Holmdel Schools Release Fall 2020 Reopening Plan

HOLMDEL, NJ –In the latest fall update from Holmdel Township Schools, interim superintendent Dr. Lee Seitz revealed a draft of the latest reopening measures at a board of education meeting on Aug. 11. The plan proudly meets all standards required by the New Jersey Department of Education from a “public health and safety perspective, as well as a curriculum and instruction perspective,” according to a summary posted to the district website.

Like many other Monmouth County school districts, Holmdel Public Schools will be offering two learning options when students return on Sept. 14:

A hybrid model will provide general education students with two days of in-person schooling and two days of virtual instruction. All students enrolled in preschool through grade 12 will be offered the hybrid learning model until full-time, in-person teaching can recommence.

For in-person learners, each classroom will be split into two cohorts (a Blue Team and Silver Team). Each team will alternate in-person and virtual classes on weekdays.

Parents may also request that their child learn exclusively in a virtual setting. More details are slated to follow next week, according to district documents.

The school district is currently “exploring” a modified hybrid model that would extend the four-hour school day with additional virtual classes in the afternoon. The proposed plan would significantly increase instructional time for students “without the need to provide lunch or any additional cost to the district,” per the summary.

“The Holmdel School District understands the importance of opening schools to our students in September 2020,” the summary detailing the Holmdel School District Restart Plan reads.

“A great deal of work has been done over the summer to prepare a plan to provide a safe, supportive learning environment for our students, teachers and staff. The Board of Education has made significant financial investments to support the safe reopening of schools ... These measures are funded from FEMA, The CARES Act, District’s capital and maintenance reserve funds and referendum funds.”

Here are some other measures that the school district has outlined in the plan:

Face Masks
All students and staff will be required to wear face coverings when in school and surrounding environments. Those seeking to not wear a mask due to a medical condition must request an accommodation.

Cleaning
Holmdel Public Schools has purchased additional equipment to accommodate hand washing and hand sanitizing protocol throughout the school day. Staff and students will be encouraged to continuously wash hands.

“Holmdel was able to provide health and safety measures … that go above the minimum recommended by the State and exceed what many other school districts can do to address Corvid 19,” reads the Reopening Plan presentation.

The district has also adopted cleaning policies that “exceed” New Jersey and Center For Disease Control guidelines, including the implementation of bipolarionization filtration units in HVAC systems and ultraviolet lighting in each classroom.

Exposure
Students or staff who have been exposed to the virus or display COVID-19 symptoms will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days and submit a medical note upon their return to school.

Related: Holmdel High School Basketball Player Tests Positive For COVID-19

Curriculum
All student assignments will be posted to Google Classroom and on Google Calendar. At the beginning of each instructional period, all students will receive a 10-15 minute check-in. This period will be used to take attendance, review key concepts and explain the day’s activities for both in-person and remote learners. The remainder of class time will be spent with students working on differentiated activities or assessments, which may or may not be live streamed.

Students in grades 9 through 12 will follow an eight period schedule. During virtual days, high school students will maintain the same schedule.

Screening
Students and staff will have their temperatures checked each day when entering school facilities. Any individual with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will be immediately escorted into an isolation until arrangements can be made for the person to leave the building.

Transportation
Arrival and departure times will be staggered between various buildings in order to accommodate parents who must pick up multiple children. Face coverings will be required on buses, with each bus set to be cleaned and disinfected before and after each route.

Parents have the option of waiving transportation via documentation available on the PowerSchool Parent portal.

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