During the meeting on August 3, the Bondurant-Farrar Board of Education approved the district’s recommendation to begin the 2020-21 school year in the Hybrid Learning Model. This approach includes alternating students between on-site and off-site learning so that schools can operate at 50% capacity, allowing for increased social distancing and mitigation steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The Hybrid Learning Model will be utilized through the first quarter which ends on October 27, unless the district is directed to switch to the online-only model by the state. For additional information, please review the Hybrid Model Reference Guide.  

To accommodate families who do not feel comfortable with the Hybrid Learning Model, Bondurant-Farrar will provide a Virtual Instruction Only option for students in grades K-12. Regardless of which option families choose, all students must be registered for the upcoming school year.  

REGISTRATION PROCESS: The first day of school is August 17, 2020. The deadline for re-enrollment and payment is Friday, August 7, 2020. Teacher assignments/class schedules will not be made available until the re-enrollment process is complete. To register, sign into your Infinite Campus Parent Portal.  If you would like to enroll your child in the Virtual Instruction Only option, there is a second step to the registration process (see below).

VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION ONLY: Virtual instruction will begin the week of August 24, 2020. The deadline to commit to the Virtual Instruction Only option is Monday, August 10 at 4PM. This will allow the district time to prepare. After re-enrolling your student(s) via Infinite Campus, families must then complete the required sign-up form to indicate that you are choosing the virtual option. Please note, the completed form must be on file in the district office by 4PM on August 10, 2020 in order to participate.  

With questions regarding the enrollment process OR if your family is not returning to Bondurant-Farrar, please contact our district registrar via email at robyh@bfschools.org.

For additional information regarding our Return To Learn plans, please visit our website at www.bfschools.org/coronavirus or contact your child’s building administrators.

Thank you,

The Bondurant-Farrar Administrative Team

Due to the general trend of positive cases in Polk County, the district has decided, pending board approval on August 3rd, to start the school year using the Hybrid Learning Model. This approach will include alternating students between on-site and off-site learning so that schools can operate at 50% capacity.

Click here to view the full message from our administrative team.

Last week the district shared information regarding our possible approach to Return To Learn and sought input regarding the recommendation to require personal protective equipment (PPE) for students and staff when social distancing was not possible. We would like to thank everyone that took the time to provide feedback, the high response rate and comments helped the board and administration truly understand your wants and how this decision impacts families. 

 

Of the 488 electronic responses, 66.6% of respondents indicated that they are in support of the required PPE. This feedback, including comments, was compiled and shared publicly with our Board of Education last night during a board meeting where in-person feedback was also welcome. Following comments and discussion, the Board of Education took action on the recommendation, voting in favor of required masks or face shields for students and staff in an effort to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. One key theme of the survey was there is a wide range of perspectives related to this topic. We recognize that regardless of the learning model selected or procedures adopted, not everyone will agree.

 

A decision on the learning model to begin the school year will be made by August 3, 2020. We must anticipate there may be conditions throughout the school year that cause the learning model to change. Realistically, with the current trend of COVID-19 cases on the rise, we must be prepared to shift to our Hybrid learning model. While in Hybrid, students would attend class on-site twice a week and the other days would be virtual. Attendance would be taken on the days students are on-site.  

 

Hybrid Learning Model:

Monday

No on-site learning would occur on Mondays. Teachers would use Mondays to create online learning opportunities, which will include videos of instruction for students to view at home. Teachers would also use Mondays to meet in learning teams as part of the BFCSD professional learning community, as well as to respond to emails or calls from students and parents. Students would be learning virtually and working on materials provided by teachers.

Tuesday-Friday

Approximately, half of all students would attend on-site and the other half of students would be learning virtually. While off-site, students would be working on materials provided by teachers. To better prepare families for the Hybrid model, principals will be working to determine which days students would attend on-site learning (T/TH or W/F). Students from the same family will be attending on the same day.

 

To ensure we have an opportunity to address questions that may arise as we work through challenges, we ask that you please utilize an electronic form to submit questions (https://forms.gle/C4hFrb76pELAeZqX6). This form, as well as answers to frequently asked questions, will be posted on our website at www.bfschools.org/coronavirus.

We are following up on our Return To Learn letter that was shared yesterday. The Board of Education would like to provide an electronic opportunity for families to submit feedback regarding the recommendation of required personal protective equipment (face shields \ masks) for students and staff when social distancing is not practical. Please note, depending on local health conditions schools may be required to shift from in-person to virtual learning at any moment.  

 

The Board of Education has always welcomed public attendance and will continue to provide the opportunity to address the Board in-person. However, not everyone will be able to attend in person due to space limitations. For those attending, we request face shields/masks.  

 

Electronic comments will be reviewed prior to acting on this agenda item during the July 13, 2020 meeting. Your perspective is valued. Please consider sharing your comments here: https://forms.gle/D1jk6CxpwZPKrdrH7. 

Staff and Families, 

 

COVID-19 and the related public health guidelines are all everchanging, therefore we are hesitant to finalize our plans this early knowing they will likely change. Below is a link to the summary of our current Return To Learn plan with the three possible learning models. After the July board meeting, we will post the complete plan on our website and share it via email. As the situation evolves and guidance changes, our Return To Learn plan may be adjusted. At this time, our intention is to begin the school year on August 17 with option #1 below, on-site learning at full capacity. We feel strongly that on-site learning is best for students and staff, yet we cannot ignore that the threat of this virus remains. We must anticipate there may be outbreaks that cause us to change from on-site learning and encourage families to plan for each learning model. Please know we will utilize the learning model that works best for the circumstances present at the time of an outbreak.

 

The district team utilizes guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health, the Center for Disease Control, and the Iowa Department of Education as primary resources in our process. There are differing viewpoints on health and safety precautions which makes a universally accepted decision unlikely.

 

A summary of possible learning models: (Click to view plan)

1. On-site Learning: A traditional classroom setting with additional health and safety procedures.
2. Hybrid Learning: (On-site/Online Combo) The schedule would consist of students attending class on-site twice a week (The days a student attends would be based on last name/family units). The other three days would be virtual.
3. Online Learning: Required Continuous Learning where students learn virtually with attendance being taken.

 

Related Items:

• Lunch procedures will be modified for safety, details will vary by building.
• Elementary recess and related arts (P.E. art, music) will continue with minor adjustments.
• The district is undecided on whether masks will be required or highly encouraged in schools. We feel starting with face shields\masks required may be wise in an effort to reduce the risk for students and staff. If even a small number of our teachers or support staff are unable to work, we will likely be forced to close or move from on-site learning to another model. We will have a definite decision by early August regarding shields/masks. 

 

On behalf of our leadership team and our board of education, we ask for flexibility and patience as we work to find ways to provide the safest environment for our staff and students. 

Regards,

 

Rich Powers

Superintendent

Last week the district reached out seeking input regarding a proposed change to the 2020-21 school calendar that would add five additional days. We would like to thank everyone that took time to provide feedback, the high response rate helps us truly understand your wants and how this decision impacts families.

Of the 386 electronic responses, 77.2% of respondents indicated that they are in support of the proposed change. This feedback, including comments, was compiled and shared with our Board of Education tonight during a public hearing where in-person feedback regarding the calendar was also welcome. Following the hearing, the Board of Education took action on the proposal, voting in favor of an August 17 start date. The newly revised 2020-21 school calendar can be viewed here.

We’d like to provide information regarding how these additional days will be used and the district's overall approach at closing potential learning gaps.

In May, teachers identified the essential Iowa Core Standards that were not directly taught due to our school closure and then met in vertical teams to discuss. Through this collaboration, our teachers developed plans to collect initial data at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year that will determine student learning needs. An additional week with students will allow our teachers to accelerate learning and spend the three weeks prior to Labor Day closing gaps on the identified essential standards that continue to build into the next grade or content area class. The goal is not to try to re-teach all of the standards that weren’t taught in-person last year, but instead ensure students have the baseline knowledge needed to build upon going forward in the 2020-21 school year.

Additionally, teachers and counselors will also work to identity and address any social or emotional needs of students. Time will be set aside each day during those first few weeks to foster community with students and build relationships.

As indicated in our note last week, and after reviewing survey responses, we understand an earlier start date will cause schedule issues for some families. Our staff is committed to working with individual families through these challenges to ensure each student's needs are met. We are asking families to continue to be flexible and understanding as the district navigates these challenges. With questions regarding specific needs, we encourage families to reach out to your student's building principal.

Last month, Governor Reynolds signed a proclamation allowing school districts to begin the school year before August 23, 2020. The District recognizes this pandemic has significantly impacted our students, staff, and community. As a result of our time away this year, we feel it would be beneficial to provide our students with additional time in the upcoming school year to help identify and work toward closing potential learning gaps. 

 

In an effort to better support students, the District, along with the Bondurant-Farrar Educator’s Association (BFEA), are proposing revisions to the 2020-2021 school calendar by adding five student contact days. Under this plan, the first day with students would be Monday, August 17, 2020. (Click here to view the proposed calendar.) 

 

When surveyed, 90% of our teachers agreed with the calendar change. This support demonstrates the strong commitment our teachers have for our students. Additionally, we want to acknowledge our teachers who collaborated with hard, diligent work to put together great remote learning opportunities for our students during the extended closure. Our buildings were closed, but learning continued.

 

Before the board can consider this recommendation, we are asking for feedback from our families to share with the board. Understanding some families may not wish to attend the meeting in person, an electronic form is available for feedback. (Click here to submit feedback electronically.) Responses are due by June 15 at noon. If you wish to appear in person, the public hearing will be held during the school board meeting on June 15, beginning at 5pm in the library at the high school. Please note the location change due to construction.

 

We understand an August 17 start date may cause schedule issues for some families. In the event this change is approved, staff will work directly with families whose students are unable to attend the additional week. We anticipate a board decision to be made on June 15 and results will be communicated after the meeting.

(July 24, 2020) We believe this option will have the fewest school closures due to the ability to social distance in each classroom. At full capacity, one positive test would require multiple students to all be quarantined for 14-days. At the secondary level, this would cause a significant amount of students to be impacted. In the Hybrid approach only the person testing positive will be excluded. 

We have already experienced multiple student and staff positive cases with our summer athletics and off-season training. The Hybrid approach would allow students to routinely attend school on an alternating schedule and would be best educationally as well as health wise.

(July 24, 2020) We have NOT been given a firm number by the Polk County Department of Health. We are required to report when absences are greater than 5%.

(July 24, 2020) When a positive test result occurs with a student or staff member we consult the Polk County Department of Health and follow their recommendations. The first question is, determining who has been within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more. If someone meets that criteria, they are quarinteended for 14 days. That action is subject to change from Polk County Department of Health.

(July 15, 2020) Optional online learning is being considered but no decision has been made. We are not yet large enough to have a dedicated team in place already for online learning. We will need to assess if there is enough interest to shift a teacher at each grade level to handle online learning. We hope to have a decision made soon.

(July 15, 2020) Students in grades 6-12 are issued a district Chromebook for use throughout the school year, regardless of the learning model. For our elementary aged students the district would provide students with a Chromebook if they don't have a device at home. We should have enough devices in stock to meet the needs of our students. 

(July 14, 2020) Plastic shields, cloth masks, 2-ply lycra neck gators are all acceptable. They are required when social distancing is not possible. We all understand it will be a process for kids to adjust. We hope to build in breaks from make for students and staff during the day. This may look like a socially distanced walk outside for a few minutes, for example. 

(July 14, 2020) We are looking very carefully at this and are giving strong consideration to starting in a hybrid or even the on-line model. There are many unknowns regarding COVID 19 and things seem to change daily. We are working to solidify a firm decision on exactly which model we will begin school with. This information will be shared out very soon so that parents and staff can begin planning.

(July 14, 2020) The Return to Learn plan is for PK-12 grade students. If we were to go to the Hybrid Model or Virtual Model, preschool will also follow the same procedure. 

(July 14, 2020) A mask or face shield is only required when social distancing is not possible. Additionally, students riding on in a school bus or van will be required to wear a face mask or shield.