Public, private institutions adopt different strategies to keep students, staff safe

By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(Sept. 24, 2020) Public and private schools in Worcester County are adapting to new safety protocols to allow for in-person instruction, as the covid-19 pandemic continues to spread, although at a slower pace.

Nearly 18 percent of public school students will return for in-person instruction on Monday after three weeks of virtual learning.

“Each of our schools have been tasked with setting up three to four groups of kids, starting with our Tier 2 and Tier 3,” Superintendent Lou Taylor said. “Tier 2 and Tier 3 means not only kids that have certain educational needs but also kids who may have some [internet connectivity] issues where they live.”

There will be some variation in the number of students returning to the 14 schools in the county system.

With concern for the health and safety of students and employees, classroom sizes will be decreased.

“We have to keep in mind the recommendations by the CDC, and we have an educational plan in place to return that our state department (of education) has approved,” Taylor said. “We want to make sure we keep the social distancing of six feet in mind. All kids and all staff will be wearing masks. Also, we will take many hygiene breaks of handwashing.”

All the local public schools have identified traffic patterns in the hallways to enforce social distancing.

Also, a local business has donated face shields for many employees and students.

Taylor added that the schools will not be conducting daily temperature screenings. However, as most of the employees have already returned to campus, they complete daily questionnaires as part of check-ins.

“If all goes well, every two weeks, we’ll reevaluate where we are,” Taylor said. “I’m sure we’ll have to make some adjustments on the fly.”

Taylor said a date has yet to be set for the beginning of Stage Three of the Responsible Return model, which will bring students back for hybrid learning in an alternating week schedule.

“That will all be determined by how well we’re handling this pandemic nationally and in our county,” Taylor said. “Our health department is our key partner right now in making sure that our kids and teachers stay safe. I met with the health department leadership team last Thursday with part of my leadership team. We all feel very good about where we are today.”

Roughly 6,800 students are currently enrolled in the county’s public schools, some of which have opted to continue distance learning for the fall.

“We want everybody to feel safe. We want everybody to have an environment for learning that’s conducive to how they want to live,” Taylor said.

Although there are no designated areas for outdoor classrooms, Taylor said teachers are permitted to take students outside where it is safe and conducive for learning.

The school system also is adjusting to social distancing requirements on buses.

“We’re allowed one kid per seat, so our bus drivers are going to be moving around a little more than normal. They may have to make more than one run,” Taylor said.

As a result of staggering buses on the north end of Worcester County, Taylor said school hours have been slightly modified, but there has not been a significant increase in time at any school.

A petition has been made to the Worcester County Board of Education to retract the extension of school hours. Some parents say the later dismissals could prevent children from participating in extracurricular activities.

Worcester Preparatory School is in its fourth week of school with about 95 percent of its student population engaged in in-person instruction.

Dr. John McDonald Jr., the head of school, said the number of students participating in virtual learning for the first term is decreasing.

More than 440 students are enrolled in Worcester Preparatory between prekindergarten and 12th grade.

Since students have returned to the South Main Street campus in Berlin, Worcester Preparatory has implemented safety measures to protect students and employees. These health-safety steps include installing desk dividers and plexiglass dividers for the teachers to stand behind during instruction as well as using air scrubbers to aid and filter the ventilation inside.

Teachers are also using 11 different outdoor classroom spaces for fresh air.

Every morning, students’ temperatures are taken as they exit their vehicles or the buses. After temperature screenings, students head directly to their classrooms.

All students and employees are required to wear masks.

McDonald said he is proud of students for not complaining about the enforcement of face coverings throughout the school day.

In addition, classroom sizes have been decreased to permit social distancing of six feet in every direction, McDonald said.

With the limitations on classroom sizes, the school library has been transformed into three different classrooms.

McDonald expressed his gratitude for teachers who are teaching additional sections because of the decreased classroom sizes and doing more lesson planning for students who are still engaged in virtual learning.

He added that there is a waitlist for most grades at this time.

As of Tuesday morning, there had been no instances of the coronavirus or positive tests at the private school, McDonald said.

Kathleen Manns, the principal of Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, also said no positive coronavirus tests have been reported at this time.

She added that students have adjusted well to the safety protocols since they returned to campus on Sept. 8.

“Basically, we spent the first four days working with the kids, teaching them proper handwashing techniques [and] teaching them what six feet looks like,” Manns said. “We have signage on the floor like footprints that are six feet apart for them to line up on.”

Parent Rick Deale worked with Creative Assemblies in Bridgeville, Delaware, and Arena Signs in Lewes, Delaware, to supply the school with touchless hand-sanitizing stations, Manns added.

All students must wear masks inside the parochial school on Racetrack Road in Berlin and outside if social distancing cannot be maintained.

“This new way of life has given us the opportunity to think ‘outside’ of the box,” Manns said. “Children need time outdoors to recharge and move. It has been proven to help in their academic and physical development. We are now offering a lot more freedom for teachers to instruct outside in the fresh air. These are changes that will stay with our school community long after covid-19 is memory.”

She added that an area in the rear of the building has been designated as an outdoor classroom for small groups of students.

Amanda Evans, the director of admissions and advancement at Most Blessed Sacrament, said the campus sits on 22 acres and offers many opportunities for outdoor learning.

Students were also provided Most Blessed Sacrament cinch bags to fill with supplies for outdoor learning, such as a beach towel, a hat, sunglasses, pens, pencils and a clipboard.

As the weather changes, Manns added that she will instruct parents to pack items like gloves and winter hats.

Manns also expressed gratitude for Ed and Stephanie Rohe, who donated new and easily sanitized playground equipment for all classes, and Duane and Josie Cover for leading a team of volunteers to create a sunshade over the outdoor classroom.

“Generosity and service to others runs deep in our [Most Blessed Sacrament] community,” Manns said. “Throughout the months leading up to our opening, our families, teachers and staff really came together with ideas, donations and support. We truly couldn’t do any of this without them. Our diocesan school year theme is ‘Called to Serve’ and it is already taking action with the shared time, talent and treasure of our school body.”

Under the direction of the Catholic school’s office in Wilmington, Delaware, Most Blessed Sacrament was able to engage in in-person instruction five days a week with accommodations.

Most Blessed Sacrament has a student population under 250 students from prekindergarten through eighth grade, with all students participating in in-person instruction.

Manns added that distance learning was not an option for students, but accommodations have been made for one family because of medical reasons.

Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the families to evaluate students’ health before entering the school each day. Most Blessed Sacrament is not conducting daily temperature screenings.

“We are depending on our parents to do the right thing and to be honest,” Manns said. “We’re asking our parents to do a wellness check at home, including temperature checks. If in doubt, stay home.”

Most Blessed Sacrament is not awarding perfect attendance for the 2020-21 school year, so students do not feel pressured to attend school when they are ill.