Here's Exactly How Point Pleasant Boro Will Reopen Its Schools

POINT PLEASANT BORO – Point Pleasant Boro has provided the latest updates on its plans to reopen schools in September.

The plans mirror the guidance provided by the state as many districts are wrestling with the health risks associated with reopening. Read more: NJ Provides More School Guidance As Pressure To Go Remote Mounts

Point Pleasant Boro is planning on reopening its school buildings, but the district will follow a "hybrid" model.

Here is what the district is providing to parents, guardians and students:

What is a Hybrid A/B Cohort Model?

The Hybrid A/B Cohort model utilizes a combination of in-person and remote learning. Districtwide, students with the last names starting with A-K will attend school on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Students with last names starting with L-Z will attend school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Due to the school year beginning on a Tuesday, the first week of school will be different from the following weeks.

Cohort B will be in school on Tuesday and Thursday, Cohort A will be in school on Wednesday and Friday. On Friday, September 18th, Friday, September 25th, Friday, October 2nd, Friday, October 9th and Friday, October 16th, all students will be virtual and teachers will have limited office hours as they will be given time to collaborate with colleagues and attend training sessions.

Starting on October 23rd, cohorts A and B will begin rotating on Fridays coming into the building for instruction. Below are the school schedules:

Will siblings be assigned to the same cohort?

• Yes. The district will keep siblings in the same cohort. Students will follow the same schedule as the oldest sibling. If siblings have different last names, the cohort assigned will be based on the oldest child’s last name.

Can cohorts be switched?

• No. Due to the complexity within the schedules and the need to balance the number of students in each classroom, we cannot make changes on these requests.

Will students change classrooms in between classes?

• At the high school and middle school level, students will be changing classrooms in between each class. The elementary schools will see much greater limitations in the hallway movements due to the assignments to a specific classroom teacher. Special area teachers will travel to the students’ classrooms when possible.

Will high school students have scheduled study halls?

• Yes. In order to run the schedule, we cannot remove study hall from the day.

Why can’t students attend school in person five days a week?

• As much as the Point Pleasant Boro School District would love to welcome all of our students back to school, at this time, we do not think it is in the best interest of our students and staff for health and safety reasons.

Online versus in-person, will grading be different?

• No. Grading expectations will be the same whether students are working from home or in school.

Will there be AM/PM daycare for elementary school students?

• At this time, the district will not be providing before or after-school daycare to students.

How will the district ensure that vocational students’ schedules are accommodated?

• The district is in communication with the Ocean County Vocational Technical School District. The Point Pleasant Boro High School guidance department is working with OCVTS to ensure that shared-time vocational students are able to attend their programs, while also completing their required credits in district. Busing will also be provided for these students.

ALL-REMOTE LEARNING OPTION

What are the details of the all-remote learning option?

• The district is currently developing an all-remote learning plan for students. The all-remote option will be a hybrid of both live (synchronous) instruction/learning and independent (asynchronous) instruction/learning. Students will follow their cohort’s class schedule for the day and will need to participate during their scheduled class time. A virtual code of conduct will outline student expectations.

What online platforms will be used for instruction?

• Teachers will connect with students primarily through Zoom, Google Meets and Google Classroom. Other virtual tools may also be integrated.

If I opt for all-remote learning for my child, is he/she locked into that all year?

• No. Students may transition to or from all-remote learning. Any request to alter student instruction plans during the 20-21 school year must be made in writing and submitted to the building principal for review and allow at least three business days after receipt of such request.

If I choose all-remote learning for my child, will he/she be able to participate in extra-curricular activities and/or athletics?

• Yes. Students may still participate in sports and extra-curricular activities if they are utilizing the full-time remote learning option, if such sports and extra-curricular activities are otherwise permitted.

Do you envision live streaming the classroom with the teacher teaching the in-person students? How will virtual students interact with the teacher in this situation?

• Yes, the district plans on utilizing live streaming during teacher instruction in the classroom. Teachers will also use tools such as Zoom to virtually bring students who are learning remotely into the classroom.

Will there be differences in course availability for in-person and all-remote students?

• There may be some differences, but we are working on making sure they are as aligned as possible so students receive the same content.

What does all-remote look like for a student with an IEP or a 504 Plan?

• Student IEPs will be implemented to the maximum extent possible in the context of current NJ state guidelines for reopening schools. Students’ accommodations and modifications will be implemented during remote learning.

Will ChromeBooks be provided to students?

• Yes. ChromeBooks will be provided to students who do not have a device at home.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Are facemasks required for students? Will the school provide facemasks?

• Students and staff are required to wear appropriate face coverings at all times while inside the school building unless there is a medically documented reason for being unable to do so. During lunch and recess, elementary students will be able to remove their face coverings.
• Parents must supply their child with a facemask, however, the district will have additional facemasks to issue to students if they do not have an appropriate face covering.

How will mask wearing be enforced, especially for younger students?

• It is essential to teach students of all grade levels the importance of wearing a face covering. Parents are also urged to have their child practice wearing a facemask in the appropriate manner prior to the start of school. Teachers and staff will be monitoring mask wearing throughout the school day.

What is the screening process upon students’ arrival to school?

• A daily digital health questionnaire must be completed by students and staff prior to arrival at school. Temperature checks for students and staff will be conducted upon entry. Staff will visually check students for symptoms upon arrival.

What are the protocols if a student or staff member exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 or tests positive for COVID-19?

• Any student or staff member exhibiting symptoms will be directed to an established isolation space.
• Students will remain in isolation with supervision and care until picked up by an adult and must provide a doctor's note before returning to campus. Staff members must leave campus and provide a doctor's note before returning to work. As always, any student or staff member who is not feeling well is urged to please stay home.
• If the district becomes aware that an individual has spent time in the building and tests positive for COVID 19, the district will immediately notify the Ocean County Health Department, the Executive County Superintendent of Schools and the school district physician and the family of the confirmed case while maintaining confidentiality.

How will schools be cleaned and sanitized?

• Surfaces are routinely cleaned using Virex II-256 or equivalent EPA approved disinfectant of frequently high touched surfaces. High touch surfaces include: Tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, water fountains, sinks, table and desk tops.
• While school is in session, all common high touch areas will be cleaned multiple times during the course of the day. Unoccupied classrooms, whenever practical, will be cleaned during the school day and again in the evening. Cleaning wipes will be available in all classrooms.
• Hand Sanitizer machines will be placed in various high traffic areas and in every hallway throughout the building for all schools. Additionally, portable outdoor sinks will be also placed outside lunch recess locations at elementary schools. There will be daily routine walkthroughs to inspect that all antibacterial soap dispensers have product in them and are not empty or malfunctioning.

How will social distancing be accomplished in classrooms, hallways and restrooms?

• Schools in the district will allow for social distancing within the classroom to the maximum extent practicable. This will be achieved by ensuring students are seated at least six feet apart. If a school in the district is not able to maintain this physical distance, additional modifications should be considered including using physical barriers between desks, turning desks to face the same direction (rather than facing each other), and/or having students sit on only one side of the table, spaced apart.
• There will be markings in the hallways to remind students to stay to the right. The center of the hallway will be marked to separate students.
• Student access to restrooms will be staggered to prevent multiple students from congregating in the restroom.

We are concerned about the increased risk of COVID-19 transmission during any activity that elevates breathing rates. If you will be holding gym classes, and our children attend in person, can my child opt out of gym?

• If your child is in school, he/she will participate in gym classes unless a medical exception is requested and accompanied by a medical note. When possible, all gym classes will be held outside and social distancing requirements will be in effect. When inside, activity will be limited and there will be an emphasis on health lessons.

How will students’ social-emotional health be supported?

• The social-emotional well being of our students and staff is a top priority. Supports will be integrated into lessons in a variety of ways, resources will be available for staff, students, and parents in need, with mental health screening procedures implemented as necessary.

If I travel to a location on the travel advisory list, will I have to quarantine for 14 days before returning to school in-person?

• Yes. Individuals who travel to any of the states on the New Jersey travel advisory list must quarantine for 14 days after leaving that state. This includes travel by train, bus, car, plane and any other method of transportation.

TRANSPORTATION

Will busing be available for my child?

• Only students considered remote as defined by NJ State Law will be offered busing. To be considered remote, students in grades K-8 would have to live beyond 2 miles as determined by measuring the shortest route from the closest entrance of a student's residence to any public roadways or walkways to the nearest entrance of the student’s assigned school.
• Remote transportation would also include any classified students whose IEP requires transportation and any student who would have to walk over a bridge to get to school.
• For eligible remote kindergarten students, the district will, if scheduling permits, make every effort to transport any remote kindergarten students to a daycare facility as a permanent bus stop rather than their home only if it is located in Point Pleasant Boro and as long as the daycare stop is set up for every day that the child attends school.
• Courtesy busing which is defined as students receiving transportation under the state mandated 2 miles will be eliminated.

What is Policy 8613 Waiver of Pupil Transportation?

• Due to the need for social distancing on school buses and in order for the district to operate transportation in the most cost-effective manner, the Board of Education may provide a student’s parent/guardian the option of waiving transportation in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1c. The survey that was taken in early July showed that approximately 43% of the respondents were not comfortable with their children riding a bus. The waiver will be sent to parents/guardians whose child is eligible for busing.

Will students be required to wear masks on the bus?

• Yes, all students will be required to wear a mask in order to ride on the bus.

How will buses be cleaned and sanitized?

• Buses will be hydrostatically sprayed with a CDC or EPA approved disinfectant each night. While in use during the school day buses will be sprayed and wiped down in all occupied areas as well as the common touch points. Additionally, the district is also looking into utilizing UV technology as an additional precaution to clean the buses when unoccupied.

LUNCHES

Will lunches be served at the High School and Middle School?

• Yes, as a grab and go option only at the end of the school day.

Will lunches be served at the Elementary schools?

• Lunches will be served at the Elementary schools in accordance with each school's plans and either delivered to each classroom or some classes may be served lunches in the cafeteria when social distancing protocols can be adhered to.