Weekly Update from the Office of the Superintendent
Video Update: https://youtu.be/SSTb2vc3pik
As you may be aware, some school districts in Western New York have begun announcing their determinations for reopening and whether they will operate in a fully remote or hybrid scenario. It is important to remember that all school districts face very different challenges and circumstances. Some school districts have determined that they can only begin the year in a fully remote learning environment. Our preference as a school district would be to have all of our students in school full-time five days a week, but we face the realities of the pandemic. With New York State’s requirements for in-person attendance and the health and safety measures that are needed to protect our students, staff, and families, the best we can realistically hope for is to begin operating in a hybrid scenario, with reduced attendance to safeguard against transmission.

That is what we are working toward. There are major challenges we face, and we are working extremely hard to overcome these challenges. The final determination of model and offerings will be announced next Friday. There are many mitigating factors that will affect this decision, including but not limited to availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), ability to schedule students, ability to safely transport students, and ability to staff several models simultaneously.

Last week, I announced that we have changed our hybrid schedule so that students would attend school in-person either Monday and Tuesday, or Thursday and Friday, while engaging in remote learning the remaining days of the week. Parents/guardians will learn what group they would be in the week of August 24. Parents/guardians will be able to access this information on the Parent Portal, so it is extremely important to entire you have access to an active Parent Portal account (parents will be receiving instructions on how to create an account).

No matter what final determination is made, we will need to be prepared to adapt and modify our planning and potentially transition from one scenario to another depending on the circumstances. Also, we will do whatever it takes to support the academic progress and social-emotional wellness of our students no matter what model we are operating in.
Other Reopening Updates
Transportation & Virtual Learning Academy:

This past week, we gave parents and families the opportunity to decline bus transportation for the 2020-21 school year in an effort to reduce capacity and maximize social distancing on school buses. As of today, we had a total of 1,302 responses.

We have also provided parents and families the opportunity to commit to a 100% virtual option in case the hybrid model is able to be facilitated. This “Ken-Ton Virtual Learning Academy” is a brand new program that is being developed. This option needs its own dedicated staff, creating its own set of challenges. What we hope to do is divert staffing from regular instruction to educate students in this new program. There are enormous logistical challenges involved in offering such a program simultaneously with our regular model of instruction, but that is what we are working toward. As of earlier today, we had more than 1,500 students committed to this new program.

Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program:

Each year, Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) planning is contingent on funding by New York State. We have been anxiously awaiting the release of these funds so that planning for UPK can move forward. I am pleased to report that, earlier today, we learned that this funding has been released by New York State. The Ken-Ton UPK Program is operated by the Ken-Ton YMCA, which has been working extremely hard to plan for its 2020-21 programming. Based on the information we received today, we feel confident that this planning can move forward. Next week, we will have more details on what UPK students and families can expect for the fall.

Contact Tracing & Testing:

The Erie County Department of Health has provided guidance on contact tracing and testing for school districts. If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the Erie County Department of Health will initiate the process of conducting a case investigation and contact tracing. Contact tracing would identify close contacts (within 6 feet for 10 or more minutes, though other criteria may be considered by tracers), and the Department of Health would advise close contacts whether there is a need to quarantine, monitor for symptoms, and be tested. Those who do test positive will not be able to return to school for a minimum of 10 days following the onset of symptoms (at least three days without a fever). Health officials have also assisted districts in creating protocols for when students are exhibiting new symptoms. Students and staff exhibiting symptoms will be isolated and sent home. Students/staff who are exhibiting symptoms may return to school with confirmation of a negative test or a doctor's note, or following 10 days from the onset of symptoms. This plan is now posted on the reopening section of our website.
Q&A Meetings & Frequently Asked Questions

We know parents have many questions about what to expect for the 2020-21 school year. Within the past two weeks, school and district staff have received thousands of individual questions, whether in emails, social media messages, phone calls, etc. We are doing our best to respond to and answer as many questions as possible, though planning is still moving forward.

On the reopening section of our website, you will find a Frequently Asked Questions document, which has been updated with many questions we have received regarding reopening. You can access it directly at www.ktufsd.org/FAQ. This FAQ document will be continuously updated and expanded as the planning process moves forward. This is the best place for parents to go for the most up-to-date information they are looking for. Questions are organized by category and there are hyperlinks built into the page so that visitors can navigate it more easily. There is also a way for parents to submit questions they would like answered. We have received hundreds of submissions, and staff are working hard at compiling this information so it can be posted.

We are also conducting a series of parent question-and-answer sessions. These meetings will take place online via YouTube Live. We will begin with a short presentation, then parents will be able to ask questions using YouTube Live Chat, which will be answered live by district administrators. Please note that, because of the wide range of issues related to reopening, we will set aside specific time for specific topics. The meetings will take place Monday, August 17 from 5 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, August 19 from 5 to 6 p.m., and Thursday, August 20 from 6 to 7 p.m. Yesterday, we conducted a Q&A session on the Virtual Learning Academy using the same format. We had approximately 700 people participating simultaneously. A full video recording of the meeting as well as the questions and answers provided through Chat can be found on the Parent Meetings page.

Please also note that, for any parents of students taking part in Erie 1 BOCES programs, Erie 1 BOCES will be conducting three virtual parent meetings at different times on Thursday, Aug. 20. The Erie 1 BOCES homepage at www.e1b.org has more information about how to participate in these meetings.
I thank all of those who are working so hard behind the scenes to prepare for the reopening of our schools. I also thank all of our parents and families for your patience and cooperation as we move forward with so many uncertainties.

Thank you for taking the time to review this information. We remain Ken-Ton Proud, Ken-Ton Strong, and Ken-Ton moving forward!