need to provide clarity to the STVM community. The only thing that is crystal clear at this time, is that whatever path St. Vincent-St. Mary needs to take in the fall, we will continue to provide a robust, Catholic education. I am confident that whatever route we take will be done well and will positively impact not only our student body, but the entire STVM Community.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any thoughts or suggestions you may have regarding the three models.
Stay safe and God bless,
