08.31.20 | FULL RETURN TO SCHOOL UPDATE

Cartersville City Schools welcomed back students for the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 18. We began school in a hybrid model in order to give our students and teachers the opportunity to begin building those crucial relationships that are fundamental in the learning process, to have the ability to make any improvements to our social distancing measures with only half the students in the buildings and to gain a level of comfort with the hybrid process in case we needed to transition back to a hybrid model later in the year. After the first two weeks, the numbers of positive cases of COVID-19 in our schools and quarantined students are relatively low. Our students and staff have also gained confidence in the procedures we have in place, which are based upon guidance from the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), Department of Public Health (DPH), Cartersville Medical Center (CMC), and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). We are so appreciative of the cooperation and support our CCS families have demonstrated. 

As we opened school with an intention to reduce the level of risk to our students and staff, we will carry that same intention forward. After collaborating with CCS principals, conversing weekly with officials at DPH and CMC, and considering multiple factors including the 14-day count of positive cases per 100,000 people in our county and the seven-day moving average of percent of positive cases in our county, we have decided to return to school using the following process. 

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, our students in grades Pre-K through fifth will end the hybrid model and return full time to school in the buildings. Two important factors guided this decision. Cohort classes (children in the same class all day) are used at the primary and elementary grades, which minimize crossover among children and adults within the school. Additionally, research shows critical foundations of lifelong academic achievement are being created at this stage of brain development in primary- and elementary-aged children. It is vital that we support our students’ current and future success by engaging them daily with in-person learning as soon as possible.  

In middle and high school, students are not in cohort classes and transition numerous times throughout the day. Furthermore, in direct conversations with DPH and CMC, they advised us to consider a phased-in approach with our older students. Due to these factors, Cartersville Middle School and Cartersville High School will fully return in a staggered process. Bringing back students in an intentional and measured approach will allow us to review the seven-day moving average and analyze the success of the phased reopening plan. Cartersville Middle School students will continue to attend in the hybrid model for one additional week with all students returning to school in the building on Monday, Sept. 14. Cartersville High School will continue to attend in the hybrid model for two weeks with all students returning to school in the building on Monday, Sept. 21.  

Our overall purpose in returning to school in a gradual manner is to cultivate the conditions where our schools can remain fully open and to minimize the number of students and staff who are quarantined according to DPH guidelines. For many students, there is no substitute for in-person learning. We are working thoughtfully and diligently to provide a successful learning environment where our students can continue to develop academically, socially and emotionally.  We recognize the challenges associated with the opening of school this year. It is our hope that we will look back and see that our very detailed and measured plan provided the most benefit for our students, staff, families and community during these challenging times.  

Cartersville City Schools (CCS) has always set out to maintain a tradition of excellence while making things as personal as we can for our students, families, employees and other stakeholders. Through a collaborative process involving our district and school leaders, as well as using survey data gathered from our teachers/staff and parents, we have developed a Reopening Plan to provide learning environments that allow for academic successes while emphasizing health and safety. The primary guidelines referenced in our plan are based on guidance from the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), Department of Public Health (DPH) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). We also considered many additional resources including guidance from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Cartersville Medical Center (CMC). This plan will continue to be evaluated and modified as more relevant information becomes available and conditions change.

 CCS REOPENING MODELS

We all know that schools are parts of the larger community, so both community spread and specific cases in schools should both be considered in reopening decisions. We also know the spread of COVID-19 can ebb and flow. We feel that being able to operate in one of several ways based upon positive COVID-19 cases in our schools, while also considering community cases as well, will allow us to meet the needs of our students and staff at any given time. We have strongly considered several options that can best serve our community.

Families will choose either the Traditional Option or the Cartersville Virtual Academy Option for each student. 

OPTION 1: TRADITIONAL

Includes three models that can be implemented to address the local impact of COVID-19.

• Fulltime In-Person Learning: This model is what we are used to (daily, in-person, 5 days/week).  Our hope is to operate this way as much as possible throughout the year, with mitigation strategies in place, as we know this is the most ideal and beneficial for students. Social distancing, the recommended use of PPE by students and staff, and enhanced hygiene and cleaning/disinfecting protocols will be in place. After-school programs, recess, clubs and athletics will continue if practical with feasible safety measures in place. Programming and student services will continue with as little interruption as required.
  
  
• Hybrid Learning: If the number of positive cases increases in our school and/or community enough that our local Department of Health and local hospital advise us to consider other options, we could then implement a Hybrid Learning Model. Our Hybrid Learning Model is one where approximately half of our students attend school on certain days of the week and the other half attend on different days of the week.  This situation, although not perfect, would allow us to maintain reasonable normalcy by having our students attend two days each week instead of not attending and it would allow us to further distance the proximity of individuals in the buildings.   
  
  
• Digital Learning: This model would be utilized if Fulltime In-Person or Hybrid models are deemed to be unsafe or necessary (i.e. lack of substitutes available, etc). The Digital Learning Model would be somewhat similar to the end of last school year with students learning and completing 100% of work at home.

Students who choose the Traditional Option do not need to take any further steps as they are already enrolled.   

OPTION 2: CARTERSVILLE VIRTUAL ACADEMY

In response to the needs of our community, Cartersville City Schools has added a new full-time Virtual Academy Option for our K-12 students for the 2020-21 school year. There is not a Virtual Academy Option for Pre-K students. Unlike our previous digital learning implemented under emergency conditions during last spring's school shutdown, students in the Cartersville Virtual Academy will have a normal daily instructional schedule, earn grades, and receive timely teacher feedback in response to class assignments and homework. Teachers will guide and support student engagement using a variety of live and pre-recorded standards-based age-appropriate content. Students will also have access to subject matter seven days a week as well as tech support. Parents/Guardians who select Cartersville Virtual Academy must do so by July 24. Applications can be found at https://www.cartersvilleschools.org/cva.

FIRST THREE WEEKS OF SCHOOLS – HYBRID LEARNING MODEL

Families who choose to return to school in the Traditional Option will begin the first three weeks in the Hybrid Model.

The reality of our current situation is that we have not been in school for five months.  Furthermore, COVID-19 has not gone away.  We must look at the past and present of our community regarding how we navigate and serve our students through this pandemic.  Next year will be a different normal for all of us.  For these reasons, we are delaying the start of school to August 18 in an effort to give our teachers more pre-planning days.  Staff members need time to prepare for the uncertainties of this year and it is important we give them that time.  Being prepared will allow us to handle any uncertainty with confidence and best serve the educational needs of our students.  Furthermore, we intend to start the school year in a Hybrid Model.  Our current Hybrid Model will run for three weeks up to Labor Day and then all students will start back together on Tuesday, September 8.  We strongly feel it will be important to slowly and intentionally work our way back into our buildings with new protocols in place with half of our students present at a time allowing us to make connections with our students while also closely monitoring the effectiveness of our new procedures.  

REVISED SCHOOL CALENDAR