Reopening Plan F.A.Q.s

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

This page will be updated to include general questions we receive with answers that provide information for community members.  

Answers will be revised when additional information becomes available.

December 2, 2020

What has been decided regarding the opening of schools for the 2020-21 school year?
On July 27th the Board of School Directors approved the Health and Safety Plan.  A blended or hybrid  model, which combines in-person and virtual education, was approved to start the 2020-21 school year and is detailed in the Plan.

Will I have the option for my child to receive virtual instruction? 
Yes.  All parents/guardians can elect to have their child enroll with the Wyomissing Area Virtual Education (WAVE) Program. This K-12 virtual education program will be supported by our teachers and counselors, and allow parents/guardians the flexibility to enroll/unenroll on a quarterly basis, knowing circumstances can change. WASD will also provide devices and technology support for students who enroll in WAVE.   Additional information on WAVE will be sent to all parents and posted on the District website.  We have used feedback received from students, staff, and parents in the distance learning survey we implemented last May to help us strengthen our services and support.

If I wasn't able to attend the July 27th meeting, is information available? 
Yes. The PowerPoint presentation and WASD Health and Safety Plan are posted on the District website Under 2020-2021 Planning & Updates and can be accessed at the following link: https://www.wyoarea.org/our_district/WASDREOPENINGPLANCOVIDUPDATES.     

Who contributed to help the District develop the Health and Safety Plan?

• Advisory Groups – These groups were comprised of staff members, Administration, and Community members who worked to develop recommendations in several key areas. All Board members served on one or more of these groups. Please click here for additional information on our Advisory Groups.
• Parent/Guardian Survey – We received responses from 939 parents/guardians from July 7-14, 2020. Please click here view the survey results.
• Regulatory Guidance – We are closely following the guidance we continue to receive from Governor Wolf, the PA Department of Health, the PA Department of Education, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA).
• Medical Professionals – We are pleased to share that physicians and other medical professionals from Penn State Health and Tower Health are serving as part of our team and guiding our Health and Safety Plan. In addition, our school nurses and consulting physician also contributed to the development of our District’s plan. These professionals have helped us develop plans which use best practices such as social distancing, face coverings, symptom screening, cleaning/disinfection, hand-washing, training for staff, and emergency procedures. These items are addressed in the Health and Safety Plan.

Will changes to the District’s Plan need to be made after July 27th?
Most likely yes. We continue to receive updates and guidance each week from Governor Wolf, PDE, DOH, CDC, and the PIAA. As guidance is updated regarding COVID-19, it is likely our plans will need to be revised to support the updated information. Any subsequent changes to the Health and Safety Plan require approval from the Board of School Directors, will be posted on our District website, and emailed to parents/guardians.

Who should I contact with questions?
A communication was sent to all parents/guardians on July 29, 2020 which included information and personnel to contact with questions.  This communication, and other information relative to reopening our schools is available on our District website at the following link: https://www.wyoarea.org/our_district/WASDREOPENINGPLANCOVIDUPDATES

Will students be able to attend the Berks Career and Technology Center (BCTC)? 
Yes.  The BCTC Learning Plan is linked here. Please use the following link to access the BCTC website:  https://www.berkscareer.com/domain/1231

 In the WASD Hybrid Model, will family members be assigned to school on the same days?
Yes.  WASD is assigning students to days for in-person education for grades K-12 based on a split of last names (A-K and L-Z).  Students who reside in the same household, but do not share the same last name, will be assigned together using the last name of the oldest registered child.

 What happens if a student is out sick on one of their two in-person days?
Students may only attend in-person school on their assigned day.  They may access lessons asynchronously if a day is missed.

 Will all courses be available in the WAVE model?
 At the secondary level students will have access to the courses in their original schedule.

Will Wyomissing JH/SH continue the grading system it used in the Spring?
 No. The Board approved grading system will be used.

What are the options for learning?  Is there an option for full in-person learning?

  • Hybrid - 2 days in-person / 3 days virtual

  • Full time virtual - WAVE (5 days at home)

  • No option for full in-person learning to reopen the school year

Can I switch my student to the Hybrid program at the end of each quarter/trimester if my student starts in the virtual program?
 Yes.

For the Hybrid plan, will the students whose last names fall in the first half of the alphabet attend school on Mondays and Tuesdays, and those whose names fall in the last half of the alphabet attend on Thursdays and Fridays?
 Yes, A-K will attend on Monday/Tuesday; L-Z will attend on Thursday/Friday.

Will class size or teacher assignments change?
Possibly.  We honored requests for parent/student changes during the first two weeks of school.  To ensure WASD has appropriate staffing in place, Administration may hold change requests until the end of each quarter/trimester of the 2020/21 school year.

Who do I contact with questions or concerns?
 WASD COVID-19/Reopening Website: https://www.wyoarea.org/our_district/WASDREOPENINGPLANCOVIDUPDATES

School Offices:
- JSHS - 610-374-4031
- WREC - 610-378-9441
- WHEC - 610-378-9431

District Food Services
Dariely Marrero - 610-374-0739 x1118

Transportation
Craig Scheetz - 610-374-0739 x1110

Technology Support
Email:  one2one@wyoarea.org

Where can I find information on interscholastic sports:
The PIAA approved sports to begin, and the BCIAA established starting dates for specific sports.  Our WASD Re-entry Plan for Athletics and Extra Curricular Activities can be found at:  WASD Re-Entry Plan for Athletics and Extra-Curricular Activities.  Administration continues to work with coaches and activity instructors to implement safety measures for student activities.

Where can I find information about Wyomissing Area Virtual Education (WAVE)?
 Please click here for the WAVE information page

How is the District monitoring air quality and implementing our Health and Safety Plan?
WASD completed testing of the HVAC system prior to the start of school and will bring additional outdoor air in to spaces, controlled by the building automation system which collects data on a 24 hour, 7 days a week basis.  Our Facilities Department Staff will continue to monitor our system, with support from our contracted specialists.

 Where can I find information on cleaning and cleaning products?
The District's Health and Safety Plan details steps taken by WASD to clean our buildings and equipment.  Additional cleaning information and MSDS Sheets for cleaning products can be found on the Facilities Department webpage at:  WASD Health & Safety Plan Cleaning

 Does the WASD Health and Safety Plan require face coverings?
Yes.  All students, employees and visitors are required to wear face coverings at all times on District property except when eating/drinking with six feet of social distance or when outside with six feet of social distance.  Students and drivers are also required to wear face coverings while riding to/from school or school activities on District transportation vehicles.

 What types of face coverings are permitted?
As defined by the PA Department of Health, "face covering" means covering of the nose and mouth with material that is secured to the head with ties, straps, or loops over the ears or is wrapped around the lower face. WASD is not permitting the use of gators, t-shirts, or bandanas as approved face coverings.  If Administration identifies a concern with a specific face covering, they will attempt to work with the individual to resolve the issue and contact the parents/guardian if the individual is a student.


 WHEC / Contact Tracing
 Per the WASD Health and Safety Plan, school nurses and Administration will identify and assign quarantine dates for students, employees or visitors based on available information and guidance provided by the PA Department of Health.  WASD Administration will review medical information submitted by parents/guardians or employees while these decisions are being made and to support the individual's return to campus when medically cleared.  While information received from outside medical providers will be reviewed and considered, the District reserves the right to assign quarantine dates determined to protect the health and safety of all students, employees and visitors.  Based on guidance from DOH and the CDC, WASD has developed a chart that outlines common scenarios and the steps typically assigned to address these sets of information.  This chart can be found on the District website at the following link:  Student & Family COVID-19 Toolkit.  Parents/Guardians or employees must contact our school nurse to discuss any specific questions or concerns related to an exposure, symptoms, decision to test or test result.

 What is considered an exposure?
An exposure, according to the DOH, is defined as contact within 6 feet for greater than 15 consecutive minutes.  Therefore, siblings and parents have not been recommended to quarantine by the DOH.

 Who handles the contact tracing?
  • The DOH is handling all contact tracing and will communicate directly with families/staff if additional quarantine is needed.
  • The DOH has concluded their contact tracing of this COVID positive person and have notified all people who need to quarantine or isolate.

 What should I do if I begin to exhibit symptoms?
If a parent or sibling begins to exhibit symptoms associated with COVID-19, they should contact their healthcare provider.

 What are the symptoms associated with COVID-19?
Symptoms associated with COVID-19 are: cough, fever, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new taste or smell disorder, sore throat, chills, muscle pain, headache, runny nose/congestion, diarrhea, nausea and fatigue.