Safely Starting the 2020-21 School Year

welcome education matters Presented by the public school form of

North Carolina

I'm your host Tom Williams

As North Carolina continues to develop plans for safe the

beginning the 2020 2021 school year we take a look

at the possibilities surrounding what next year could bring and

what that means for both large and small school districts

across our state

Joining us today are Cindy Bliss principle of Myrtle Grove

Middle School in New Hanover County

Dr

Barry Williams superintendent of the Gates County Public schools in

Kathy More superintendent of the Wake County Public Schools

Thank you for joining us

We're delighted

Toe have Superintendent Kathy more from the Wake County schools

joining us this morning

And thank you so much Superintendent

More for taking time out of what I know is

not only a busy but demanding schedule

You're very welcome

Happy to be here

So if Governor Cooper announces that North Carolina schools will

open under Plan B Wake County has a plan in

place for that scenario

Would you kind of briefly describe your plan for reopening

schools next month under the Plan B option so we

can t Public school system has been working on a

framework for plans A B and C and clearly Plan

B is the most problematic

Andi requires quite a bit of attention because in Plan

A all students are in schools and there are obviously

other measures that we take to keep them safe and

then plan C

No students are in schools and so both of those

are very easy for families to understand

Plan B however requires a lot of logistical work and

structures because you're only allowed to have 50% of students

in and on buses

You're really only allowed to have about 30% of your

bus ridership on a bus

So Plan B

For us that has been the most difficult

And what it looks like for us is a week

of face to face in person instruction for 1/3 of

our students at a time and the other 2/3 will

be engaged in remote learning

So it's a three week cycle with one week in

the building and two weeks remote instruction Um and that

really reflects a priority that we had at the district

level

Based on some feedback um that all of our families

across all grade levels felt it was important to have

some face to face instruction

Um rather than just virtual Onley virtual

Let's say the decision is that the state is going

to go with Plan C

Um what would this scenario look like with Wake County

And I know that there were lessons learned and a

lot of work that was done last spring to make

remote learning successful What would How would it be different

What would have looked like this year last spring when

schools will be closed schools and immediately within a couple

of hours after that the governor closed all schools Um

and we were thrown into what remote learning would look

like

There were a lot of things a lot of barriers

and constructs that had to be created very quickly just

a very simple issue of dealing with students who didn't

have devices or connectivity which is very riel and persists

I believe in every single county in the state of

north

Your line

Um we had to really give it very quickly and

I joked that we weren't building a plane while we

were flying it that we were fed ex ING parts

to the plane while we were flying

Um and so we have learned a lot of lessons

as you have said and we've gotten a lot of

feedback as well

And we know that to the extent that we engage

in a Plan C for all schools if that is

what the governor orders that the expectations of both our

teachers our school administrators and our families and students is

higher than what we engaged in in the spring

So we have been working on the Plan C options

as well so that we can provide more guidance more

structure more continuity and expectations around what families can expect

Expectations around interaction with students from their school teachers so

that we can provide a better informed and valuable experience

for all of our students and really maintain those high

levels of teaching learning that we we know that internal

and external stakeholder engagement has been a focus for the

Wake County schools and school districts across the state

Um talk a little bit about how they've been engaged

in influencing the plan and you're thinking we have been

pretty open with seeking feedback from a number of stakeholder

groups

We've worked very closely with our local and CE chapter

and the local president Teoh participate in focus groups and

sessions that were being held with teachers all across the

county

Make sure Central Services staff were there to also provide

port and listen

We communicate frequently on all of the plans that were

working on the frameworks for a the N C

The different options that are being considered

So our local nce rep has been a part of

those discussions

And we have also sent surveys to teacher specifically to

all of our teachers and staff to ask them How

are they comfortable returning the school What would there What

would they expect to see eso that we haven't understanding

what our teachers expect and what their concerns are

And then we've done the same thing with parents in

our community as well

I will say Last thing is that um and we

are divided as a community and staff

We have fully 30% of our families who are indicating

they would liken all virtual option Ah little smaller percentage

than that that would liken all in face option and

then the largest but not by much percentage in the

middle thinking that some sort of blended option is what

would be preferred

Of course the devil is in the details for all

of that

So which ever option we are providing

We're trying to be responsive in general to what most

of the feedback says

People who are in schools want face to face

We are providing an all virtual option of virtual academy

option for families who are not comfortable at all and

want to commit to a virtual academy

Um but you know there Plan B does not have

a lot of great options within it

And all of them there are choices that are being

made where you wish you had other options

We've got a couple of minutes left on two things

Your biggest challenges that you feel like the district's facing

and meeting the needs of the community

And what does the district need most to be able

to operate as effectively and efficiently as you wanted to

for the students and for the teachers and parents So

I think in general terms the uncertainty of what the

next few months holds in particular in the Wake County

area

We are an area where the numbers and the data

around the Cove in 19 Pandemic are of concern

And so we want to make sure that whatever we're

doing we're maintaining the health and safety of our staff

our students and families at the forefront of everything to

do its part of every conversation

And so that uncertainty really has us concerned about what

school will look like

We've been saying school will be different

It's certainly Plan B is different

And if we have to go to Plan C that

will be even in Plan A

Things would be different because we would still be having

to take some precautions to make sure that our kids

and our students were safe

So really it's just uncertainty about what the future is

going to look like and trying to be flexible and

responsive as we hear concerns

So as we look specifically with the Wake County public

school system and the potential to implement Plan B Um

and maybe even were we to implement plan see if

that was what we're was required Um the extent to

which our community continues to support families who might need

to tell the work or work from home the extent

to which our community partners like the Y M

C

A or the Boys and Girls Club or Private Daycares

and Park and Rec organizations can support us with what

now will be a track out type camp for all

kids on a rotating basis in a manner that is

both supportive of the remote learning and provides parents with

flexibility Should they need to be at the work site

and not be able to be at home to support

their Children There is some space for what that collaboration

and partnership looks like moving forward

And I think another piece that's really important with that

for our community is that it has to be something

that is affordable and doable for our families

And so we need to figure out how to partner

through this

Um I really think that um the community at large

to the extent that we continue to follow the guidance

that is coming out of North Carolina DHHS in the

governor's office to ensure that remain the safest possible

I think following that guidance and and adhering to it

helps us open our schools sooner

And Fuller

Yeah Thank you so much for being such a valuable

resource here to education matters and our viewers across the

state

In here in the local area

I applaud you and your team as well as your

board of education and community for the work you're doing

together

Best wishes for rest of the safe summer moving forward

And we look forward to seeing you again

Cem

Education matters has brought to you each week in part

by town bank serving others enriching lives

Well welcome

And we're delighted to have Cindy Bliss principal at Myrtle

Grove Middle School in New Hanover County with us

And joining her is Dr Barry Williams our superintendent in

Gates County public schools in the northeastern part of North

Carolina

Thank you both for being with us today

Not to be here with you Dr Williams

Let's start with you

Um as a local superintendent in a rural and small

school district here in North Carolina how have you been

engaging with your staff and your principles and faculties as

well as your community in approaching the reopening plans for

the fall Well in a in a smile school district

like Gates County we got about uh 11,000 people

We got 1500 students and what we do we don't

really column task force

We have principals directors and some board members uh get

together

And we focused our energy on four major bullets for

the situation that we're in

We realized that one size fits all that doesn't work

And so we're trying to come up with a draft

document

Kind of like that

It means the BP eyes put out the tool kit

safe schools to get

We want to have that for Gates can

And so what We've started out with our major points

or we've got a documented brainstorming session that we had

so twice a week we have anecdotal research where were

guiding our decisions

And we try to mirror everything with other school districts

and from the health department from B p I and

from the N C

A s A and the C s s a in

state Board of education local hospitals

We want to get information and research from them to

help us along the way

We will have a planning Tim Plato organize our action

steps of how we approach things as they come up

and we have a communication document that's going to help

share AirProd or of these action states and timelines with

parents educators and teachers

And all this works Tom with the power of collaboration

and teamwork

When this first came out by the governor in March

4 think it was

There was such a resurgence of energy and passion to

get kids meals to get instruction that continuity instruction get

things out of people just as quickly as possible

So that's how we have handled it so far

Well excellent

Miss Bliss coming to you

You're the principal there

You're right in between the superintendent's office the teachers and

faculty and parents and the kids

How are you engaging with your various stakeholders and helping

shape the plan there of Myrtle Grove Middle Right

So just like Dr Williams talked about we have uh

we have we have county teams and then we've also

done some school teams at our school level

We formed reentry teams and those teams were around our

facilities instruction social emotional learning and then communication

And we really tried to make sure that we had

students staff and parents on each of those teams to

really make sure that the two way was happening between

school and community and then at the district level

There are also some uh teams that air that air

happening with around buildings and transportation um health and and

then instruction and and communication

Um and all of those also have ah teachers or

not nap

Sorry

No teachers administrators but then members of the community that

it impacts

So I'm the health committee

Uh you know it really is

Is taking a look at how we can safely get

kids back in school and setting up some processes and

procedures were coming out in and out

And it has our coastal horizons mental health

Um as part of that and the health department on

DSO You know not we all know this

It comes down to that communication piece and so really

trying to be strategic about how and what we're communicating

from the district and from the schools to make sure

it's in line and that parents are receiving one message

OK excellent well dot Williams that you mentioned earlier than

nature of Gates County

And um you join a number of other small and

rural school districts here in the state of North Carolina

What would you say of a couple of top challenges

that are unique to a rural education community Keeping in

mind the nature of what you're addressing right now with

the reopening schools Oh there's there several challenges especially in

a rule school district and especially in a in a

small rural school district that has a big county sometime

talking landmass

But first and foremost with any situation in schools is

safety and I think the health and safety of students

and staff is imperative

I don't think eating school or district should be forced

to reopen unless they meet the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention guidelines

We want to make sure that that our families were

taken care of when we have this reopening process and

caution is essential in the meat to respect structure to

conform to the CDC guidelines he is imperative

Another challenge that we have of course is transportation

Before the pandemic pandemic even occurred we can't even get

bus drivers to drive buses you know so sometimes we

have to double up well right now Like I just

said we have large areas to cover the in the

limits on the number of students that can't even ride

a bus

I believe meant from 8 to 22 now kid proceeds

That's putting a lot of the strengths and putting buses

on the road and it's just going called off traffic

That is really unnecessary

So how much instructions actually going on And another thing

that I think the closing of schools in response to

the pandemic is pretty much focused a powerful spotlight on

the inequities that we have in a small role school

district

We don't have these big towers and the broadband to

support instruction remotely

So we got on the bus

We take everything paper pencil and kids that you have

uh Internet access

We can get that information to them the best we

can do

Virtual learning

I'm gonna come back to you Miss Bliss and maybe

talk a little bit about the lessons that were learned

last year prior to the end of the school year

in particular around remote learning and how you're approaching the

need for remote learning or how it would look in

the coming year if needed

So really the biggest thing that we learned was this

the streamlining and reducing the clutter so that it is

really easy for kids and parents to access and monitor

and having really clear directions on what to do and

what is expected Um for students during this time Dr

Williams first what would you say is the most important

advice you give to your families in Gates County who

are struggling with the approaches The schools in the district

are taken and then come back to you

Miss Bliss from your school prospect

I think we need to communicate and parents need to

ask questions that they don't know answers just at home

I think it's just really simple little things besides setting

regular bedtimes and wake up times for your Children

Establish a school day educational schedule whether at home artisans

who provide opportunities for students to exercise and maintain some

sort of social contact with their beer

And no reduced the anxiety of the in the face

riel life concerns by letting them share their concerns and

resource

So you know we're here for the community the community

It is all about working together in collaboration and with

strong spoons with Caroline to get there's more information that

the parents are really successful

Really My advice appearance is just patients compassion and grace

patients compassion and grace for your for themselves for their

students and for the schools

Because we're really trying to figure this out

And we are really working hard Teoh to do what

is best for students given all that is going on

you know knowing that we do want their kids back

it at school

But we want to do it in a safe way

that is safe for adults and students

Um and so just allowing patients compassion and grace for

everybody involved in this while we really try to come

together to get through this time

Thank you Miss Bliss

Thank you Dr Williams for joining us on education matters

We're really grateful and wish you the best as you

move through the summer and into the new school year

after the break

The final word with our new education matters Host Maryanne

Wolf

First let me welcome our new host of education matters

Got to marry and Wolf our fourth president and executive

director since 1985 to leave the public school form of

North Carolina as the new host of education matters

I would like to thank Dr Tom Williams who was

graciously and masterfully hosted this show

He is insured that we're hearing from voices across North

Carolina on the most pressing education issues

Fortunately Tom will be back as a guest host and

I look forward to bringing what I have learned from

his wisdom and experience to the show in what we

know to be trying times in our country state and

schools

No school district educator or parent wants to be in

the position of having to debate whether or how we

can return to school

This year

We wish that we could start school within person full

classes and we watches districts and family struggled to decide

what is right for their Children to safely reopen this

fall

Addressing the following three challenges will be paramount

Our top priority must be ensuring the safety of our

students teachers staff and families

If school buildings air open this fall plans must be

made for scenarios both during and outside of school that

keeps students and staff as safe as possible

Many districts are ensuring that families will have access to

remote learning as an option

Even when a hybrid ER in person plan is implemented

These virtual learning options will enable families to stay engaged

with their school system and school communities

Another priority must be ensuring equity as we work to

provide robust meaningful learning opportunities for all students

During the early stages of the Cove in 19 Pandemic

we learned that unequal broadband access the variability of parents

to work remotely funding disparities across districts and many more

in equities were exacerbated by our efforts to mitigate the

spread of this virus

Students will need to be able to rely on rigorous

remote learning options

The district's across the state are working hard to develop

in the event we must stay home

Finally with so many things up in the air District's

must be able to count on resource is and funding

to support changes required by fall learning plans

Unpredictable changes in funding will make it harder for our

district leaders to deliver safe and equitable educational offerings in

the face of Kobe 19

We believe our state leaders must take specific actions so

that district leaders will know that they will have the

budgets they need throughout the year with at least the

amount they plan to have

Is I engaged in discussions with educators families and communities

It is clear that we all struggle with any of

the options that do not fit our definition of normal

and may not be what we want for our kids

or educators and staff for the fall

However as we move forward with the focus on safety

for students and staff equity for robust meaningful learning opportunities

and the need for adequate resource is in a solid

budget

I also see the creativity and Karen concern for our

students at every turn our public schools or the hub

of our communities

And even in the midst of a global pandemic where

nothing seems normal they will be the constant source of

connection

Whole child support and learning for our kids over the

past seven months has been my distinct privilege to serve

as the host of education matters

I'm profoundly grateful for the incredible professional support provided by

WRL and his producers as well as our amazing team

at the Forum who each week make the show possible

I'd be remiss if I did not express my appreciation

of the show's lead corporate sponsor Town Bank as well

as U

N C T V from making the show accessible each

week toe all North Carolinians in every community since its

inception three years ago

Education matters allows us to share insights to key issues

affecting a broad range of K through 12 public education

stakeholders

There would not be in education matters if not for

the expert guest who give up their time expertise and

insights on key issues impacting our Children and our public

schools from state and local leaders to researchers business leaders

policymakers and yes parents and students their voices from the

field are invaluable

Ensuring North Carolina's current and future leaders chart and stay

the course in creating effective public policy and investing

The needed resource is our students and teachers needs as

our state faces the complex challenges presented by covert 19

are states

Leaders must simultaneously stay committed to every child receiving an

opportunity for sound basic education as guaranteed by our state's

constitution in the comprehensive requirements defined by our courts

In the landmark Leandro decision the Children are public

Schools today represent the foundation for North Carolina's future success

through a well prepared workforce and citizenry toe lead us

forward as a competitive state in the years and decades

ahead

Thank you