By Alexis Gutierrez

On Wednesday, January 13, 2020, DCPS resumed their town halls to discuss reopening for Term 3. Dr. Lewis Ferebee, DCPS Chancellor, kicked off the meeting by going through the four models that Reopen Community Corps reviewed.

Dr. Ferebee said that Reopen Community Corps were allowed to “color outside the lines” of these models to some degree. Reopen Community Corps were also allowed to look at different models for different grades. In general, he said most elementary schools went with some form of model B — one teacher instructs both virtually and in-person all week, often with staff support.

Overall, 44% of elementary schools have some form of model A, 63% are using model B, 24% are using model C and 33% are using model D. (Since, schools can use multiple models the numbers don’t add up to 100%.) CARES classrooms will continue to be offered in elementary schools in addition to in-person learning. Elementary schools began offering spots on January 11th for in-person learning for Term 3.

For secondary schools (6-12), these are different models since they have multiple teachers in a day and those change between semesters. A majority of high school and middle are using model D. This model focuses on a small group of students coming into school for social-emotional support and academic support.

Patrick Davis, Chief of Operations for DCPS, once again went through all the health and safety measures that DCPS has taken in preparation for reopening. As in previous briefings he emphasized the $24M investment DCPS has made in preparing buildings’ ventilation systems. More details can be found in the DCPS slide deck.

Bren Elliot, Chief of School Improvements and Support, detailed screening protocols and testing that will occur at all schools. Parents will have very limited access to the buildings. Should parents give their consent, students participating in in-person learning can participate in asymptomatic testing for covid every 10 days. Teachers and staff will also be given the opportunity to opt into testing either by receiving testing kits at home or having priority at designated testing sites. In addition, should a student or staff present with covid symptoms on campus, health professionals will administer rapid testing onsite. DCPS has augmented existing school nurses with more health professionals to help with the screening each morning before students enter the building. These professionals can also help should a student need to be isolated due to covid symptoms. If a covid positive case occurs on campus, DC Health will be notified and work to reach out to all impacted staff and students.

After the presentation, there was a brief opportunity for parents and staff to ask questions. Questions included whether schools would be setting up outdoor classrooms. The answer was yes if the campus had sufficient space and the Reopen Community Corps had decided to do that. Other parents asked about how isolation will be handled for symptomatic students. Bren Elliot reiterated that there are health professionals, provided by a contract with Children’s Hospital, onsight to handle the situation and there are isolation rooms at each campus.

Due to the brief opportunity for questions, Petworth News followed up with DCPS to additional clarity on several questions.

1) If family demand for in-person learning with a teacher (not just CARE classrooms) is higher than available spaces, who decides who gets a space? And will the criteria continue to be for high risk kids, homeless kids, English language learners etc.? Is it possible that families that want to return for in-person learning, may have to stay virtual for the rest of the school year due to lack of in-person spaces as DCPS tries to balance virtual learning class size with the in-person class size?

Each school’s Reopen Community Corps issued a learning preference survey to gather data for school leadership to design Term 3 in person learning plans. Each school accounted for this demand data in their reopening plans, which were designed to prioritize students with the highest need based on current enrollment information:

Students experiencing homelessness
Students who receive special education services or who are English Language Learners
Students who are designated as At-Risk
All other enrolled students

Each school on average, will be able to serve approximately 30 percent of their students in person depending on staffing and classroom space. Overall, DCPS looks forward to welcoming up to 15,000 students in-person in Term 3.

2) Considering many minority populations are strongly affected by COVID (medically & financially), many of the schools and families are declining in-person seats. What do we do about our students who are furthest from opportunity who have declined in person seats?

DCPS' priority will always be to meet families’ unique needs and ensure proper school supports are provided so students. We recognize returning to school may not be the preference of every family and learning at home will still be available for all DCPS students from Pre-K through 12th Grade.

We know that COVID-19 impacts us all in different ways, so it has always been our priority to maximize learning time and maintain the integrity of the instructional program for all students — whether at school or home.

In addition to outreach schools are leading through their Reopen Community Corps, DCPS is conducting listening sessions and holding small focus groups with our English Learner families and those in Wards 5, 7, and 8 to learn more about their preferences for returning to school and build relationships during these challenging times.

3) Will all teachers working in schools for Term 3 be vaccinated before they return?

DCPS is partnering with Children’s National Hospital to make the vaccine available to DCPS school-based employees who will be serving in-person during Term 3. We are currently planning for the vaccinations to be made available beginning with in-person staff in the last week of January. A team from Children’s National Hospital will administer our supply of vaccines to these employees. Participation in the vaccination opportunity is completely optional and is not required for on-site service. However, there are many reasons to get the vaccine when it becomes available. The most compelling one is that it could protect you and those around you from this life-threatening virus.

4) Even with teachers vaccinated, will DCPS still be maintaining the health protocols of mask wearing, hand washing, Ask-Ask-Look, and on-site covid testing?

Yes, our robust health and safety protocols and build readiness standards remain firm. This includes daily PPE supplies, socially distanced classroom arrangements, and enhanced cleaning regimes. Schools will continue to provide rapid COVID-19 testing for students posing potential symptoms while at school, as well as regular testing of asymptomatic students and the provision of at-home testing kits for in-person staff to help schools remain safe for in-person learning.

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Petworth News also checked in with several parents at local DCPS schools as to whether they have been briefed on their reopening plans. It is a mixed bag with some already participating in webinars and others waiting to hear the details of their reopening plans, despite seat offers for in-person learning starting on January 11, 2021.

The next virtual town hall will be January 27, 2021 at 5pm. You can RSVP online.