Gateway School District outlines board-approved reopening plan

The Gateway School Board unanimously approved a reopening plan Tuesday that allows district parents and students to choose one of three options of how school days will look during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The board’s vote came after more than two hours of discussion during the meeting, as well as two other meetings held for parents July 14 and 16.

The school district sent parents surveys on July 23. They have until Aug. 3 to choose one of the following options.

Blended learning

This option permits students to attend in-person classes two days per week. The other three days will fall under online learning models. Students who choose this option will be divided into two cohorts, A and B.

For example, cohort A will meet in-person Monday and Tuesday, where they will have traditional classes with teachers and peers. On Wednesday, they will have live, online educational sessions with teachers while district buildings undergo a cleaning. On Thursday and Friday, the group will continue online education, but the lessons will be recorded.

Cohort B will meet for in-person classes on Thursday and Friday.

Gateway School District Cyber Academy

This option is for students who would like to enroll in the district’s traditional cyber academy. The program is identical to Gateway’s existing cyber program, which includes no live instruction with teacher support.

The program is in partnership with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

Gateway Academic Transitional Education

The GATE program is similar to the district’s cyber academy, but it offers students both live and recorded instruction.

By Aug. 14, the district will determine the cohorts – which will be determined alphabetically by last names.

On Aug. 24-28, the district will conduct virtual information sessions between parents and school building principals.

The first day of school for students is Sept. 8, a date the school board voted to reschedule from the originally planned Aug. 20. Teachers will report back to school on Aug. 17.

According to the district’s plan, if Allegheny County moves into Gov. Tom Wolf’s green or yellow phases within the first nine weeks of school, Gateway will continue to offer students one of the three options listed above. However, if the county moves to the red phase, students will only receive virtual instruction.

Cleaning, face masks and shields

Officials have said district buildings will be cleaned and sanitized thoroughly on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

“It is a thorough cleaning,” said Superintendant Bill Short. “We’re going above and beyond to safeguard our students and staff.”

Students and teachers will be required to wear face masks or face shields while on school grounds. Students will be permitted to remove them when sitting at desks that will be spaced six feet apart and while eating in the cafeteria.

There will be one-way traffic in building hallways.

District officials have discussed purchasing plexiglass dividers to place in classrooms and where food is being handed over to students in the cafeteria.

Officials have said students who refuse to wear face masks when required will be disciplined.

Cafeteria guidelines

Cafeterias will be used.

The district began offering lunches to students at four remote sites on March 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. However, district officials have said they are awaiting to see how many children plan to be inside the buildings before they determine lunch operations.

Transportation

Buses will be operational.

Students and drivers will be required to wear masks while onboard. If a student does not have a mask or face shield, the district is considering providing extras, said Bonnie Easha, the district’s transportation director.

Easha said it is too early to know what sort of passenger limit will be in place because the district does not know how many students will choose the in-person option. She said she is also working with the bus company, Student Transportation of America, on determining a cleaning protocol.

Sports and other activities

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, which governs rules concerning high school and junior sports in Pennsylvania, announced in mid-July it intends to hold fall sports as scheduled, unless Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration says otherwise. Heat acclimatization for football starts Aug. 10. Practices for all fall sports begin Aug. 17.

Plans could change, however, when the PIAA board meets again on July 29.

Activities such as band, chorus, art and gym classes will have a curriculum, district officials said. They will fall under the same guidelines as other academics. More information is forthcoming, Short said.

Special education

Individualized Education Programs will be determined with guidance from the district’s special-education services, said Heather Bungard, the district’s director of pupil services.

During the July 21 meeting, Bungard said she could not delve into the plan, as it is individualized according to a student’s needs.

Other information

District buildings will have “quarantine rooms” for students who display symptoms of covid-19. Short said these rooms will be staffed to ensure no child is left alone. He also said staff continues to be trained on how to differentiate coronavirus symptoms from common colds, the flu and other common illnesses.

The superintendent also said counselors will be available for students who need them during this difficult period.

He said the school district will not conduct covid-19 testing. Rather, outside entities, such as Allegheny Health Network and UPMC, will provide tests.

All students will be provided with technology needed for online instruction, such as Wi-Fi hotspots and iPads, Short said.

He said state testing is still scheduled to occur. Specifics could not be given during the meeting, because the district still awaits further guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Robert Brown, the district’s director of facilities, said 40 air conditioning units have been installed in classrooms that did not have them before. Those buildings include Mosside Middle School, Gateway Middle School, University Park Elementary and Evergreen Elementary.

Watch the district’s three videos posted to its YouTube page for additional information on its reopening plan.