HAMPTON, Va. - Some students will be returning to in-person learning in Hampton on November 4.
During the Oct. 21 virtual school board meeting Superintendent Jeffery Smith and staff gave a modified in-person return-to-learning update.
The School Board stated that the division’s return to modified in-person learning plan is thorough and thoughtful and provides an abundance of safety measures and protocols. Several board members acknowledged that in a previous meeting they gave the superintendent the authority to decide on a date of when students would begin to transition to a modified in-person learning model.
Based on this discussion, Dr. Smith stated that the division would proceed with bringing back students from Phase 2 Stage 1 at the beginning of the second nine weeks, specifically on November 4, "with the recognition that we must remain flexible."
Phase 2 Stage 1 includes:
- Vulnerable student groups in PreK-12 whose families have not opted to remain 100% virtual (select students with disabilities who are served in a self-contained setting and select English Language Learners)
- PreK-3 (all PreK-3 students with the exception of those families who have opted to remain virtual)
- Grade 6 (all Grade 6 students with the exception of those families who have opted to remain virtual)
Families whose children will be returning to in-person learning in Phase 2 Stage 1 will be provided additional information at the beginning of next week in regard to the mandatory daily health assessments, the HCS COVID Student/Parent/Guardian Expectations Agreement, bus routes (if appropriate), an optional Zoom informational webinar for families, and other pertinent information, officials said.
In addition, correspondence will be sent to the vulnerable student groups in grades 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 who meet the criteria to return to in-person learning on November 4 (those select students with disabilities who are served in a self-contained setting and select English Language Learners).
Specific dates for Phase 2 Stage 2 (grades 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9) and Stage 3 (grades 10, 11, and 12) will be determined at a later date.
Considerations for a modified return to in-person learning include but are not limited to:
- Percentage (51%) of our families surveyed desire to return to in-person learning
- Importance of early reading and literacy development
- Successful transitions to new schools
- Operational capacity exists
- CDC Indicators
- Critical steps taken in preparation for modified in-person learning
- The development of necessary protocols
- Purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Enhancements to the Return-to-School Plan
- Electrostatic sprayers for school hallways
- Individual air purifiers for each classroom
- HCS COVID Student/Parent/Guardian Expectations Agreement
- HCS COVID Staff Expectations Agreement
- Webcams and high-fidelity headsets to support Phase 2 high school instructional model
- Professional Development
- Staff webinars
- Room and technology configurations logistics videos/presentations
- Planned content specific training for high school teaches on November 6
- Training conducted for teachers of students with disabilities
