On Friday, August 7th, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that school districts in New York State will be able to reopen at the start of the 2020-2021 school year provided they are able to develop a comprehensive reopening plan.

District and BOCES reopening plans must adhere to regulations and align with guidance provided by the NYS Department of Health, the CDC and the NYS Education Department.

The Monroe One BOCES Reopening Plan is accessible at Monroe.edu/ReopeningPlan

School Schedules

School schedules have been developed to maximize in-person instruction to the greatest degree possible for all students enrolled in Monroe One BOCES programs. O'Connor Academy is running a full week, in-person program. Parents/guardians have the option for their student to learn remotely, which will be synchronous learning.

Transition Plan

In the event that we need to transition to a hybrid or remote model in any of our programs we will continue to engage students in both synchronous and asynchronous instruction to increase engagement, promote continual growth and connectedness.

Remote Synchronous Instruction:

Two-way, real-time/live virtual instruction between teachers and students when students are not on campus.

In this method, the required amount of instructional time is scheduled each day.

Synchronous instruction is provided through a computer or other electronic device.

Remote Asynchronous Instruction:

Instruction that does not require having the instructor and student engaged at the same time.

In this method, students learn from instruction that is not necessarily being delivered in-person or in real time.

The student is required to be engaged daily throughout the school day with work and the teacher is required to give daily feedback.

Students may have set times they are required to interact virtually with the teacher.

To help form its reopening plan, Monroe One BOCES sought feedback and input from stakeholders, including administrators, faculty, staff, students, parent/guardians of students, local health department officials and health care providers, employee unions and community groups. Engagement efforts included online surveys, virtual forums/meetings and one-on-one conversations.

School Closures

School building administrators will communicate with each other regularly and, if needed, will consider closing school if absentee rates impact the ability of the school to operate safely.

• Specific conditions that warrant the closure of schools will be identified and displayed to all stakeholders in advance.
  
  
• Monroe One will be in close communication with state and local health departments to determine when the school is unsafe for in-person instruction.
  
  
  

O'Connor Academy will develop a mechanism to collect and report daily engagement or attendance regardless of instructional setting.

• Daily attendance for in-person and remote learners will be collected daily.
  
  
• Existing protocol will be followed for students reported absent.
  
  
• Monroe County Department of Public Health protocol will be followed for any student reported absent for COVID-19 exposure or diagnosis.
  
  

Attendance Notes

Each time a student is absent, a parent/guardian must contact the attendance secretary to report the absence and reason. For any absence, a written note or email must be submitted to the attendance secretary.

A written note should include:

• the date the note was submitted
• the date(s) of the absence(s)
• the reason for the absence(s)
• the signature of the parent/guardian
• any needed medical clearance/doctor's note(s)
  
  
  

Classrooms

• Each classroom will be set up to allow appropriate social distancing of at least six feet, with each student having their own dedicated seating area.
  
  
• Desks and tables will be spaced six feet apart.
  
  
• Classroom spaces and items will be regularly cleaned and disinfected.
  
  
• Shared items will be limited and regularly sanitized.
  
  
• Counseling will be provided in larger spaces, such as a conference room, for increased social distancing.
  
  

Student Learning

• O'Connor Academy will continue its five days of week, in-person learning.
  
  
• Parents/guardians have the option for their student to learn remotely.
  Remote instruction will be synchronous.
  
  
• Both in-person and remote learning are 10 week commitments, for at at least the first quarter of the school year.
  
  
• In-person students are provided with a laptop .
  
  
• Lessons and assignments will be online utilizing the 365 platform.
  
  

Hallways

• Social distancing will be maintained of at least six feet.
  
  
• High traffic areas in the building are marked for social distancing.
  
  
• Face coverings are required for staff and students, who are medically able to wear one, in all common areas of the facilities.
  
  
• Inviting visitors into the facilities is discouraged.
  
  

Student Restrooms

• Restrooms will be open to one student at a time.
  
  
• Signs will be placed on the door, including ones to indicate if the room is in
  use.
  
  

Gatherings/events

• O'Connor Academy will have a virtual Open House.
  • This virtual event will be asynchronous, so families can access it at different times.
    
    
    

Arrival and Dismissal Procedure

• Arrival and dismissal will be staggered in order to maintain social distancing as students enter and exit the building.
  
  
• While all students must take their temperature at home before leaving for school, a secondary screening will be done before they enter the building.
  • A trained staff member will take each student's temperature as they exit off the bus and before entering through the front door.
  • Students and staff, who do not have a medical exemption, are required to wear a face covering.

Parent drop-off and pick-up

• Parents/guardians must enter the building at the main front door and get their temperature checked.
  
  
• They will also need to fill out a health check log and remain in the foyer, while maintaining social distancing from others.
  
  
• Parents must show ID and follow sign-out guidelines.
  
  
• If they are picking up a student, they must return to their car and a staff member will escort the student for their classroom to the car.
  
  

Main Office and Visitor Policy

• Outside visitors will be discouraged, unless for essential tasks,
  • Advanced notice is required.
  • All visitors will be required to do a temperature check and health screening prior to entry.
    
    
    

The School Bus

• Students will need to have their temperature checked at home before getting on the school bus.
  
  • A secondary screening will be done on the bus upon arrival at Creekside by trained staff members.
    
    
• Students, who are medically able, will be required to wear masks/face covering and socially distance on the bus wherever possible.
  
  
• Students with a medical exemption will be socially distanced from other students on the bus.
  
  
• Siblings or children who reside in the same household (Group Home) will be encouraged to sit next to/near each other.
  
  

Daily Cleaning

• Remove all trash
  
  
• Sweep floors
  
  
• Spot clean bus walls and windows
  
  
• Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces:
  • bus seats and seat backs
  • door handles
  • driver operator area
  • equipment - star seats, safety vests, etc.
    
    
• Cleaning after each run: disinfect high touch surfaces
  
  
• School buses shall NOT be equipped with hand sanitizer due to its combustible nature and potential liability to the BOCES.
  
  
• School bus drivers and attendants must not carry personal bottles of hand sanitizer with them on our school buses.
  
  
• Buses equipped with roof hatches may travel with them open for air flow, when temperatures are above 45 degrees (only if students can handle the change in temperature).
  
  
• Bus windows may be opened for air flow when temperatures are above 45 degrees when tolerable.
  
  
  

Food Service Health and Safety Guidelines

• Meals will be picked up in the cafeteria.
  
  
• Students will eat in the cafeteria or the O'Connor Academy Student Support Center.
  
  • Both areas are large enough to allow for social distancing protocols.
    
    
• Students will be regularly reminded to wash their hands and to follow health and safety guidelines.
  
  
• Monroe One BOCES has ensured compliance with Child Nutrition Program requirements.
  
  

Free and Reduced Meals

• Due to the impact COVID-19 closures had on our families, Monroe One is aware many more families may now qualify for free and reduced meals. We will run a direct certification list from SED monthly to identify students who are automatically eligible.
  
  
• All families have the opportunity to access and print meal benefit applications on our website. Applications are also available at the front office of each school.
  
  
• At this time, Monroe One is not accepting online signatures, as most of our students qualify through the CEP process or on the direct certification list from SED.
  
  
• Information for summer meal distribution sites are posted on our website, for students to pick up meals from their school districts.
  
  
  

Face Coverings

Monroe One BOCES requires all students, staff and visitors, who are medically able, to wear a face covering when entering a bus or building and within all common areas and restrooms of the facilities, regardless of expected occupancy or crowding.

• Face coverings must completely cover the nose and mouth and be securely fastened. Alternative face coverings such as those with transparent mouth areas are approved.
  
  
• Monroe One BOCES encourages all staff and students to provide their own face coverings in an adequate number to keep a fresh, clean supply ready for everyday use. However, Monroe One BOCES maintains a supply of disposable face coverings, as well as reusable face shields, for replacements, forgotten and otherwise missing face coverings.
  
  
• Neck gaiters, bandanas, scarves, and masks with exhalation valves/vents are not acceptable forms of face coverings.
  
  
• Regular mask breaks will be built into the schedule to allow students to take off their face covering while maintaining health and safety guidelines.
  
  
• Guidelines will be in place for students while eating or drinking to remove their face covering.
  • This will include the need to maintain appropriate social distancing.
    
    

Cleaning and Disinfecting

Monroe One BOCES made a special effort during the school closing period to thoroughly clean and disinfect all facilities. Cleaning routines have long been in place to negate pathogens borne by blood and other body fluids, as well as to maintain a pleasant, orderly environment.

• Classrooms will be sanitized between students.
  
  
• Restrooms, health suites, isolation rooms and respiratory therapy rooms are disinfected after cleaning.
  
  
• Cleaning logs will be maintained of the date, time and scope of cleaning and/or disinfection of each room or area.
  
  

Routine health screening of students, faculty, staff and, where applicable, contractors, vendors, and visitors will be performed to identify any individuals who may have COVID-19 symptoms or who may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

• Individuals will have their temperature checked each day, ideally at home, prior to entering any school facility.
  
  
• If an individual presents with a temperature greater than 100 F, the individual will be denied entry, or sent directly to a dedicated area prior to being picked up or otherwise sent home.
  
  

Screening

• Screening is a questionnaire that asks if the individual has:
  • knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 14 days with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19.
  • tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
  • experienced any symptoms of COVID-19, including temperature of greater than 100 degrees F in the past 14 days.
  • traveled internationally or from a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 per NYS Travel Advisory in the past 14 days.
    
    
• Screening will ideally be performed remotely, by telephone or electronic survey which may involve the parent/guardian, before the individual reports to school.
  • Remote screening will be coordinated to identify individuals who should not go to school, they will be referred to their health care provider for further evaluation and potential COVID-19 testing.
    
    
• Parents are asked to check their child's temperature at home every day, before leaving for school.
  • As a secondary screening, all students will have their temperature checked upon arrival by trained staff members.
    
    
• On-site screening will be coordinated in a manner that prevents individuals from intermingling with others prior to completion of the screening.
  
  
  

Safety Drills

Schools are required to conduct evacuation and lockdown drills. During a pandemic, steps will be taken to minimize the risk of spreading infection while conducting drills. Drills will be conducted in a manner that maintains social distancing at exits and gathering points outside the building, while still preparing students to respond in emergencies.

Evacuation drills during a pandemic

• Drills will be modified to ensure appropriate distance is kept between individuals to the evacuation site.
  • This will be accomplished by using a staggered schedule, where classrooms or areas are evacuated separately with the goal of minimizing contact of individuals in hallways, stairwells and the evacuation site.
    
    
• Individuals will need to wear face coverings during drills if unable to maintain physical distancing.
  
  
• In the event of an actual emergency the most imminent concern is safety, meaning that social distancing may not be possible and should not be the first priority.
  
  
• In the event of an unplanned fire alarm activation, face coverings should be worn and social distancing maintained to the extent possible.
  
  
• If schools reopen in a hybrid model, then drills must be performed so that all students receive instruction in emergency procedures and participate in drills.
  
  

Lockdown drills during a pandemic

• Drills will be modified so that social distancing is maintained in classrooms/offices.
  
  
• Specifically, during a lockdown drill doors and windows should still be locked but individuals should not stay out of sight/hide. Rather, instruction should focus on discussing where to hide and what to do in the event of a real lockdown.
  
  
• In the event of an actual emergency lockdown, the most imminent concern is safety, meaning that social distancing may not be possible and the response should be as normal and involve locking doors and staying out sight.
  
  
• Face coverings/masks should be used as appropriate.
  
  
  

Monroe One BOCES understands the important role of climate and culture, more specifically, social and emotional learning (SEL) and how critical it is in re-engaging students, supporting adults, rebuilding relationships, and creating a foundation for academic learning. We have extended current strategies and initiated plans for developing positive school climates, educator well-being, and recommendations on how to prepare for, and integrate SEL and behavioral health support for both in-person schooling and remote learning.

COVID Related Services

After almost 6 months of school closure, 2020 – 2021 will build on the developing capacity of educators to support all students through practices that are grounded in the core values of trauma-responsive schools and services.

• Reestablishing relationships and connectedness across staff and students.
  
  
• Building systems and practices that support wellness.
  
  
• Investing to promote welcoming, nurturing environments.
  
  
• Furthering training in and use of restorative practices and processes across the organization.
  
  
• A committee including Mental Health professionals will oversee the reentry process and the specific needs of staff and students.
  
  
• Monroe One is currently collaborating with our component districts in the development of valid, age-appropriate screening instruments.
  • These tools are being developed with attention to accessibility, equity and will be able to be administered in–person or remotely.
    
    
    

Access

• Monroe One BOCES will determine the level of access to devices and internet all students and instructional staff have in their places of residence by surveying families and staff.
• Monroe One BOCES will address the need to provide devices and internet access to students and teachers who do not have sufficient access.
  
  

Training

• All teachers and instructional leaders will have the opportunity to participate in professional development on designing effective remote learning experiences by instructional technology specialists.
  
  
• Teachers will also have access to resources and training on best practices for instruction in an online environment.
  
  

Tools and Support

• Student learning management systems will be used to provide consistent instructional content to students, and communication to parents/guardians regarding instructional tasks and materials.
  
  
• Monroe One BOCES will also use video conferencing tools to meaningfully connect and engage with students while in a remote learning environment.
  
  
• Students who are not able to access high-speed internet will receive phone calls home and hard copies (or flash drives) of materials until a more meaningful solution for computer access and internet connectivity can be resolved.
  
  
• Technology resources and training will be available to students and parents via the Monroe One BOCES website.
  
  
• Monroe One BOCES technology staff will provide technology support for teachers, students and parents.