The Morris School District plans to alternate in-school and virtual instruction–one day in school, one day at home–for students of Morristown High School and the Frelinghuysen Middle School this fall.
Half the student body of each school will attend on alternating days, with six-foot social distancing, under this plan.
Full-day in-school instruction will resume at all seven K-5 schools, with social distancing.
The district still awaits state guidance on how and when to re-open Pre-K classes.
Superintendent Mackey Pendergrast intends to present more detailed plans to the regional school board at its July 20, 2020, meeting. Parents are being asked to complete a survey by July 15, on the district website.
Here is Friday’s update from the superintendent:
PLEASE READ THIS UPDATE IN ITS ENTIRETY
AND COMPLETE AN IMPORTANT SURVEY AT THE END.
The following information builds on our June 29 communication and outlines what we have established to date regarding school reentry plans for Fall 2020. We understand that families are anxious to receive all the details necessary to begin their own planning, and we appreciate your patience and partnership throughout this complex process. We continue to assemble the multiple components of our plan piece by piece, taking the time to consider all variables methodically and to consult broadly. We are confident that the system we create for reopening will be flexible and sustainable so that we can scale up if health conditions improve or scale back if we need to.
- PreK: We are waiting for additional guidance on reopening preschools from the NJ Department of Education before we can proceed further with our plans. We expect to be able to provide you with our definitive direction by the end of next week.
- Grades K-5: We have the capacity to hold full-day, in-person instruction for all students each day in our seven elementary schools while maintaining six feet of social distancing in each class. The Sunrise/Sunset program will be offered. As our plans continue to take shape and we incorporate feedback from our stakeholders, we will share the details of what the school day schedule and protocols will look like.
- Grades 6-12: We have the capacity at the middle and high schools to hold in-person instruction for 50% of the student body at one time while maintaining six feet of social distancing. Therefore, both FMS and MHS will adopt an alternating schedule whereby each day 50% of their respective student bodies will attend in-person instruction in the school building while the other 50% engage in a virtual learning experience at home; the following day, the two groups will reverse. Through this alternating schedule, each student will have a day of in-school learning followed by a day of virtual learning. Once again, as our plans continue to take shape and we incorporate feedback from our stakeholders, we will share the details of what the school day schedule and protocols will look like.
- Next Steps for MSD Forward:
- Review survey data (see below)
- Finalize plans for transportation
- Amplify building-level dialogue and feedback
- Continue to research, examine and prepare all logistical aspects of school reentry: cleaning protocols, health screening, outdoor learning spaces, arrival and dismissal procedures, hygiene practices, policy development, etc.
- Continue to shape format of PreK-12 in-person instruction with stakeholder input
- Create all-virtual pathways for students who cannot attend in-person instruction for health or other reasons
- July 20 Board of Education meeting: Superintendent Pendergrast will present the most up-to-date information on reentry plans
- Convene Restart Committee (end of July) with representatives from all stakeholder groups. This committee will meet leading up to September’s reopening and throughout the fall to discuss issues related to our instructional and operational innovations and their implementation. We are fortunate to have well-established and highly productive relationships with our Teachers’ Association, Board of Education, HSAs, Parent Advisory Groups, and community groups from which to draw.
- Design and deliver summer professional development for MSD faculty and staff
- Hold community wide forums: Superintendent Pendergrast will address the evolving details and answer questions (prior to August 3)
- Share final reentry plan with the community (by August 3)
- PLEASE COMPLETE AN IMPORTANT SURVEY. The Morris School District values the input of our families as we prepare for schools to reopen in September. We appreciate all of the feedback you have shared with us through our Virtual Learning Survey (April), Community Needs Survey (June), and open-ended Google Form (June), as well as through individual public comments and questions at our virtual Board of Education meetings and in email exchanges.
Certain aspects of our reentry plan will depend on family interest level, and knowing your anticipated preferences at this time will be of great help to us as we continue to develop options that best match our students’ and families’ needs. We have crafted a short survey for grades K-5 and grades 6-12 in order to better understand your thoughts about transportation and virtual learning options for elementary and middle/high school students.
Please click on the appropriate link below to complete our Family Interest-Level Survey, based on the information you currently have regarding your family’s situation and public health conditions; to be sure, these things may change over the next two months. PLEASE NOTE: The answers you provide do not represent a commitment on your part to any specific option cited in the survey. Rather, the overall sentiment of our community will assist our planning and decision-making as we move the MSD forward.
Additionally, if you would like to share any suggestions, concerns, or questions with us, please send an email to: contactus@msdk12.net with the subject line “FALL 2020.”
Kindly complete one Family Interest-Level Survey for each child enrolled in the Morris School District. Please submit your surveys by Wednesday, July 15.
