Cinnaminson School Board Votes On Safe Return Plan Aug. 31

CINNAMINSON, NJ — Cinnaminson Superintendent of Schools Stephen Cappello recently shared the school district’s plan for a safe return to school with members of the community.

“The district reopening committee has worked throughout the summer to help prepare the district for our return to school,” Cappello said in a letter to the community that was sent out this week.

He shared a link to the district’s plan, and invited parents to give their feedback before the Board of Education makes a final decision at its Aug. 31 meeting. There are certain things New Jersey school districts have no control over.

On Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that all school staff in all pre-K through 12 schools must be vaccinated by Oct. 18, or they will be subject to weekly COVID testing. Read more here: NJ Teachers, State Employees Must Be Vaccinated Or Face Testing

Previously, it was announced that New Jersey students, educators, staff and visitors must wear masks in school buildings regardless of vaccination status. Read more here: NJ K-12 Students Must Wear Masks This Fall, Gov. Murphy Says

These are statewide guidelines as all 21 New Jersey counties hit a "high" transmission level of coronavirus for the first time since April 23, according to the latest rankings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Read more here: NJ Hits High COVID Transmission Rate, First Time Since April

The district will make masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) available to students and staff in the school office, as well as the nurses offices in each building. Each school bus will be equipped with masks.

Students won’t be allowed on buses without masks, and nurses will teach students and staff how to properly use masks in the beginning of the school year.

When in school district buildings, social distancing protocols will be followed, and outdoor spaces will be used when practical. Each school will have at least one covered space adjacent to the building to provide shade and weather protection.

While the school day will be held fully in-person, students who must quarantine due to COVID-19 infection or exposure will learn remotely.

The district will offer modified livestreaming experiences with supplemental support for students who must quarantine.

Learning supports will be put in place to assist students who are on a mandatory quarantine.
Students who demonstrate a need will qualify for 1:1 tutoring or supplemental small group instruction during their period of mandatory quarantine.

For students at New Albany School and Eleanor Rush School, online learning support with a certified teacher will be made available to complement the synchronous classroom instruction.
Only students who have been placed on the district quarantine list will have access to synchronous learning.

District-issued chromebooks will be made available to students who need technology access at home.

As positive cases are identified, contact tracing will begin immediately. District nurses will communicate with staff at the Burlington County Department of Health as part of contact tracing activities, reporting any necessary information which may include information about the staff member or student including their schedule, attendance information, and person-to-person proximity for 15 minutes within a 24-hour period. Nurses, along with school staff, will communicate with families as part of this process.

The district will work to help parents and staff identify possible coronavirus cases ahead of time.
Online portals will be established to help students and staff understand the screening process, and a list of symptoms will be provided for parents to look out for when it comes to identifying the coronavirus among their children. It is also working with vendors to arrange testing where needed.

In select classroom settings, acrylic barriers will be utilized as an added layer of protection.
Schools will use a full-day lunch schedule, and the high school will provide a universal lunch period. Seating charts will be maintained in congregate settings wherever possible to assist in contact tracing.

The school meal pickup program will be revived in case of a school closure, and any student who must quarantine will have access to meal pickups at the high school.

Throughout the year, the district will offer learning acceleration opportunities for students. Small group acceleration sessions will be offered for students who meet criteria for the program. One-on-one tutoring will be offered for students where needed.

Expanded summer acceleration opportunities will be made available for students who might need it next summer. The district will continue to use benchmark assessments to monitor student achievement and to identify students who may need additional support.

The district is hiring a “lead teacher” in the school counseling department, who will be tasked with the management of the districtwide social and emotional learning program. Additional counseling will be hired.

School counselors will work with building staff to identify students in need of support. These students will be supported by district staff or referred for outside services.

Students who were fully remote in the 2020-21 school year will be included in all orientation activities for new students.

Professional development opportunities for staff will be included in school in-service schedules in the 2021-22 school year.

• Summer offerings related to mindfulness and self-care
• September 8th In-Service Day Keynote on SEL, self care, trauma, and relationship building
• November In-service day wellness event

More information about the plan can be found here.

The Aug. 31 school board meeting begins at 7 p.m. in Room 120 of the Cinnaminson Middle School, 312 Forklanding Road.