KCSD goes to remote learning for Monday; in-person learning anticipated for Tuesday

RecordStaffJanuary 16, 2022Last Updated: January 16, 2022

5 minutes read

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – Keystone Central School District Superintendent Jacquelyn Martin announced Sunday evening that the school district will operate on a full remote schedule school day Monday due to the snow storm. Her announcement also said she anticipates the district will return to in-person learning at all levels as of Tuesday. The district had seen online learning at the high school and middle school levels from Thursday of last week, scheduled through Monday, due to the COVID numbers at that level.

The superintendent’s full release:

For Monday, January 17, 2022, the Keystone Central School District will operate on a Remote School Day for grades K-12 due to a winter storm. Please review the Remote School Day Expectations below.

Employees should plan to work from home as our support staff will be clearing parking lots and sidewalks.

I anticipate that we will return to K-12 in-person learning on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. Stay warm and safe, Jacque

Keystone Central School District

Remote School Day

2021-2022 Expectations

Remote School Days for students and staff may be necessary for the 2021-22 school year. The superintendent may designate a Remote School Day in the place of a face-to-face school day for the purposes of safety for staff and students in situations of poor weather conditions or pandemic related circumstances.

Remote School Day:

Instruction will be done synchronously through the Learning Management System and Zoom/Google Meet. Teachers and students will follow the normal daily schedule.
The amount of time that teachers are delivering instruction should align with these instructional expectations:

*Grade:*	*Student Screen Time Guidance for Synchronous Remote Instruction*
K-2	Classroom teacher instruction: 100-140 minutes per day Itinerant instruction: 30 minutes per day (at the normally scheduled time) WIN instruction: 30-45 minutes per day (at the normally scheduled time)
3-4	Classroom teacher instruction: 120-180 minutes per day Itinerant instruction: 30 minutes per day (at the normally scheduled time) WIN instruction: 30-45 minutes per day (at the normally scheduled time)
5-8	20-45 minutes per block
9-12	25-60 minutes per block

If students log off to complete work on their own, teachers should stay logged on so that if students have questions, the teacher is available to help for the duration of the period/block.

If inclement weather is predicted, we will have our K-1 students (and any other student who normally keeps their device at school) take their device home so that they have it for remote instruction.
If the inclement weather is not anticipated, students who do not have a school-issued device at home can join with a device that they have at home if possible. Students who do not have a device at home will need to complete their online assignments for the day in order for them to be marked as present after the snow day. Students who do not have a device at home will have extra time to complete assignments. Students should be given at least three school days after the snow day to turn in completed work. The completion of the assignment(s) will count as their attendance for the snow day. Teachers can send home paper materials that students could work on during the snow day if they don’t have access to a device. The completion of the paper assignments can count as their attendance.
In order to meet the needs of our students with connectivity issues or students who need additional academic support, students will have three school days to complete the assignment upon return to school. Teachers should clearly identify and communicate to students which assignment counts as their attendance.
Attendance will be taken based on student presence during synchronous instruction (K-4 in the AM and PM, 5-12 by period/block).
Special Education services will be delivered remotely (see details below).

Staff Expectations:

Administrative Staff:

All administrators will synchronously follow their regular work schedule from a remote location. All scheduled meetings should occur remotely or be rescheduled.

Teaching Staff:

All teachers will deliver their instruction synchronously, following the regular school schedule, as they did while we were in the full remote learning model.
Instructional coaches will support teachers and students as they do when fully remote
Any time that is allotted for duty during in-person learning should be used for additional preparation time.
All scheduled meetings such as PLC’s, IEP meetings, department meetings, should be conducted remotely through Google Meet or Zoom.

Non-teaching Staff:

School Nurses: complete professional learning modules in My Learning Plan. Provide a journal to Christina with what was accomplished for the day.
School Psychologists: work on document prep, scheduling testing with parents
Counselors: contact students/parents regarding attendance or academic concerns, develop/update Student Attendance Improvement Conferences, review SmartFutures data and plan for kids who are behind. Provide a journal to Christina with what was accomplished for the day.
Secretaries: work remotely and perform their regular duties
Building Assistants: log in to meet with their students and follow their typical schedule
Title Assistants: conduct small group intervention remotely using their typical schedule
Personal Care Aides: log into the classes and support their student
Technology Associates: complete work orders, answer questions and support teachers, students and families remotely
Cafeteria Workers: paid only when students are in school – no work required on these days; optional additional cleaning days at the end of the school year to make up lost days/pay
Maintenance/Custodians: report and provide snow removal and facility cleanup duties as directed by the supervisor

Additional Information for STAFF:

If any staff member does not have internet access in order to work remotely, they should contact their immediate supervisor to develop an individualized plan prior to a remote snow day.
All employees are expected to adhere to their normal working hours and complete their KCSD responsibilities.
All staff can utilize their sick, personal or vacation time if needed. If an employee uses a sick, personal or vacation day, it is necessary to communicate with students and parents about the instructional plan for the day (if applicable) and enter the leave in the VeriTime system.
Employees who normally use VeriTime do not need to do so for working hours.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

REMOTE LEARNING OPTIONS

Low Incidence Populations

(Adult support in the home is needed)

Synchronous

Log in Direct Instruction – Special Education Teacher
Log in Circle Time/Read Aloud/Calendar/Social Skills Activities – Special Education Teacher
Independent Sessions/IEP Goals/Review of Concepts – Paraprofessional/PCA
Log in Itinerant Classes – General Education Teacher/Special Education Teacher/Paraprofessional/PCA

Asynchronous

Choice Boards
- Manipulatives (District Task Box)
- Learning Binder (Teacher Provided)
  - Matching Activities
  - Fine Motor Skills Activities
  - Communication Activities
Computer Based Learning – Programs/Website

High Incidence Populations

Synchronous

Log in Direct Instruction – General Education Teacher
Log in Re-teaching/Support with Independent Tasks – Special Education Teacher
Log in Review of Material/Support with Independent Tasks – Paraprofessional/PCA

Asynchronous