SYLVANIA, Ohio — Sylvania Schools sent a letter to families regarding the district's back-to-school plan which includes a potential color-coded/stoplight system and reducing the number of student riders per bus.
The purpose of the stoplight system is to give families an expectation for the school schedules that are possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the letter, the district has released some of the key elements to the stoplight system. The letter also states that the Reset and Restart Task Force is still working to refine the protocols with the health department.
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Below are meanings of each color at this time:
Green: Traditional, in person, on campus every day, all-day
- Mask or shield for students using district transportation
- Assessing symptoms on a daily basis, including temperature check (must be under 100.4)
- Students in grades 3-12 will be required to wear a mask or shield (exceptions will be made when appropriate due to special circumstances/needs)
- All staff members will be required to wear a mask or shield
- Increased hand washing and use of hand sanitizer
- Increased cleaning protocols in place for each building
- Strive to meet social distancing recommendations
- Lunch will be provided in a grab and go style
- Elementary students will have recess each day
- Field Trips will be temporarily suspended until further notice
- Parent/Teacher Conferences, Open Houses, etc, may be held virtually
Yellow: Hybrid of on-campus and remote learning
In the letter the district states "At this time, we are not planning to implement this learning model as we begin the school year. The purpose of the stoplight system is to give families an expectation for the school schedules that are possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. As we spent time working through the alternatives for Yellow, we recognized that moving to and from Yellow would cause a considerable scheduling shift for our families, teacher lesson plans, and transportation. We have decided to focus our efforts so that buildings are entirely in school (Green) or remote (Red). "
Red: Remote Learning
- If required to close a school(s) due to Governor’s or Health Department’s directive or due to a need to quarantine
- Students will receive 100% of their daily instruction in a virtual environment instructed by our Sylvania teachers
- Increased expectations for student attendance, class participation, rigor of assignments and assessments along with traditional grading
- Increased expectations for live sessions for each class each week
- Improved digital support with a new and more robust learning management system
- Daily grab and go lunches provided at a satellite location
- Parent/Teacher Conferences, Open Houses, etc, to be held virtually
Color changes would be communicated through email, text notification, social media, local media, and add an alert to on the Sylvania Schools website.
Orange: Sylvania Alternative Learning Academy (SALA)
- Parent option which requires a one-year commitment to online instruction
- Students will receive 100% of their instruction via Edgenuity curriculum in a virtual environment, supported and guided by a Sylvania Teacher
- Increased expectations for student attendance, class participation, the rigor of assignments and assessments along with traditional grading
- Daily grab and go lunches provided at a satellite location
- Parent/Teacher Conferences, Open Houses, etc, to be held virtually
- SALA FAQs
Transportation
In the letter sent to parents, the district said that it will reduce the number of student riders per bus (two per seat and/or three siblings sitting together) for the health and safety of students and bus drivers.
The district said at the this time, there are far more students requesting busing than the district is able to accommodate for with the guidance of social distancing that must be adhered to on each bus.
The district is considering the many variables and factors in making decisions about transportation. A final decision on the matter is expected to be announced by the end of next week.
The letter can be read in its entirety below
