Riverview School District presents reopening plan

Oakmont and Verona families will have the option of their students returning to schools or continuing online learning as part of Riverview School District’s reopening plan.

“We know family circumstances can change, student health can change at any time,” Verner Elementary Principal Tina Monroe said at a virtual town hall meeting Tuesday night. “We just need to know if you need to change that option for whatever reason.”

District officials plan to open buildings to all students Aug. 27.

The proposed plan is posted on the district’s website for review. It’s expected to be finalized next month.

Incoming Superintendent Neil English said more than 40 people had input on the plan, including administrators, teachers, parents and staffers.

“This is the best plan that we can figure out with the information we have now,” English said. “Things are going to be in flux. We’re going to keep reworking this and changing this and adding things.”

English was recently appointed by the board as head administrator. He formally replaces retiring Superintendent Peggy DiNinno on Aug. 20.

Plans include a prohibition on school visitors and field trips, a staggered transportation schedule based on grade levels so buses aren’t filled to more than 20% of capacity and signage in all buildings promoting proper hygiene and social distancing.

Students would wear masks on buses and when moving around in schools. They would not need to wear them in class or when eating. Parents are asked to check their children’s temperature and watch for any symptoms of sickness.

“Maybe take that sniffle a little more seriously and keep them at home,” Monroe said.

Water fountains will be replaced with water bottle filling stations.

Desks have been reconfigured at the schools and other unnecessary furniture will be removed to add more space.

Tables in the cafeteria will be exchanged for desks in order to have social distancing while eating.

District officials said physical education classes and recess would be held outdoors as often as possible.

Tenth Street Elementary Principal David Zolkowski said students will not be able to share materials and locker visits will be minimized. Students at both elementary schools will spend most of their day in homeroom with materials ready for them in the classrooms.

Teachers will be using Microsoft Teams during instruction so online students can follow lessons and see their instructors. Dividers also will be installed in classrooms as an additional safety measure.

People showing signs of sickness in the schools will be sent to an isolation room near the nurse’s office. Parents will be contacted and staffers will follow proper Allegheny County health procedures.

Students would enter schools at different areas based on grade levels and leave in a similar fashion.

“We believe that we have done a good job making sure we’ve taken all the necessary precautions to keep your children and the staff very safe,” Zolkowski said.

Plans also include hand sanitizers in all classrooms and high-traffic areas such as gymnasiums.

The junior/senior high school will operate under a hybrid model with students in school two days a week and online three days a week.

Principal Eric Hewitt said there’s not enough space to social distance effectively like there is at Verner and Tenth Street Elementary if all students return.

All high school students will be out of the building Wednesdays to allow for deep cleaning and sanitizing procedures.

Technology Director Robert Rizzo said the district was able to obtain funding through the federal CARES Act to purchase laptops for all students. However, they might not arrive until October because so many other districts are also purchasing computers for students.

Rizzo said they were able to reconfigure some high school computers for the secondary students, but elementary students might wait awhile.

English stressed that the plan was still in draft form, and encouraged people to have patience as everyone moves through these unprecedented times.

“If we stick together and work together, we’re going to get through it just fine,” he said.