Within the few Lower Bucks school districts that have yet to offer a hybrid model, the message from many parents has been simple since September – send the kids back.
But, during the Bensalem Township school board meeting on the evening of Oct. 28, when Superintendent Dr. Sam Lee recommended a cohorted hybrid start on Monday, Nov. 16, many questioned the timing of it. Not only is the cold and flu season practically underway, families will likely travel to see distant relatives and friends over the Thanksgiving break, resulting in a potential spike in COVID-19 cases.
In the end, the board voted 8-1 for a K-12 hybrid return on Nov. 16, which will divide students into “blue” and “gray” cohorts. The blue group will attend in-person Monday and Tuesday; gray on Thursday and Friday; and all will learn synchronously from home on Wednesday, as well as the two days they’re not at the school. The “Owl Cohort” – the district’s special learners, who have been back in the buildings since September – will continue to attend in-person four days and learn synchronously from home on Wednesday.
Orientation for seventh grade is scheduled for Nov. 9 (blue) and Nov. 10 (gray). Ninth-grade orientation is Nov. 12 (blue) and Nov. 13 (gray).
All students, no matter their location, will follow their building’s typical bell schedule. On their remote days, students must log in to class on time and be virtually present and engaged during the period. Attendance will be recorded each day.
For parents who feel uncomfortable sending their children back to school those two days, a full remote option will remain available, and will follow the same bell schedule.
Board member Rachel Fingles, mother of a 6-year-old in the district, expressed frustration that the remote days will be completely synchronous, even for the elementary students.
“I’m not putting my 6-year-old in front of a computer for eight hours. It ain’t happening,” she said. “My kid can’t do it. And if my kid can’t do it, tons of kids can’t do it.”
Fingles, who voted “no” on the plan, went on to say that she, along with many teachers and parents, were in the dark regarding what school will look like instructionally. How much interaction will students have with their peers? Will they be locked to the Chromebook the entire day? While board vice president Heather Nicholas stressed that they were voting on the health and safety plan, not an instructional plan, colleague Stephanie Ferrandez explained that the vote is much more than that.
“When we check a box, we are setting other steps into motion,” Ferrandez said.
“How it’s done technically, and I hate to say this, that’s not our job,” responded Nicholas, who reflected on her own experience adapting to a hybrid environment as a teacher at another district. “Teachers are not going to like it. It’s a steep learning curve. But you get into a groove. And the kids have been amazing with understanding that it’s a learning curve for everybody.”
In a public comment submission, one teacher echoed Fingles’ concerns, questioning what hybrid will look like. She was unsure if students will have to work independently rather than in small groups, and worried about “going back and forth like a ping pong ball” in order to simultaneously help the kids in front of her and the ones learning from home.
“We need a plan that’s kinder to the teachers,” the statement read.
Regarding health and safety, Lee outlined a multitude of cleaning and sanitizing measures: The Facilities Department installed an additional 250 wall-mounted hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the district; each classroom is equipped with hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes; high-touch surfaces will be regularly cleaned; bus drivers will disinfect buses after morning and afternoon runs, and custodial staff will do a deep clean at the end of each day; desks will face the same direction and be separated by 6 feet; and face coverings will be required at all times for students and staff.
“When our students come back to school, they will enter one that’s entirely different than the one they left in March,” Lee said. “But what gives me comfort in presenting hybrid is that, as of this afternoon, there is currently no intra-school spread in Bensalem or any Bucks County school.”
An in-depth discussion was held around face coverings, and what happens if/when a student refuses to wear one. Lee said the student will be sent home that day, and, if they continue to not comply, will be required to return to all-virtual learning. Regarding mask exemptions for health reasons, a form must be filled out and signed by a medical provider, though it was said there are very few circumstances under which this exemption would be granted.
If there is a positive case in a school, contact tracing will be quickly conducted by the district using seating charts and having conversations with parents, coaches, etc. to see who the student came into close contact with. Contact tracing will also be done by the Bucks County Department of Health. That particular school community would be immediately notified and, if a class, building or the district needs to close, Lee would do so without any board vote, similar to calling a snow day.
Also during the meeting, a touching video was played of special learners at Shafer Middle School, who have mastered the art of social distancing and mask wearing in the buildings. The video shows the Shafer Sharks proudly singing the school song, and enjoying some normalcy while playing volleyball, taking a walk and learning in the classroom with face coverings.
Additionally, Just for the Kids Education Foundation announced the awarding of funds totaling $5,069.53 to nine Bensalem teachers for the 2020-21 academic year.
Visit bensalemsd.org/ for updates.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
