Proposed Phase 2.5
A safer, more effective, and more educated COVID Learning Plan for PSD secondary schools
What is Phase 2.5
Phase 2.5
Phase 2.5: Primarily virtual learning with opportunities for in person enrichment in PSD Secondary Schools
Day to Day Operations
These standard days will look very similar to the originally planned, phase two learning.
​-Students engage in remote learning four days a week
-Fridays remain additional learning days with student support time offered.
-Mental health services and supports are available in person or online
-Integrated Services support of students is available. These students will be able to attend their virtual classes from school allowing for more support from IS staff.
On Campus Education
This allows for instructors to schedule in-person lessons for hands-on lessons or lessons that are improved when experienced in person.
​-Teachers will determine on campus days and let their students know a week in advance.
-On campus days will occur on Wednesday for A group and on Thursday for B group.
-In-person learning may be conducted on a regular basis (i.e. once per week for PE, music, art, or language classes) or when needed (i.e. for labs)
-Lectures, discussions, and research assignments should be conducted virtually.
-face coverings and standard safety guidelines must be adhered to when in person as outlined in the School Health and Safety procedures(1) and the Protocols for Student Face Coverings on the Health and Safety web page(2).
Additional Pieces of the Proposal
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-Meals will still be distributed
-Students will fill out a form 24 hours in advance with their order and student ID (this will allow for appropriate meal preparation and contactless payment)
-Students may choose to pick up their meal at the school nearest them
-Meals will be distributed at all open schools from 11a-1p
-Busses will run their regular routes on Wednesday and Thursday
-Students who were being bussed during phase 3 will still be able to ride their bus on the days they need to attend school in person
-Students will be required to maintain their own schedule
-Students who have a live class will be permitted to stay on school property the entire day
-They will join their virtual classes from “on campus remote learning areas”
-Learning areas will be spaced out as much as possible
-Students will check in using the already in place QR code system
Links
1.https://www.psdschools.org/psd2020-21/healthsafety
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Letter of Proposal
To Whom it May Concern,
Even lessons that do not qualify to meet in person regularly would be improved by phase 2.5. Lectures are more effective when conducted on a unified platform. When the whole class is on-line as opposed to a split class, teachers can address and see all students at once. Discussion could also be completed easier on one medium especially since they have additional challenges like audio level, visual cues, and echoes that have made phase 3 discussions virtually impossible. Finally, group and partner work is more easily and safely executed on-line. Typical group work requires students to sit close to each other, share supplies, and face each other. None of these things are recommended amidst a pandemic but are easily and safely replicated through the use of breakout rooms in a virtual classroom.
Common concerns have been transportation, food distribution, and the impact on teachers. To address the first, busses would run their normal routes Wednesdays and Thursdays as those are the two days that have been selected for in person learning. Only students who have an in person class or are receiving additional support from IS staff would be transported to school. Students who only have one scheduled on campus class would be able to use on campus remote learning areas. These areas would be distributed throughout the hallways and would require students to check in using already present QR codes. From there they would attend their remote classes for the day. Food distribution in phase 2.5 will be mostly modeled after food distribution in phase one. Students would fill out a form ahead of time to pick up a to-go meal from the school nearest them. Meals would be distributed outside to students who signed up between the hours of 11 and 1. The final concern that has brought up over the course of the Meet Phase 2.5 campaign is the burden on teachers. However, after discussions with multiple teachers, we determined that phase 2.5 would lessen the workload placed on teachers. Instead of preparing separate lesson plans for the A and B cohort 4 days a week, teachers would only have to separate their students on days that they are in person. Not only are they creating half the lesson plans as they would in phase 3, but they can also capitalize on the benefits of having all of their students on one platform as previously outlined.
As you can see, phase 2.5 is a needed option that is safer than phase 3 while being less restrictive than phase 2. While there is no perfect solution given the current state of the world, phase 2.5 is a much needed option between phases 2 and 3. I am meeting with Mr. Woodall Tuesday, but would love to set up meetings with all of you either individually or all at once in the coming weeks. Thank you for your time, I look forward to hearing back from you.
Stay safe and healthy,
Dylan Lindsey
RMHS Class of 2022
Author of Phase 2.5
Examples of Situations
Clarification of when students should be on campus
Justified
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Science or foods labs in which physical materials are utilized or observed
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Physical Education testing or workouts.
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Individual or small group tutoring between an instructor and five or less students
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Music rehearsals, art, and language classes in which students are spaced out appropriately (limited to once per week per ensemble or class)
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On-campus testing limited to one per unit, finals, or midterms
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The act of providing integrated services and resources
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IT or media specialist assistance
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Meetings between student services and students or their families
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In school suspension or detention in which students need additional monitoring or assistance
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Futures Lab classes enhanced by in person learning (teacher discretion)
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Not Justified
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Online or digital labs do not need to occur in person.
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Class presentations or lectures
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Group assignments or discussions
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Quizzes, check-ins, or non influential tests.
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General college or advanced education info meetings
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Parent teacher conferences