Valley Stream District 30 Reopening Plan | 2022-2023
The Valley Stream 30 District-Wide School Safety Team plays a critical role in ensuring health and safety measures are in place for the annual reopening of schools by taking into consideration and implementing recommendations from the:
- New York State Education Department
- New York State Department of Health, Nassau County Department of Health, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
- Nassau County Department of Health
- Nassau BOCES’s Health & Safety Training and Information Services Department
The 2022-2023 Reopening Plan allows Valley Stream 30 to provide in-person teaching and learning by implementing prevention strategies that reduce the spread of infectious disease in school settings, which are generally not considered high-risk congregate settings. During the school year, the District-Wide School Safety Team will take into consideration the following factors when deciding whether to increase, reduce, or remove infectious disease prevention strategies and/or whether school closure is warranted and the length of time due to an outbreak:
- CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels prevention strategy which helps:
- Individuals and schools make decisions about COVID-19 prevention strategies to use based on whether our community is classified as low, medium, or high.
- By using data on hospitalization rates and cases to demonstrate how COVID-19 is impacting our community. Click Here
- Collaboration with Nassau County Department of Health and Nassau BOCES’s Health & Safety Training and Information Services Department to consider other local conditions and factors:
- Absenteeism among students and staff
- Presence of students or staff who are at risk of getting very sick with COVID-19
- Additional community-level indicators provided by Nassau County COVID-19 Cases by Community for North Valley Stream (i.e., zip codes 1003, 11425, 11580) Click Here
- Additional Student and/or Staff factors taken into consideration include:
- Federal, State, and/or local executive orders (i.e., school closures)
- Age of population served
- Students with disabilities
- People at risk of getting very sick
- Equity
- Availability of resources (i.e., funding, personnel, or testing materials)
- Pediatric-specific considerations
- Responding to an outbreak in a classroom, school, office, and/or community at large
- New York State Public School COVID-19 Report Card: Click Here
This chart provides a summary of Valley Stream 30’s in-person prevention strategies that will take place during the school year regardless of the COVID-19 Community Levels.
| COVID-19 Community Low Levels Prevention Strategies
|
- Encourage staff and students to stay up to date on Vaccines & Boosters Click Here
- Provide staff and students with off-site Vaccination locations Click Here
- Provide staff and students with off-site Diagnostic testing locations Click Here
- Provide staff and students with access to At-home Diagnostic Testing Kit upon being identified or exposed to COVID-19
- Provide staff and students with disposable face-coverings for individuals who are in need of one while on school grounds
- Support anyone who chooses to wear a face covering
- Maintain and monitor current ventilation making sure all air filters are clean and vents are not blocked
- Monitor and reinforce hand hygiene and respiratory behaviors especially during key times in the day (i.e., before and after eating, after using the restroom, and after recess)
- If washing hands is not possible, schools provide hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
- Daily cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting of facilities
- Maintain Social Distancing in all settings as a best practice when deemed appropriate and whenever possible
- School Administrators monitor, and supervise confirmed or suspected cases by encouraging staff and students to:
- Stay home when sick
- Test immediately
- Follow CDC’s isolation requirements for confirmed COVID-19 cases Click Here
- Those exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status or history of prior COVID-19, wear a well-fitting face-covering for 10 days in school settings and test on or after day 5 or sooner if symptoms develop.
|
| Medium
|
High
|
- Provide face coverings and At-home Diagnostic Testing Kit for a classroom in which a student or staff was recently diagnosed with COVID-19
- All students, staff, visitors, and volunteers who are or live with someone immunocompromised or at risk for getting very sick with COVID-19 should wear a face covering, required
- Face coverings worn at all times in the school nurses’ offices, when deemed appropriate and whenever possible
- Social Distancing taking into consideration the most current COVID-19 Community Level whenever possible
- Hold most indoor events/mass gatherings mostly outdoors following social distancing practices, when deemed appropriate and whenever possible
|
| COVID-19 Community High Level Additional Prevention Strategies
|
Continue implementation of all prevention strategies above and add the following high prevention strategies.
- Consider conducting temperature checks for staff and students
- Consider implementing onsite screening testing program for students and staff for high-risk activities, at key times in the year (i.e., before/after large events), and when returning from long breaks (i.e., winter, fall, and spring break, at the beginning of the school year).
- Implement Parent Square’s Daily Health Screening (i.e., Health & Safety Form) which will assist in monitoring the health and safety of staff, required
- Face coverings worn at all times in the school nurses’ offices, required
- All students, staff, visitors, volunteers, and leaders to wear face coverings indoors, required
- Social Distancing taking into consideration the most current COVID-19 Community Level
- All students, staff, visitors, volunteers, and leaders to follow social distancing practices (i.e., classrooms, hallways) required
- All students and staff have lunch in the classroom follow social distancing practices, required
- Hold all indoor events/mass gatherings mostly outdoors, as deemed appropriate, following social distancing practices, required
- If an outbreaks occurs immediately consult with Nassau County Health Departments consider to determine the need for pivoting to hybrid and/or remote instruction (i.e., asynchronous and synchronous) to ensure the health and safety of students, staff and leaders
|
Return to Top
Communication Engagement
Valley Stream 30 has multiple means of sharing information and engages in regular as well as frequent communication between schools’ families, and the wider community which is an essential element of engaging our families and community. We believe in the importance of families, schools, and communities working together and keeping each other informed to ensure student success. Valley Stream 30’s communication plan includes the use of:
Social Media Platforms
- District Website to share all information, correspondences, and/or notifications www.valleystream30.com.
- The district website allows families to translate information using Google translate.
- Translators are available within the school district, if needed and upon request
- Parent Square to disseminate information electronically to families (replacing Blackboard Connect, Remind and Dojo).
- Facebook and Twitter to share information with the greater community.
Signage
Valley Stream 30 has appropriate signage strategically placed throughout the building that instruct as well as reminds staff and students of the district’s health and safety expectations:
- Correct hand and respiratory hygiene
- Cleanliness of facilities
Other
The information is annually distributed at the start of the school year using various forms of communication (i.e., Parent Square, district website, and etc.).
- Student-friendly “Need to Know” Sheets are created for distribution and used as a regular reference in the classrooms to help students adjust to new routines that will need to take place in order to keep students and staff as safe as possible.
- Video(s) to explain the vital reopening procedures and changes across the district.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) which provides our entire community (parents, staff, visitors) with vital information related to the health and safety procedures in place for anyone coming into our district
HEALTH & SAFETY
HAND & RESPIRATORY HYGIENE
Students and staff will be instructed to perform hand hygiene after sneezing, coughing and handling dirty tissues or other soiled material.
Hand Washing
In accordance with the CDC guidance on when and how to wash your hands and NYS Department of Health guidance and in consultation with local public health officials, Valley Stream 30’s plan for handwashing includes:
- Opportunities for students and staff to meet handwashing frequency guidelines.
- Scrub with soap for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not accessible. Staff and students should use paper towels (or single use cloth towels) to dry hands thoroughly.
- Wash hands when arriving and leaving home; arriving at and leaving school; after playing outside; after having close contact with others; after using shared surfaces or tools; before and after using restroom; after blowing your nose, coughing, and sneezing; before and after eating and preparing foods; and anytime hands are visibly soiled.
- Sufficient access to hand washing
- Sufficient access to the sanitizer station, fragrance-free and with a minimum of 60% alcohol)
- No child of any age should be permitted to use hand sanitizer without supervision.
- Hand sanitizer is not effective on visibly soiled hands. It is recommended to wash with soap and water first.
- Students will be supported to do these tasks where they may need assistance.
Respiratory Hygiene
It is important that students and staff cover their mouths or noses with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and dispose of the tissue appropriately.
- A supply of tissues and no touch trash cans will be available in each room when feasible.
- If no tissue is available, using the inside of the elbow (or shirtsleeve) to cover the mouth or nose is preferable to using the hands.
Return to Top
FACE COVERINGS
Return to Top
SOCIAL DISTANCING
Valley Stream 30 district offices and schools will create a culture where students and staff continue to practice social distancing of at least 3 feet in the classroom, whenever possible and when at an event/mass gathering, which may include parents/guardians, and the community at large, practice social distancing of at least 3 feet, whenever possible.
Classroom
Prior to the start of the school year, school administrators review and approve each classroom design’s ability to ensure as much as possible proper social distancing practices, whenever possible. For example, desks provide students with adequate personal distance as well as social distance (i.e., three to six feet apart).
Snack Time
Students will have snacks in their classrooms at their desk following social distancing practices, whenever possible.
Events and/or Mass Gathering
Large gatherings bring together many people from multiple households into our school settings. Each school will plan events and/or mass gatherings taking into account the COVID-19 Community Levels and other factors to ensure the health and safety of students and staff.
Arrival & Dismissal Time
Each school will provide parents/guardians with an arrival and dismissal plan that identifies drop-off and pick-up times as well as areas for walkers. Parents/guardians ability to adhere to the arrivals and pick-ups time greatly assist in minimizing large gatherings as well starting school at 8:15 a.m. Parents/guardians, students, staff are expected to follow social distancing practices, whenever possible, during arrival and dismissal times.
Hallway
Students and staff will continue to moderate the use of hallways throughout the school building. Under the supervision of instructional staff, students will follow social distancing practices, whenever possible. when moving in classroom cohorts, utilizing controlled movement patterns based on signage throughout the school.
Lunch Time
Students will have lunch in designated common areas (i.e., cafeteria etc.) following social distancing practices, whenever possible.
Assemblies
For the safety of staff and students in school, assemblies will occur taking account to the most current COVID-19 Community Levels and adhering to the prevention strategies.
Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities will be held both in-person and virtually. The district will continue to monitor positive cases throughout the school year and make necessary adjustments to the structure or delivery of the activities.
Before and Aftercare Programs
Valley Stream 30 does not run a before school program. Each of the three school buildings does have an afterschool program that is run by the YMCA of Glen Cove. Staff is hired and trained by the YMCA. The school district will determine locations within each of the school buildings that can be used to ensure safe social distancing and spaces will be cleaned prior to a new group of students entering. Staff from the YMCA will be required to bring students to an exit door when their guardian has arrived to pick them up. There will be no in-person before school programs. Before school programs will be offered when possible. The YMCA is an independent organization that uses our school facilities. Please click here for more information and sign up. The district will work collaboratively with the YMCA on implementing all health and safety measures outlined in the District Reopening Plan.
Visitor Protocol
Valley Stream 30’s district office and schools will ensure the health and safety of staff and students by continuing to limit access to visitors and volunteers with appointments only. A request must be made 24 hours in advance. Administrators will establish protocols for greeting visitors to include:
- All visitors and volunteers are expected upon arrival to sign in at the security desk and wait in the lobby.
- Limit access to school for parents and other visitors.
- All buildings will require visitors to complete COVID-19 questions and sign in. A log will be maintained with the date, time, and places visited to assist with contact tracing efforts, if necessary.
- All contractors coming onto Valley Stream 30 property to perform work will comply with NYS DOH regulations with respect to COVID-19
- Limit the use of outside organizations using building facilities within the district.
- Establish protocol for accepting deliveries safely.
Return to Top
COVID-19 SAFETY COORDINATOR
The building principal at each of the 3 school buildings is the COVID-19 Safety Coordinator. They are responsible for monitoring and maintaining all aspects of the reopening plan. The COVID-19 Safety Coordinator is also the lead facilitator for their school building’s health and safety committee. They are responsible for leading building-wide activities to help support a smooth transition to the “new normal” for staff, students and families by ensuring students and/or staff are:
- Wearing a well-fitting face covering while in the building and waiting to be sent home
- Encouraged to get a diagnostic test if testing is unavailable at school.
- Separated from others, when they cannot wear a face covering as much as possible
- Supervised by a school nurse, who must wear a well-fitting face covering while monitoring students and/or staff until they leave school grounds.
- Ensuring students receive remote instruction support during the 5 days of home solation
- Upon returning from isolation, wearing a well-fitting face covering around others through day 10.
Symptoms
Valley Stream 30 in collaboration with the Medical Director, we have established the procedures below in order to instruct staff on how to observe signs and symptoms of illness in students/staff. Symptomatic individuals will be sent to the school building's nurse’s office for isolation when necessary. If the school nurse is unavailable, the COVID-19 coordinator (school building principal) will be the backup. Students that are sent to the nurse because they have exhibited signs of illness will wait in an isolated area either in the nurse’s office or in close proximity to the health office until the student can be assessed by the school nurse.
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. Possible symptoms include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19. Click Here
Vulnerable Populations
Valley Stream 30 is aware staff and students may request medical accommodations. After reviewing documentation, in consultation with the district/county doctors if needed, an accommodation will be shared with the individual. Specific accommodations will be provided, as feasible, to those with specific needs on a case by case basis. Most medical related accommodations for students will go through a 504 process managed by the Special Services Department.
Risk Exposure
Valley Stream 30 ensures staff and students are aware of how COVID-19 spreads and the factors that can increase or decrease that risk, so they can make informed health and safety choices. Factors that lower or increase risk of transmission are:
- Length of Time: How long were you with the infected person?
- Cough or heavy breathing: Was the infected person coughing, singing, shouting, or breathing heavily?
- Symptoms: Did the infected person have symptoms at the time?
- Face-Covering: Were you or the infected person or both wearing a respirator (for example, N95) or high-quality face-covering?
- Ventilation and filtration: How well-ventilated was the space?
- Distance: How close was the infected person to you?
Lower Risk
|
Moderate Risk
|
Higher Risk
|
COVID-19 At-Home Diagnostic Testing Kits
Staff and students will have access or receive before the start of school year, providing all staff with (2) COVID-19 self-testing kits on the first day of school, upon request during school year if suspecting/experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, and the opportunity to pick up COVID-19 self-testing kits at the end of school year.
Identified COVID-19 Cases
Valley Stream 30 in collaboration with our school nurses and Department of Health will continue to follow all health protocols. When a student, teacher, or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, and has exposed others at school, Valley Stream 30 will implement the following steps:
- Communication will be shared with families via Parent Square that their child’s class has potentially been exposed to COVID-19
- Test kits will be available for any students or staff that have been exposed. It is recommended that if you are exposed, you should test 5 days after exposure.
- The district requires students or staff with symptoms to be sent directly to a dedicated isolation area where students are supervised, prior to being picked up or otherwise sent home.
- Students are supervised in the isolation area while awaiting transport home, following social distancing practices, whenever possible. Students are escorted from the isolation area to their parents/guardians.
- Students or staff will be referred to a healthcare provider and provided resources on COVID-19 testing.
- Clean and disinfect all areas used by the person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, such as offices, classrooms, bathrooms, and common areas.
| ISOLATION AND PRECAUTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH COVID-19 |
| If you have COVID-19, you can spread the virus to others. There are precautions you can take to prevent spreading it to others: isolation, face covering, and avoiding contact with people who are at high risk of getting very sick. Isolation is used to separate people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from those without COVID-19. Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate yourself from others when you have COVID-19. You should also isolate yourself if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results. |
| IF YOU TEST NEGATIVE → You can end your isolation. |
| IF YOU TEST POSITIVE → Follow the full isolation recommendations below. |
If you had no symptoms:
- Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result)
- Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested
- If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset
|
If you had symptoms:
- Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive
- Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started
|
| If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate yourself from others in your home. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.
|
| End isolation based on how serious your COVID-19 symptoms were. |
| If you had no symptoms → You may end isolation after day 5. |
If you had symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5 if:
- You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)
- Your symptoms are improving
- If you still have fever or your other symptoms have not improved, continue to isolate until they improve.
- If you had moderate illness
- (if you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing), or severe illness
- (you were hospitalized) due to COVID-19, or you have a weakened immune system, you need to isolate through day 10.
- If you had severe illness, or
- Have a weakened immune system, consult your doctor before ending isolation. Ending isolation without a viral test may not be an option for you.
If you are unsure if your symptoms are moderate or severe or if you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider for further guidance.
|
| After you have ended isolation, when you are feeling better (no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms improving), wear your face covering through day 10. |
| After you have ended isolation, if your COVID-19 symptoms recur or worsen, restart your isolation at day 0. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about your symptoms or when to end isolation. |
Exposed to COVID-19
Staff and students exposed to COVID-19 or have been told by a healthcare provider or public health authority that they were exposed, should follow the steps below, regardless of their vaccination status or if they have had a previous infection.
| START PRECAUTIONS IMMEDIATELY |
Wear a face covering as soon as you find out you were exposed. Start counting from Day 1.
- Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19
- Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure
|
10 FULL DAYS OF CONTINUED PRECAUTIONS
You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed.
|
|
|
Watch for symptoms:
If you develop symptoms:
|
DAY 6 GET TESTED
Get tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure. Test even if you don't develop symptoms.
|
IF YOU TEST NEGATIVE
- Continue taking precautions through day 10
- Wear a high-quality face covering when around others at home and indoors in public
You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed.
|
IF YOU TEST POSITIVE
isolate immediately
|
Contact Tracing
Contact tracing is no longer recommended. However, if a school is experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak Valley Stream 30 will:
- Consider adding prevention strategies regardless of the COVID-19 Community Level
- Continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of students, teachers and staff
- When known close contact with someone who tested positive for or has symptoms of COVID-19 occurs on the school grounds or in a classroom/office, schools will notify parents and guardians of affected students.
- Exposed individuals should be referred to information provided by the state or local health department
Return to Top
FACILITIES
Cleaning Procedures for Facilities
The buildings of Valley Stream 30 meet cleanliness standards prior to reopening of schools and maintain a consistent level of cleanliness throughout the school year. Cleaning protocols will follow the NYSDOH Interim Cleaning and Disinfection Guidance for Primary and Secondary Schools for COVID-19.
- Only those disinfecting products that are approved for use against COVID-19 listed on the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) list of products registered in New York State and identified by the EPA as effective against COVID-19 will be used. All products will be kept out of children’s reach and stored in a space with restricted access.
- After cleaning, the space will be aired out before children arrive. A thorough cleaning and disinfecting will be done when children are not present.
- A schedule for cleaning will be developed and input will be sought from each school to determine areas of special interest and need for additional cleaning.
- Disinfecting high-touch surfaces, such as door handles, handrails, light switches, sink handles, restroom surfaces.
- Employees will be provided with disinfectant spray, paper towels, and hand sanitizer.
- Areas that were used by any sick person will not be used before cleaning and disinfecting the space.
- If more than three days have passed since the person who is sick or diagnosed with COVID-19 has been in the space, no additional cleaning (beyond regular cleaning practices) is needed. This is based on the current CDC recommendations.
- Valley Stream 30 schools will maintain cleaning and disinfection logs if required by the NYSDOH.
Fire Code Compliance
Changes or additions to facilities require review by the Office of Facilities Planning (OFP), since all spaces to be occupied by public school students and staff must meet the requirements of the 2020 New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (BC) and the State Energy Conservation Code. In their plans, districts or other applicable schools will provide assurances that, should alterations be made, districts and other applicable schools will submit the proposed changes to the OFP for review and approval - just as with any other project.
Doorways
Many stairs and corridor doors have closers with automatic hold openings. These doors are normally held in the open position and are automatically released by the fire alarm system. The function, position, and operation of those doors must remain unchanged. Fortunately, they need not be touched during normal use.
Emergency Drills
Valley Stream 30 shall conduct standard operations and procedures to the best of their abilities without deviating from current requirements. Fire (evacuation) Drills and Lockdown Drills are required by Education Law and regulation and the Fire Code, and they must be conducted without exceptions. Fire Code Section 404 requires that schools maintain Fire Safety, Evacuation, and Lockdown Plans and these plans include how lockdown and evacuation drills are conducted. Methods to promote and provide for social distancing during the evacuation drills are ultimately the district’s decision and responsibility. Those changes will be included in the Fire Safety plans.
Inspections
- Statute has not been changed to provide an extension to the submission deadline for the Building Condition Survey or Visual Inspections. These deadlines must be met. Additionally, the District complies with State requirements for lead-in-water testing. NYS DOH advises that schools follow recommended procedures to the extent possible to provide clean and safe drinking water upon reopening.
- The number of toilet and sink fixtures must meet the minimum standards of the New York State Building Code. In order to ensure compliance, a design professional should be consulted prior to any modifications to layouts or number of fixtures.
- Ventilation Mandatory Requirements - Maintain adequate, code required ventilation (natural or mechanical) as designed. We will open up our uni-vent systems to allow for additional fresh air to circulate within the building.
Return to Top
CHILD NUTRITION
Valley Stream 30 will provide all students enrolled in the school lunch program with access to school meals each school day. Valley Stream 30 uses Whitsons Culinary Group to provide meals to our students. Whitsons has ensured that their meals are in compliance with United State Department of Agriculture and New York State child nutrition requirements. Whitsons has outlined all of their health and safety measures that they are taking in accordance with CDC guidelines: Click Here
Communication will be shared with families to notify them of any food allergies in the classroom and foods to avoid sending in with their child. Accommodations will be made for students based upon their allergies.
All district documentation in reference to child nutrition is posted on the Valley Stream 30 website, Click Here
Return to Top
TRANSPORTATION
It is recommended Valley Stream 30 students that ride on contracted transportation wear a face covering. If they do not have a face covering and want one, one will be provided to them by the District. The bus company will wipe down high touch areas after each run and will conduct a deeper cleaning (disinfecting) at the end of the day.
Return to Top
SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL WELLBEING
Valley Stream 30 has made a commitment to supporting the emotional well being students and adults alike. At the heart of this complex time is attending to our mental health needs and deepening our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies so we can begin to process, heal, and thrive. For the past several years, Valley Stream 30 has been at the forefront of prioritizing SEL for students that is driven by an inclusive “whole child” vision and a strategic plan that lays out purposeful goals that guide all our decision-making. The district has updated our five-year strategic plan with a continued commitment of promoting social emotional learning and development as an essential part of every child’s education. Valley Stream 30 also recognizes the importance of strengthening and supporting adult SEL competencies & capacity to model the resiliency skills needed to meet the challenges of today’s “new normal”.
Each building has an SEL Implementation Team that leads wellness initiatives aligned with district goals and provides coaching support to the faculty. Over the past several years, these building-level teams have been critical in the roll out of the RULER approach that is part of the district’s Tier 1 Universal Expectations for all classrooms to create emotionally safe learning environments and build students’ emotional literacy.
As part of our re-entry, the district plans to continue to utilize the CASEL’s SEL Roadmap for Reopening Schools (2021) that lays out four critical practices with essential questions to guide our continued work for our students and staff to reunite, renew, and thrive as a school community during these unprecedented times. Please click the thumbnail to view the image at full size.
Return to Top
SCHOOL SCHEDULES
Valley Stream 30 is providing in-person instruction as its primary offering for all of our educational programs because we believe in-person instruction is the best option for many reasons, including hands-on learning, supportive school cultures and socialization.
In-Person Instruction Model
In-person instruction occurs daily from 8:15am-2:55pm. Valley Stream 30’s in-person instructional schedule is based on a 6-day cycle. Each of the three school buildings has a master schedule that includes all of the special area periods, lunch and intervention/enrichment periods. Individually teachers block out 90 minutes for ELA instruction, 60 minute block for math, social studies and science instruction.
Remote Instruction Pivot Model
Note, the New York State Education Department does not require schools that are open for full-time, in-person instruction to provide on-line or remote instruction. If the District is in the need of pivoting to remote instruction, due to a COVID-19 outbreak at either the district, school or class level, the following will occur:
| Teachers |
Parents/Guardians |
- All instructional staff members will have a Google Classroom set up for their class(es).
- Teachers will review with students in September how to access the Google Classroom, as well as the Google Meet code that will be used for virtual instruction.
- Teachers will also review with students at the start of the school year how to access their core and support resources through digital platforms.
- The classroom teacher will take attendance at this time and share any possible schedule changes for the day with students.
- Teachers will meet with students as both a whole class and small groups for instruction.
|
- A message will be sent out to families via the Parent Square platform.
- Students are expected to be signed on to their Google Meet with their classroom teacher at 8:15am.
- During remote instruction students participate in all of the regularly scheduled classes during in-person instruction.
- This includes all special areas and support services. Instruction will be a blend of synchronous and asynchronous during remote instruction days.
|
Teachers and students will follow their regular schedule.
We will continue to follow our 6-day cycle master schedule. |
Intervention Services| Multi-Tiered Support System (MTSS), Academic Intervention Services (AIS), and Response to Intervention (RtI)
Students will receive all services they have been identified to receive through the district’s universal screening process and data team meetings, regardless of instructional model. Valley Stream 30’s MTSS Plan, which identifies screening methods, tiered levels of support, interventions and progress monitoring. These interventions can be provided in person and during remote instruction via Google Meets.
Return to Top
BUDGET & FISCAL
Valley Stream 30 continues to remain vigilant in assessing its fiscal status throughout the COVID-19 crisis. By the end of summer, the District will complete its annual State Aid reporting with the NYS Education Department and file its annual School Funding Transparency Form with the NYS Department of Budget. The District maintains its regulatory compliance with successfully completed audits and proper financial reporting.
The District monitors the status of State Aid and multiple grants. It explores possible ways to maximize both of these sources of funding through careful planning and whenever possible, the District applies for new grants.
Valley Stream 30 will spend funds on health and safety essentials for the reopening of schools and throughout the 2022-23 school year, such as personal protective equipment and additional sanitizing supplies. The District has budgeted for these items and also utilizes grants to cover these necessary expenses. The District monitors the cost of these unfunded expenses that are necessary for a successful school reopening.
As always, Valley Stream 30 will budget and spend funds based on what is best for its students and its community. The District will continue to review its short-term and long-term financial plans to always have a sound fiscal plan in place to sustain its academic programming. The District will continue to be transparent with the Board of Education and the Valley Stream 30 Community when deciding all relevant financial matters.
Return to Top
ATTENDANCE AND CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM
In Valley Stream 30 we use eSchool as our Student Information System(SIS). Each day teachers will take attendance for students that are in their classroom physically. Students that have 10 or more absences will be notified via written notification and phone call by the school administration. Our teachers, nurses and administrators will monitor daily attendance for patterns and frequency of individual students.
Teachers will be completing an on-line form once they have entered the building that will be time stamped and will account for their daily “sign-in” to the building. Staff members that will not be able to attend work due to illness will enter in their submission for a sick day on the electronic system AESOP via Frontline.
Return to Top
TECHNOLOGY AND CONNECTIVITY
Reopening Mandatory Requirements
- Have knowledge of the level of access to devices and high speed broadband all students and teachers have in their places of residence;
- To the extent practicable, address the need to provide devices and internet access to students and teachers who currently do not have sufficient access; and
- Provide multiple ways for students to participate in learning and demonstrate mastery of Learning Standards in remote or blended models, especially if all students do not yet have sufficient access to devices and/or high-speed internet.
Ed Law 2D Compliance
The technology department ensures all online platforms follow state law and regulation and take measures to protect students' personally identifiable information (PII). All contractors/vendors of the websites and softwares that our students log into are required to agree to and sign our District’s Parent Bill of Rights and Ed-Law 2d Rider, to ensure that the given measures will be taken to keep student PII protected. Examples of such measures include not disclosing Protected Data other than to those of its employees or agents who have a need to know, minimizing the amount of data shared to only that of which is necessary, having a detailed data privacy plan in place to ensure the security of such data, and the use of data encryption to keep PII unusable, unreadable, or indecipherable to unauthorized persons when stored on their servers or transmitted electronically. For more information, please refer to NYSED's Data Privacy and Security website.
Ensure Digital Equity
Mobile Device Assessments
- All students and staff will be provided with a device to use at home to continue their daily functions and instructional services
- Conduct a cost analysis of technology device needs to ensure our students and staff are all equipped with properly functioning devices
Internet Access Assessments
- Survey teachers and families to determine the availability of viable existing at-home Internet service
- Conduct a cost analysis of Internet access needs
Additional Technology Devices Assessments
- Identify students' technology needs to include adaptive technologies so all of our student sub-groups have the technology necessary to support their instruction
- Check out all mobile devices following asset tracking and management procedures, such as recording student and teacher device asset tag numbers in Incident IQ and conducting virtual and in-person audits of these assets throughout the year
- If a shutdown happens abruptly, plan a pick-up time and location, and arrange to deliver services to those unable to pick them up
Providing Mobile Devices and Internet Access
- All students and staff will be provided with a device to use at home to continue their daily functions and instructional services. These devices will be configured with the District’s safeguards (i.e. web filters, firewalls, and antivirus software) to protect our students from malicious and inappropriate Internet content
- Families determined to be in need of the Internet will be provided appropriate Internet bandwidth through T-Mobile hotspots
Hardware and Connectivity
The Valley Stream 30 School district has made a commitment to device accessibility for all students in Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade. Should there be a need to pivot to remote instruction, all students are equipped with a device to utilize in school and at home. All students in Pre-Kindergarten through 3rd grade have received an iPad. Students in grades 4th-6th have received a Chromebook. All Special Education students have received an iPad and/or MacBook. We continue to have hotspots available through T-Mobile for families that are in need of internet connection in their homes. All teaching staff and administration has been provided a MacBook and iPad to use for school purposes.
Return to Top
TEACHING AND LEARNING
New York State Learning Standards
Valley Stream 30’s educational programs provide curriculum and instruction which is aligned to the New York State Education Department which has established the student learning expectations (standards) for what all students should know and be able to do as a result of skilled instruction. Click Here
All of our core curricular resources have a digital component to match and support their print texts. Through the use of digital platforms like Class Link and Google Classroom, students have access to all resources.
Should we need to pivot to remote learning at any point during the school year, students will receive a blend of asynchronous and synchronous instruction. Students should sign on to the Google Meet with their classroom teacher at 8:15am for attendance. Students will continue to follow their regular schedule, including special area classes and support services.
Teacher-Student Interaction
Valley Stream 30’s educational programs provide multiple opportunities for interaction between teachers and students whether delivered in-person, remotely or through a hybrid model of instruction by providing:
- Meaningful and frequent interaction with an appropriately certified teacher as well as student-student interaction
- Instructional content that reflects academic expectations consistent with those which would be required for in-person instruction:
- Synchronous Learning: Teaching and learning that happens in real time with direct simultaneous interaction between teachers and students through video and/or audio
- Asynchronous Learning: Teaching and learning that does not happen in real time. Teachers plan activities and lessons that students access at flexible times throughout the day.
- Academic and other supports designed to meet the needs of the individual student
- Frequent verbal and/or written feedback
- Student-centered learning environments which affirm racial, linguistic, and cultural identities; prepare students for rigor and independent learning, develop students' abilities to connect across lines of difference; elevate historically marginalized voices; and empower students as agents of social change utilizing the Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Teaching Framework.
- Utilize Google Classroom online platform to:
- Provide face to face interactive synchronous learning during remote instruction
- Complete online modules or tasks
- View instructional videos
- Respond to posts or teacher's questions
- Engage with other class participants in an online or phone discussion
- Conduct research and engage in project-based learning activities
- Communicate using chat feature on the class Stream
- Share instructional content using the “Classwork” section of Google Classroom
- Create immersive classroom resources using digital programs such as Pear Deck and Lumio
- Engage in virtual field trips
- Students and families with virtual tours, meetings and open houses whenever an in-person meeting is not possible
Support Programs
Valley Stream 30 recognizes that the school plays a key role in promoting mental health in all children, recognizing that students’ learning and development is supported by environments that encourage a sense of self-esteem and self-confidence as well as the ability to identify, express, and regulate emotions. The district is committed to creating safe, supportive, and equitable learning environments for all students that support their social and emotional development by:
- Creating a common SEL language throughout the district based on the RULER approach and Second Step program
- Allotting time throughout each day for students to reflect on their emotional state utilizing the Mood Meter
- Teaching de-escalation techniques and strategies such as the Meta Moment & Blueprint SEL anchor tools, and
- Redesigning the curriculum in grades Pre-K-6 to integrate more SEL aligned lessons incorporating RULER’s “Feeling Words”.
Valley Stream 30 continues to support all staff and students with maintaining a healthy social and emotional well being. We will be continuing to include a wellness period during the school day. This will be a part of PK-6 regular schedules and is a time to allow for activities such as creating Class Charters, morning greetings, Mood Meter feeling check-ins, mindfulness activities, and classroom community building exercises to foster emotionally safe and caring learning environments. Through a combination of presentations, videos, real-world scenario role playing, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness approaches, the school psychologists will follow a push-in rotational schedule where they will visit classrooms throughout the school year to instruct on mental health awareness, increase students’ stress management strategies and coping skills. In collaboration with the psychology department, the Physical Education teachers will continue to include mental health objectives into their daily lessons. Calming activities such as yoga and personalized fitness tracking as well as socially distant team building and problem solving events such as treasure hunts will be incorporated into the PE units of study.
The district also plans to assess the school climate district wide by surveying families, staff, and students during the school year. In continuing to enhance our services to families we will continue to offer District-wide Live Stream parent workshops with local guest speakers, including district school psychologists.
School Counseling/Guidance Plan
Valley Stream 30 will continue to implement the annual District Comprehensive Developmental School Counseling/Guidance Plan. Valley Stream 30 school counseling/guidance program provides PreK-6 students opportunities to participate effectively in their current and future educational programs, to help students who exhibit any attendance, academic, behavioral or adjustment problems, to educate students concerning avoidance of child sexual abuse, and to encourage parental involvement. The school counseling/guidance program utilizes a consultant model for counselor services by accessing and collaborating with the guidance team at Valley Stream Central High School district. In addition, each of our buildings has access to at least one full time school psychologist who provides an array of counseling interventions for all students identified as being in need through our systemic Multi-Tiered RTI District Framework for Social Emotional Learning and Development.
Mental Health Plan
Valley Stream 30 will continue to implement our annual . This plan speaks to our district-wide universal Social, Emotional, and Learning (SEL) screener, tiered levels of support available to all students, community resources for families, and a blueprint of mental health lessons to address specific SEL competencies as well as addressing the stigma of mental illness in 6th grade. For the 2022-2023 school year, the district will be continuing to expand mental health lessons to other grades. School psychologists have spearheaded identifying and implementing research-based counseling Tier III interventions tailored to specific student emotional/behavioral needs.
Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Contact Person
Parents/guardians can contact their schools with questions about instruction and/or technology
Return to Top
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Instruction
The Valley Stream 30 School District will continue to provide high quality special education programs and related services, providing accessible curriculum, support interventions, and accommodations driven by students’ IEPs for 2022-2023. While reopening may present challenges for all, students with disabilities may experience these challenges to a greater extent than their peers and take longer to remediate lost skills. This plan allows for flexibility in determining how to meet the individual needs of students receiving special education services while complying with healthy/safety guidelines. Instruction & related services will be conducted in-person with suggested health & safety precautions in place. All mandatory special education regulations will continue to be followed to the greatest extent possible to provide students with FAPE.
IEPs
Valley Stream 30 engages parents in the IEP development, outline provision of special education services based on student needs as part of the 2022-2023 Annual Review meetings held video conference. All families of students with disabilities will have their IEPS finalized prior to schools opening and the Special Services Department is accessible over the summer to address all parent concerns/questions and reconvene CSEs/CPSEs if requested. Families can reach out to the district via email, phone or digital communication platform.
CPSE and CSE
The Valley Stream 30 fosters a collaborative model for shared-decision making. The Special Services Department held transition CPSE/CSE meetings for all Kindergarten students entering schools in September during the Spring 2022 and Summer 2022. Both CPSE preschool and CSE school-aged committees met remotely and worked together with parents to make eligibility determinations and special education program/service recommendations for newly referred or transferred students. All our elementary schools have been provided the final committee recommendations & students’ individualized needs to assist with class/teacher assignments. The Special Services Department utilized a document repository to seamlessly share evaluations/reports to make informed and multidisciplinary decisions. All CPSE/CSEs meetings will continue to be “business as usual” and parents will have the option to request a video conference (i.e., Google Meet) or in-person with suggested health and safety precautions in place. If a parent is being accompanied by an advocate and/or lawyer, in-person CPSE/CSEs will be recommended. All evaluations will be conducted via in-person following health/safety precautions that are currently in place. Special Education Teachers and related service providers will continue to progress monitor IEP goals and provide IEP progress marks to families each quarter. Special Education staff will continue to expand efforts to utilize different modalities (i.e., expand digital communications such as Parent Square, Google Classrooms) to communicate with parents about their children’s progress and provide resources.
Accommodations and Modifications
Valley Stream 30 is committed to ensuring students with disabilities IEPs are being implemented as written laying out accommodations, modifications/supplemental aids, and specialized instruction. The Special Services Department incorporates an Universal Design for Learning (UDL) philosophy by providing all special education classes with 1:1 devices with accessibility features and assistive technology software to be used for students with disabilities dependent on their specific needs. District will install the Don Johnston Assistive Technologies bundle on all special education student devices for school & home use. Special Education Staff will continue to provide access to both manual and digital supplemental aids (i.e., graphic organizers, visuals).
Communication
Valley Stream 30 will continue to offer the full continuum of special education programs and services with-in district. Students’ individualized special education recommendations will be documented via finalized Individual Education Programs (IEPs) that families will receive prior to the first day of school. Any changes/modifications to delivery of instruction/services as well as bus transportation will be communicated via district letters, district website notifications, Parent Square and/or phone calls. Translation services will continue to be offered based on the needs of the district’s bilingual families which are surveyed at the beginning of the year. The Special Services Department will continue to provide bilingual families with translated evaluation reports and complete IEPs in their native language in partnership with Nassau BOCES. The Special Services Department will continue to utilize applications (i.e., Say Hi app; Google translation) to create a welcoming environment and implement effective communications to reduce language barriers.
Return to Top
BILINGUAL EDUCATION & WORLD LANGUAGES
At this time Valley Stream 30 does not offer a bilingual education program due to not enough students at a given grade level, with the same home language to offer bilingual classes. Valley Stream 30 offers an English as a New Language (ENL) program only. The ENL students receive language arts and content-area instruction taught in English using specific ENL instructional strategies following the CR-Part 154 requirements for identification and instruction based upon levels and units of study. Teachers utilize materials and instructional resources that are linguistically age/grade appropriate and aligned to the Next Generation Learning Standards. Teachers will review the Blueprint for English Language Learners/Multilingual Learners to ensure that educational expectations are clear for ELL/MLL to provide a foundation for academic success.
To learn more about the ENL Program: Click Here
Return to Top
HUMAN RESOURCES
Teacher and Principal Evaluation System (Education Law §3012-D/APPR)
Valley Stream 30 makes an effort to implement its currently approved APPR plan under an in-person, remote, and/or hybrid instructional model. The New York State Education Department requires districts to annually observe and evaluate the performance of all principals and teachers, who provide instructional services or pupil personnel services. Click Here
Certifications
Valley Stream 30 ensures that all administrators, teachers, and teaching assistants hold valid and appropriate certificates for their assignments except where otherwise allowable under the Commissioner’s regulations (e.g., incidental teaching) or Education Law.
Professional Learning & Mentor Plan
Valley Stream 30 continues to implement the Professional Learning and Mentor plan which is designed to improve the quality of teaching and learning by ensuring that when teachers and school leaders participate in substantial professional learning they have opportunities for professional growth, remain current with their profession, and meet the learning needs of their students. Each year the Professional Learning committee provides professional learning opportunities for staff that are aligned to Strategic Plan goals, New York State standards, student needs, and principles of effective professional learning communities.
Return to Top
KEY REFERENCES
- 2022-2023 Frequently Asked Questions related to COVID-19
- What Parents/Caregivers Should Know about COVID Mitigation Strategies for the 2022-2023 School Year
- New York State Education Department and New York Department of Health Joint Letter, August 22, 2022
- August 22, 2022 Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning, August 11, 2022
- COVID-19 Guidance for Safe Schools and Promotion of In-Person Learning, July 6, 2022
- NYS DOH School Safety, March 2, 2022
- Quarantine and Isolation Letter to Schools, January 10, 2022
- New York State Department of Health Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration COVID-19 Website
Return to Top