November 25, 2020 Special Meeting Edition |
|
NORWIN BOARD OF EDUCATION
Brian S. Carlton, President
William A. Essay, Vice President
|
|
Darlene J. Ciocca
Tony L. Corsa
Joanna Jordan
Raymond Kocak
|
|
Patrick A. Lynn
Donald W. Rhodes, Jr.
Robert E. Wayman
|
|
|
The Norwin Board of Education called a special meeting for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 25, 2020, to consider action relating to new Pennsylvania Department of Health Orders regarding school operations.
Specifically, the Board discussed how the new recommendations would impact Norwin's operational model, and took action to comply with the new recommendations.
As a result of the Board action taken tonight, Norwin families are asked to please be advised of the following:
- The District will temporarily move to a Fully Remote Operational Model for the four school days following Thanksgiving holiday break (December 1 through December 4);
- The District intends to return to a revised Hybrid Operational Model with the addition of synchronous instruction beginning on Monday, December 7th.
|
|
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Taylor spoke about the new Pennsylvania Department of Health Order for public schools in counties with substantial COVID-19 transmission.
Under the new requirements, school districts such as Norwin can continue to elect to provide in-person instruction or a hybrid format, but would need to file a formal attestation with the state certifying that if we are choosing to provide in-person instruction while our county has had “Substantial” transmission for two or more consecutive weeks, then we are certifying that the District will comply with and enforce the Updated Order of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. This attestation form is due to the Pennsylvania Department of Education by 5:00pm, Monday, November 30th.
In addition, Dr. Taylor shared the new school closure recommendations from the state and discussed recent increases in COVID-19 cases in the Norwin community.
|
|
The Board approved the following Education items:
- Authorized the Superintendent and Board President to submit the "Attestation Ensuring Implementation of Mitigation Efforts" form identifying that the Norwin School District is temporarily transitioning to a fully remote operational model prior to the Pennsylvania Department of Education due date of 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 30.
- The temporary transition to the fully remote operational model will be effective from December 1–4, 2020.
- The overwhelming majority of school districts in southwestern Pennsylvania are also transitioning to fully remote starting next week including, but not limited to: Penn-Trafford, Hempfield, Franklin Regional, Ligonier Valley, New Kensington-Arnold, Southmoreland, Belle Vernon, Monessen, Jeannette City, Yough, and others.
- Authorized the Superintendent and Board President to submit subsequent "Attestation Ensuring Implementation of Mitigation Efforts” forms identifying the District's operational model.
- The District's goal is for students to have as much in-person learning as possible while adhering to the state's mandates and orders.
- This motion will permit the District to transition to in-person learning as soon as it is feasible.
- The District intends to return to the hybrid operational model with the addition of synchronous instruction beginning on Monday, December 7, 2020.
|
|
PLAN FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS |
|
Please see the information below regarding the plan for the next two weeks:
Week of December 1 – 4, 2020: Fully Remote Operational Model
- All teachers are being asked to host a few pilot synchronous instruction sessions during the week and will include Zoom links to the sessions in their Google Classrooms.
- Students will be invited to voluntarily attend these synchronous sessions to help the teachers test synchronous instruction procedures.
- The pilot synchronous sessions will help the School District to plan for upcoming synchronous instruction.
- Required work and attendance will still be shared via Google Classroom.
Beginning December 7, 2020: Hybrid with Synchronous Operational Model
- The District will return to the Hybrid Operational Model with the addition of synchronous instruction in all courses.
- Students will continue to attend in their Blue/Gold cohorts two days each week. When at home, they will join the class for synchronous instruction.
- The duration of synchronous instruction will vary across grades K-12, and teachers will provide a specific schedule that is developmentally appropriate for the grade level/course.
- Student participation in synchronous instruction will be required.
- Attendance will be taken daily in each subject and recorded in Skyward.
- More information, including a specific schedule, will be shared by teachers to parents early next week to help families begin to plan for a transition to the Hybrid with Synchronous Operational Model.
|
|
Following each month's Legislative Meeting, this publication will share details about various items discussed, adopted, and approved by the Norwin Board of Education.
Complete Board Agendas & Attachments are available through BoardDocs. Please click here to visit Norwin’s BoardDocs page.
|
|
Norwin School District
281 McMahon Drive
North Huntingdon, PA 15642
724.861.3000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
