School District Continues Work on Reopening Plan
All Gorham public schools will open on September 8. On August 6, the School Committee (SC) approved the overall reopening plan (6-1 Gagnon), which describes how schools would function under each of three plans. These range from “red,” online instruction, to “green,” all students physically attending school. The SC gave unanimous support for a Grade K-8 “yellow” hybrid plan in which students return to school twice a week but voted (5-2 Gagnon, Wright) to open Grades 9-12 in “red.” Superintendent Heather Perry said, “the plans would be evaluated on an ongoing basis with changes communicated in real time as needed and as conditions change.”
The SC decision to open Gorham High School (GHS) with the “red” virtual learning plan also permitted sports and other extracurricular activities to potentially operate under “yellow.” Barriers to a full hybrid plan for GHS centered on classroom size and the number of moves teachers would have to make for it to work.
SC members and the administration, however, felt strongly that they needed to find a way to offer in-person instruction at GHS at the start of the school year. Subsequently, at the August 12 SC meeting, Principal Brian Jandreau summarized drafts of three hybrid plans that would bring students safely to school. Superintendent Perry said they “will be prepared to present to the School Committee some options and request a reconsideration vote on August 18.”
Parents have received a 57-page handbook describing all aspects and requirements of the plans. During the week of August 24, parents of all students will get an informational video that describes a typical day at their school.
A survey was sent out to all parents asking them to indicate whether or not they wanted their children to participate in the plan for their grade, or if they wanted to opt for a separate course of online virtual instruction. Selection of the independent virtual plan is a semester-long commitment, although students can move from the hybrid plan to online instruction during the semester.
Photo credit Kathy CorbettMembers of the School Committee attended a tour of classrooms set up at Great Falls School for the hybrid attendance plan. In each classroom about 11 students will sit at desks placed six feet apart.
Parents also confirmed whether or not their children would need bus transportation, even if they expected to sometimes bring them to school. Once the district knows how much classroom and bus space will be needed, schedules can be finalized to meet the state requirements.
All schools have established protocols for bus travel which include sanitizing procedures and students showing the driver that they have had a wellness check at home that morning. Procedures for dropping off and picking up students from school are in place for each school.
Under the K-8 hybrid plan, a student will be in school Monday and Wednesday (A group), or Tuesday and Thursday (B group). When a holiday falls on Monday, as it will the first school week, the A group will attend on Wednesday and Friday. Although there will be some opportunity for virtual face-to-face instruction on the other three days, students will mostly work independently at home on assignments and projects. Times for classroom instruction for Special Education students will vary according to the student.
Except for lunch and recess, elementary students will spend most of the in-school day with approximately 11 classmates. GMS students, while still part of their traditional teams, will stay with “cohort groups” of 10 to 15 and teachers will rotate to them. They will leave classrooms for lunch and Allied Arts escorted by teachers. Principal Quinton Donahue indicated that there are tentative plans to start athletics and afternoon clubs. If that happens, the school will offer late buses with limited seating.
The district has made every effort to communicate with parents and guardians of all Gorham students. Anyone with additional K-8 concerns and questions is encouraged to email Principal Brian Porter of Village Elementary, Principal Becky Fortier of Great Falls Elementary, Principal Cynthia Renick of Narragansett Elementary, Principal Quinton Donahue of GMS, or Director of Special Education Kathy Hamblen.
At press time, GHS opening plans were still in flux. The Town Council held a special meeting on August 13 and authorized the Town Manager to enter into an agreement with the Gorham School Department for temporary use of municipal facilities, sites and/or rooms.
Principal Brian Jandreau and Assistant Superintendent Chris Record will respond to email questions about the GHS plan. Email addresses for all administrators are available on the Gorham School Department website.