District Leaders Initiate Planning Process for 2020-2021 School Re-Entry

Aldine ISD Return to School Planning Committee considers Core Beliefs, feedback, logistics, and guidelines as it lays out how the district will re-enter school this fall.

Monday, June 15, will kick off the second round of intense planning meetings surrounding re-entry plans for the school district’s return to school for the 2020-2021 school year. It follows a week-long exercise held on May 18-22, where more than 30 district and campus leaders met to review the district’s Core Belief statements and narrow down ideas, themes, and workflow around the needs required for students to return to school, following a nearly four-month break due to COVID-19.

The district plans to announce re-entry plans in early July publicly.

“We will work together for what is best for our students, our staff, and our community,” said Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney. “The safety of everyone in our buildings is the top priority. We are taking every precaution as we plan for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. No matter what is finalized, learning will continue.”

Education Elements, an education consulting group, is leading the district through a series of thoughtful workshops dedicated to designing a roadmap to returning to school that meets the needs of the community. The sessions include leaders from every district area — transportation, human resources, teaching and learning, operations, and communications. Each small group is tasked with reviewing best practices, considering CDC and health organization guidelines, and reviewing stakeholder feedback — either gathered through district surveys, focus groups, or meetings from key stakeholders, to build prototyped solutions.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed all our lives, especially our students. Education may never look the same again,” said Chief Communications Officer Sheleah D. Reed, co-leading the re-entry planning committee. “As we review each possibility, we must ask questions and consider concerns. Our Core Beliefs will ground us as we move forward. We are also weighing all of the data we have collected in the last few months to offer a plan that works for the Aldine ISD community. The process also provides the opportunity to re-image what the school experience could be like for all students.”

Several options are being discussed, but three possibilities have become front runners:

• A regular school format in brick-and-mortar buildings where social distancing is not required
• A hybrid model with some days in school but staggering students into the building where social distancing is required; an A day and B day (week) schedule; or divide students to attend morning classes and others the afternoon
• An all-online format to educate students that includes a teacher-parent-student relationship

The logistics of regularly disinfecting schools and buses as well as toys, books, devices, testing students for coronavirus symptoms, enforcing social distancing and face mask restrictions, ensuring all families have access to learning materials, and much more is being considered alongside each scenario.

The committee must also make recommendations on how the district would pivot if conditions change and an outbreak of the virus returns this fall.

To ensure you have the most recent updates related to the district’s plans, preparations, and up-to-date health information impacting our community, please continue to visit www.aldineisd.org/healthalerts.