Although schools are closed for summer, we are working hard to prepare for the 2020-21 school year. In addition to our normal back to school preparations, we are considering the health and safety of our community while ensuring the best start for our students after the long absence from their schools.
As we approach the school year, we hope to be in a position to welcome students and staff back in the school buildings. There are still many details to be worked out and we will continue to share updates with you between now and the first day of school. We appreciate your patience as we proceed.
After a spring of hunkering down and a summer of physical distancing, the reopening of schools will be some of Juneau’s largest indoor gatherings of people during this pandemic. Our focus is to: provide a safe and healthy environment for students, staff and families; be well prepared for a variety of configurations; protect our community; slow the spread of illness; and, sustain face to face instructional opportunities.
To do this, we need to create a stable environment and consistent schedule to start the year. The tentative plan is provided through this link and attached to this email.
Click this block for JSD Family SMART START 2020
A couple of important details:
PPE: Clear Humanity Shields or cloth face masks will be provided to all staff. Humanity Shields provide protection without covering the face to allow for easier communication between teachers and students. We anticipate staff being required to wear masks/shields. Students will be required to wear face masks or coverings and we will provide cloth face masks to students if they need one. Gloves will be available to staff and students as needed. Non-contact thermometers have been purchased for all schools in the event that staff or students need temperature screening.
Sustainability: We are working to create a stable environment and consistent schedule for everyone. We need to keep staff and students healthy so we can do as much face to face learning as possible. To accomplish this, we could begin the school year operating in the yellow/medium risk zone with smaller class sizes to allow social/physical distancing. First and foremost, this is a starting point. After five months away from the school structure, we expect some of our students to have some challenges reacclimating to the demands and expectations of school, especially with the added Covid-19 mitigation strategies that don't normally exist. We want to enter into a plan that has the best chance of success rather than having to back up. We can begin to add more face to face time once we have stabilized in the low risk category.
If your family has a need for full home learning due to special circumstances, please contact our HomeBRIDGE home school program at 523-1821 or find information on the homepage.
Our reopening plan is based on the latest public health guidelines for hygiene, social distancing, and protective equipment as well as guidance from the State of Alaska, including Dept of Education Commissioner Michael Johnson and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink.
The JSD SMART START 2020 plan is a work in progress. We will continue to update you as we go.
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