Elmira CitySchool District

Family, School, Community:Together We Succeed

In response to updated CDC guidelines and subsequent NYSDOH guidance released on April 9, 2021 to New York State school systems, the ECSD district has created an Addendum to The Track Back plan in accordance with new regulations.

DISTRICT PLANNING TIMELINE

1. Week of April 12, 2021 – Review guidelines, meet with health officials and regional superintendents, conduct internal administration planning meetings and release plan to our staff, families and community at-large
2. Week of April 19, 2021 – Collect stakeholder feedback by conducting information sessions with families, post plan to website and respond and answer questions and comments regarding plan
3. Week of April 26, 2021 – Post final revised re-opening plan to website, submit plans to NYSDOH and Chemung County Health Department and Office of the Chemung County Executive
4. Thursday, April 29, 2021 – Begin transitioning students in grades pre-k – 8 back to a four-day in-person instructional week, with Wednesdays begin reserved across the district as remote instructional days.

Pease note: Modified plans must be posted online, shared with Local Health Departments and the State Education Department. Local Health Departments are the entity charged with ensuring the enforcement of these minimum standards.

The Track Back Addendum Plan | April 2021

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These are extraordinary - but temporary - times. We have been planning for the reopening of school buildings since the day they closed. Since that time, we’ve heard from hundreds of families, students, and staff and worked with our community partners in developing The Track Back school re-opening plan. We will continue close collaboration with our county health officials as well as to look to CDC and New York State Health guidance for a safe re-opening.

We are Express Strong!

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1. Feedback and Input from Our Stakeholder Groups
2. District and Building Planning and Review
3. Submit Re-Opening Plan to New York State for Review

SUB-SEQUENTIAL STEPS IN THE PLANNING PROCESS

→ Communicate Re-Opening Plan to Families, Students and Staff

→ Await Review/Approval of Re-Opening Plan from New York State

→ Follow Guidance from The Office of the Governor of New York State, New York State Education Department, Chemung County Health Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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July 16, 2020: School Re-Opening Guidelines Released from New York State Checklist for Pre-K to Grade 12 School Reopening Plans Released

July 13 - 21, 2020: Initial surveys were conducted with staff, parents/guardians, and students, stakeholder group meetings, and development of task forces and advisory groups.

July 21 - 30, 2020:  Our administration teams have been busy working towards the development of our re-opening plans for 2020-21 alongside our advisory groups and task force groups. Many steps have been taken as we work towards the creation of a re-opening plan, including stakeholder meetings and additional follow up surveys.

July 29, 2020:  Board of Education review of draft Attestation plan due to New York State

July 31, 2020:  Re-Opening Plan is due to New York State, roll-out plan to staff, families and community.

First Week of August, 2020:  Await review of Draft Re-Opening plan from NYS and announcement on school’s re-opening from NYS Governor’s Office

Ongoing:  Continuous planning to prepare for school and communication

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Our Priority is Safety

The Elmira City School District has engaged school stakeholders and community members in developing our re-opening plan. The following participants have been incredibly insightful in helping to develop the plan. We will continue to rely on their input as we further develop our plans for fall.

Administrators, Teachers, Nurses, Secretaries, Aides, Cleaners, Bus Drivers, Mechanics, Cafeteria, Union Leadership, Chemung County Executive, Chemung County Health Director, Community Schools partners, Data Services, staff and family/student surveys, School Physician, Family Community Outreach Coordinators(building parent reps), Board of Education, and BOCES Regional Superintendent group

Key Priorities and Focus Areas of Planning

• Health and Safety
• Instructional Continuity
• Communications

Feedback from our parents, students and staff helped to guide and shape the re-opening approach across all facets of planning.

The Advisory Groups and Task Force Groups included: Administrators, Teachers, Nurses, Secretaries, Aides, Cleaners, Bus Drivers, Mechanics, Cafeteria, Union Leadership, Chemung County Executive, Chemung County Health Director, Community Schools partners, Data Services, staff and family/student surveys, School Physician, Family Community Outreach Coordinators(building parent reps), Board of Education, and BOCES Regional Superintendent group The Elmira City School District has designated a COVID-19 safety coordinator whose responsibilities include continuous compliance with all aspects of the school’s reopening plan, as well as any phased-in reopening activities necessary to allow for operational issues to be resolved before activities return to normal or “new normal” levels.

Executive Oversight Director: Hillary J. Austin, Superintendent of Schools
The District Coordinator: Dominic Insogna, Health Safety and Environmental Compliance
Communication Coordinator: Beth Manwaring, Public Information Coordinator

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Voice and Vision: Parent, Student and Staff Feedback Matters

In preparation for effective planning in each key area of work, it was critical to receive feedback from our families and staff regarding their experiences during school closure in the spring and feedback on concerns and needs as we plan for the fall with a lens of continuous improvement.

Families and staff were surveyed in mid-July:

• ECSD Parent and Student Survey - 2016 participants
(July 9-15, 2020)
• Faculty and Staff Survey - 208 participants
(July 13-20, 2020)

Families and staff were surveyed again, as a follow-up regarding a HYBRID model of learning, July 24 – 27, 2020:

• Faculty and Staff Survey - 472 participants
• ECSD Parent and Student Survey - 1391 participants