Published for the Arts Based School Community
January 28, 2021
ReOpening School Plans
The Arts Based School Board of Directors voted unanimously to stay in Remote Learning-Plan C until March 19, 2021. The Board will consider the options again on March 9, 2021.
How Do I Stay Up to Date with School ReOpening Plans?
We’re doing our best to keep ABS families, staff and community updated with the latest information about our School ReOpening. We will continue to provide information in multiple places, including direct email, Thursday Notes and Virtual Parent Meetings. If you have specific topics, or questions, please send them to us at this form so we can be sure to address them. Form to submit questions.
The ABS Executive Committee and Board of Directors uses regularly updated data about the safety of our staff and students, to make decisions about reopening school. While we are analytical and attentive to facts and realities, we want to acknowledge that we are also deeply aware of the facts and realities of our families’ daily lives. This time is hard on everyone. We are deeply sorry that some of our families are experiencing such prolonged challenges. We want to open school as soon as possible, and in a manner that is safe, effective, and brings our students back into positive, interactive, in-person classes.
Below are answers to some of the frequently asked questions we hear from our families.
Q1: What are the requirements that must be met for school to reopen? Are they based on metrics, vaccine availability, teacher comfort?
A1: We have consistently discussed the 7 major guideposts below that inform and influence our decision. We are reluctant to tie the reopening decision to absolutely meeting one or more of the specific thresholds because doing so could prevent ABS from reopening at a time when we believe that a safe return to school is possible. This would be a situation in which the community is approaching those thresholds, but they have not quite been met at the point of decision making.
The Seven Major Guideposts
- Community Spread The CDC has listed a “moderate” risk of spread in schools at a positivity rate of 5 - 8% (county-wide). Forsyth County is currently 20.9% (Jan 26). The CDC has listed a “moderate” risk of spread in schools at a rate of 20-50 cases per 100,000. Forsyth County currently has 942 cases per 100,000 (Jan 26). At the point of reopening, we would like these metrics to be significantly trending down toward the moderate risk numbers.
- Teachers and Staffing are operating with an average number of 4-6 teachers in quarantine at a time right now. This number is likely to go up if we reopen now, based on community spread metrics. In Plan C, (remote learning only,) many teachers are able to work in quarantine without need of a sub. Shortages of substitute teachers are being reported, county-wide. We would like to limit the number of new adults interacting with students, both for consistency of instruction and health safety. There are very limited possible subs among our current employees. The Executive Committee has suggested the addition of a part-time school nurse position to support COVID safety and protocol.
- Other Schools in the community and regional private and charter schools are of interest. We are examining the successes, setbacks and approaches of other schools in our area, not only as possible examples, but also with consideration that some of our families will have children attending these schools. We aim to avoid opening and closing repeatedly, as has happened in some schools. Here is a list of schools in our area that are open and closed right now. NC School Opening Decisions
- Facility Safety. To assist us in opening safely, we have purchased a new air filtration system for the entire school which was installed in the fall. Also helping us open, construction is underway for two new large classrooms in the courtyard area. Challenges to opening include limited outdoor space and windows that do not open. ABS’ policy is to keep exterior classroom doors closed, to maintain building security.
- Quality of Education. Test scores have gone down nationally. Happily, our scores have stayed consistent, sometimes rising. We have the teachers, students, and remote learning helpers to thank for their flexibility and resilience in making this possible. We want to make sure that when we return in-person, our instructional level is maintained or increased, even though there will be many barriers—literally in the form of masks, screens, distancing, and simultaneous classroom instruction and remote instruction.
- Emotional and Psychological Impact. We are aware of the emotional and psychological toll that the pandemic, and school closing, has had on our community and our ABS families. We are absolutely committed to opening school and returning to in-person learning when we can do so safely. We are reading and paying attention to the literature regarding the harm to children caused by not being in school. That information informs and will continue to influence our decisions. If your child is suffering, please reach out to his/her teacher, a school counselor or the administration for assistance.
The Parent Council is conducting an independent survey for parents. Please take a few minutes to share your view. PC Parent Survey - Vaccine Availability. The more teachers, parents, and caregivers who are vaccinated, the more safely we can open our school. Fortunately and unfortunately, the vaccine is within our grasp, but knowing exactly when ABS teachers will be able to access it is not. By opening up priority to those over age 65 before teachers, Winston Salem has added 55,000 recipients before teachers. We are doing everything we can to stay up to date with vaccine availability information. Parents who would like to support the case for priority teacher vaccination may call or write your local elected officials.
Q2: Does the school have a detailed plan for reopening when the numbers come down? Examples: Utilizing outdoor spaces, requiring masks, requiring the community to commit to CDC best practices, PPE for staff, strategically placing students in classrooms for maximum distance, etc.?
A2: There have been multiple detailed plans.
- In August, there was a detailed Plan B (hybrid) that involved two cohorts, but this changed when we moved to Plan C (fully remote.)
- The state only allows for Plan A (fully in-person) in grades K-5, so the administration is currently working on a three-plan reentry. Plan A/B/C would allow families to opt for either A/B or C. The goal will be to offer the best education within safety guidelines for A/Bs, while also not compromising the quality of remote learning for Cs. This is a lot to ask of teachers, and we are studying other programs’ successes and failures. Depending on the percentage of families choosing A/B, this means that in-person classes would not be guaranteed to be socially distanced. We will require masks, have PPE for staff, and do our best. We have discussed how to use outdoor spaces, weather permitting. However, we do not have enough space to accommodate learning areas for 24 classrooms of students. We would use outdoor spaces for recess, lunch, and breaks, weather permitting.
Q3: Has there been any consideration of splitting the school and staff into two groups: those who want safe, in-person learning and those who want to learn/teach from home for the remainder of the year?
A3: Yes, but we do not have an even distribution across all grades of family and staff preferences. We will endeavor to make the best decision we can as soon as we can to accommodate the needs of those who want in-person learning and those who desire to continue remote learning.
Q4: Can a plan be designed for children who need to be back in school for either mental health, academics, or lack of community options for care?
A4: This group of children is the group whose families will opt for in-person learning. If we are able to bring this group of students on campus, then we are able to implement in-person learning.
Q5: Could a plan for (K-2, K-3, K-4, 8, etc…) be considered if all grades aren’t capable of returning?
A5: We are tentatively planning for a rapidly phased re-entry of all grades between March 23rd and April 6th if the board votes to re-open at that time.
Q6: Have any infectious disease experts or MDs in our community been consulted on the decision to open vs. remain closed?
A6: The Executive committee uses the guidance from the NC Department of Health and Human Services, The Forsyth County Department of Public Health, and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for data and resources regarding the safety of reopening schools.
Q7: How is the board factoring in President Biden’s push to have all schools open within 100 days?
A7: We are hoping that the metrics will allow us to return before that deadline.
Q8: Will we have an opportunity to choose for our children based on what reopened school looks like?
A8: Yes. All families will have the option to stay remote (Plan C) until the end of the school year. When we reopen, faculty and staff will not have this option. We will need a commitment from parents about whether they will continue with remote learning or return to in-person learning, soon after the vote to reopen.
Q9: Are school staff members who vote to stay closed also committed to CDC protocol at home?
A9: No staff members are able to vote to stay remote. Only board members are able to vote on reopening plans. The school is not allowed to dictate staff or families’ activities outside of school.
Q10: What is the number of families who have left ABS during this school year? How does it compare to the attrition in previous school years?
A10: 3.4% of our families have transferred this year. Some have transferred to traditional public schools. Some have transitioned to homeschooling. Some have enrolled in private schools. Over the years, this number has fluctuated between 0.7% to 5.9%.
Q11: What are the consequences for families if they send their child to school knowing someone in the household is active COVID+?
A11: When we open for in-person learning, there will be criteria for coming to school. ABS will not have the resources to investigate specific cases. The CDC states that people must quarantine for 10 days after a positive test and that family members who do not test positive must quarantine for 10 days after their positive family member tests negative or from the family member’s 10 day mark (minimum 20 days from family member +test). For this reason, ABS will continue to offer Plan C, and hopes that the community will rise to the responsibility.
Q12: Have there been discussions around extended school year or summer school?
A12: The State has already increased the number of school days for all NC public schools from 180 days to 185 days. Last summer, federal and state funds were available to provide remediation to eligible students through the JumpStart program. We anticipate funding will be made available for additional remediation of student learning to compensate for Learning Loss due to the Pandemic. We do not have details about this funding yet, but will need additional funding to pay for staff and teachers in a summer program.
Q13: When is the last day of school?
A13: The last day of school is June 9. We had to convert June 8 and 9 to remote learning days to meet the State’s added requirements for this school year.
Attendance Letters Sent Out
Although we have added some flexibility to our attendance regulations during remote learning, we are still required to report attendance to the State and inform parents of excessive absences. Notices were sent to families this week via email. On remote learning days, daily attendance will be taken in the student information system, PowerSchool.
A student is considered present for daily attendance during a remote learning day:
- If a student completes his/her daily assignments, either online or offline; or
- If a student has a daily check-in, a two-way communication, with the appropriate teacher(s)
Students will check-in with his/her teacher for attendance purposes before 11am on his/her learning management system (Google Classrooms/SeeSaw). Teachers will record attendance in Powerschool by 3:30pm each day. Students will not receive tardies during remote learning.
Teachers and counselors will check in with students who do not maintain regular attendance.
Progress Reports
Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 receive letter grades in addition to comments on their narrative reports at the end of each trimester. This allows our older students to learn how grades are earned and calculated before they leave ABS for high school. Our 7th and 8th grade students receive progress reports halfway through each trimester so parents and students can see their grades up to that point. This allows time for missing assignments to be completed and submitted and makes it possible for plans to be made for any students who may need extra help with something. Progress reports are not "official" grades in that they do not go into a student's academic file and are not shared with high schools or anyone else. Of course, teachers communicate with students and families throughout the trimester as needed and any parent with questions about their child's progress can get an update at any time by contacting the teacher directly. We do recognize that Remote Learning has added an extra layer of challenges in completing and submitting assignments. These progress reports can alert parents and students of missing assignments.
Student Intent for 2021-22 School Year
As we prepare for next year’s enrollment lottery (2021-22), it is important to know how many spaces are available in each grade. As a current student, your child has priority placement and no additional action is required. If your child is not returning to ABS for the 2021-22 school year, please notify Stephanie LeFever at [email protected]
Siblings of students also receive priority, but must fill out an enrollment application. You must complete an application for the 2021-22 school year for siblings of current students in order to reserve a space before the lottery. The deadline for receiving applications is Jan 31 at 3pm. Please click here to submit an enrollment application.
YEARBOOK SALES ARE ONLINE
We may be virtual, but we are still making lots of memories. And, this one will be a year to remember for sure! Make sure you have a copy of our 2020-2021 ABS Yearbook by ordering online today. Deadline to order is April 15.
The cost is just $22 and the link is https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/search/FMYB106312 . You can also find the link on the ABS Family Portal of our website.
If you have any photos of your student participating in remote learning to share for the yearbook, please send them to Sherri Carter, at [email protected] and please include the grade and teacher name of your student. Thank you!
Prospective Parents’ Information
Due to the COVID pandemic we are unable to offer school tours for prospective parents this year. Parents interested in learning more about ABS and how to enroll their child will find information on our website. Applications are now being accepted. The lottery will be held on February 9th via Zoom at 4pm.
MAP Testing in February
Third through eighth grade students will complete the second round of MAP testing February 8-17, 2021. After the testing is complete, parents will receive an updated score report showing the progress your student has made this year.
Board Member Nominations
The ABS Board nominating committee is now accepting applications to serve on the ABS Board of Directors. To learn more about Board member expectations and responsibilities, please read the performance expectations outlined here. Interested candidates should complete and submit signed application forms by January 31st. The skill sets we’re hoping to fulfill include expertise in accounting/finance, real estate, and facilities.