Wicomico schools headed for hybrid format in weeks. So what's the plan?
Kelly PowersSALISBURY, Md.— Wicomico County public schools will have two full grades back in the classroom by the end of this month.
Though reactions to the Board of Education's latest call seem to vary, one question is consistent: What's the plan?
Superintendent Donna Hanlin began to address that question Tuesday night — with nearly a dozen days to go before the next group of students would turn to hybrid — in a message to families and staff of county schools.
On Monday, Wicomico began transitioning targeted groups of students into its buildings. Over 500 special education, math tutoring, English Language Learner support, Career and Technical Education, advanced science labs were among the first students, along with those conditioning for fall athletics, to experience the system's new COVID-19 safety measures.
"As we serve these students, we are putting into practice our new procedures for distancing, wearing PPE and cleaning and disinfecting classrooms and other school areas," Hanlin wrote. "This will support the health and safety of both students and staff as we prepare to bring students back in larger numbers."
Pre-Kindergarten is expected to join school buildings Oct. 19., with Kindergarten expected by Oct. 26.
Hanlin said the system will need to use a hybrid format to keep up with social distancing requirements and cleaning procedures.
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Background:Wicomico County Public Schools moving to hybrid learning format
The superintendent said Tuesday that students will be split into two groups: one group attending classes Monday and Tuesday in-person, while the other group of students attends in-person Thursday and Friday.
Wednesdays will be reserved for cleaning school buildings.
One teacher and teacher assistant will be allowed per group in these early stages, with groups being places at opposite ends of the school buildings. The Wicomico Board of Education was not able to provide the exact number of students returning this month.
"Parents and guardians have asked whether their students must return to the classroom when we begin to reopen schools, or if students can continue with virtual learning for now," Hanlin wrote.
"Several weeks before a grade level is scheduled to return, parents and guardians of students in that grade will be contacted to select either hybrid or all-virtual learning, and to commit to whether the student will use school transportation."
The system wants that information returned as soon as possible, alongside a signed "COVID-19 Parent/Guardian Agreement" — which outlines a guardian's commitment to monitoring a child's symptoms and acting accordingly.
Principals are working with their staffs to plan for the combination of virtual learning for some and in-person/hybrid learning for others in their schools, according to the school system.
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More specifics are not yet known about what students can expect in their "day-to-day" schedules as they transition back to school buildings, as the board has not specified more logistics for the hybrid Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday instruction patterns.
Classroom numbers will vary depending on the size of the room, but for many classrooms a hybrid setup looks like about eight to 14 students, according to officials.
It's not yet clear when, or which, other grades will join this hybrid model in Wicomico, and school supply lists have yet to be disseminated.
But, two grades and multiple targeted student groups are about to continue their unprecedented school year — in an environment they've likely never seen before.
The next new normal
Students will not be permitted to use lockers.
Masks will be required for all students and staff when working together or traveling throughout school buildings, according to the county system's active Recovery Plan.
Wicomico schools have said the recovery plan formed in August with the help of protocols from multiple organizations including the county health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But — as the school system posted updates to the plan as recently as Sept. 30 — it has proven to be a living document that may experience changes as time progresses.
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Alongside Plexiglass for all front office counters, anyone entering a school facility will be met with screening questions and signage throughout the building recommending safe health practices.
Markings taped on floors or sidewalks may also guide those entering.
Though likely difficult to ensure at all moments, 6 feet of distance is required at all times across staff, students and visitors with an appointment — whether it's in the classroom, in the hall or on the school bus.
Hand sanitizer is expected in all classrooms, as well as stations around the buildings.
School leaders will look to minimize as much "mixing between any small groups" as possible. Such efforts will likely look different for individual schools, but the recovery plan outlines the possibility of designating different entrances by grade level, designating different "traffic patterns" through school and making sure student-staff groupings are as static as possible.
Screening and coronavirus response protocols
Guardians will be expected to use a self-screening tool daily to determine whether it's OK for their child to come to school, while staff will use one of their own to report to work.
Also in the COVID-19 Parent/Guardian Agreement, is the requirement that if notified of COVID-19 symptoms in their child or a positive test result, guardians must have a plan to pick up their student within one hour. They must also list other backup contacts in the event they cannot be reached.
Students with COVID-19 symptoms will be "immediately" taken to the designated isolation area of a school, according to the Recovery Plan.
When the school is notified of a positive case, contract tracing protocols are triggered in collaboration with the health department.
The system's health services department is tasked with preparing a "communication letter" to be sent out, making all "staff and families aware of a positive case in the school," according to the plan.
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Close contact notification letters will be provided to staff or parents of those having contact with the positive case, alongside instructions for quarantine.
According to the plan, each school will have two identified areas for those with and without COVID-19 symptoms: one for wellness visits and another that functions as an isolation area for those displaying COVID-19 concerns.
Custodial staff is expected to clean the health and isolation rooms every evening, in addition to "increased, routine cleaning and disinfection" outlined in the Recovery Plan. A "Level 3" cleaning will be done in all areas where a student or staff member who testing positive spent time throughout the day.
But for now, only a small amount of students will take to the hallways.
Parents and students are expected to sit tight and continue online learning. Roughly three weeks before a child's grade is selected to transition into school buildings, the school system says guardians will be notified.
This time for organizing, as well as forms to be reviewed by parents, should help Wicomico "plan and prepare for the school days to come," Hanlin said Tuesday evening.
Reporter Richard Pollitt contributed to this report.
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