
School Reopening Plan
-
The following reopening plans have be submitted to the Nevada Department of Education. They have been approved by the Board of Trustees and the state. Each plan allows for physical distancing in buildings as recommended by the Governor.
In developing the plans, student and staff safety is of utmost importance. Regardless of model, a multi-layered approach will be utilized to keep buildings clean and people healthy. This includes enhanced and frequent disinfecting of surfaces, the flushing of fresh air through the HVAC systems, scheduled and supervised handwashing with soap and water, and the availability of hand sanitizer and disinfectant in every classroom. Families will be expected to self-screen at home and if students are feeling sick, they should not come to school.
The same care and concern will be approached as related to bus transportation. Many students rely on busing and the nature of buses makes social distancing very challenging. The plan being presented to the state and approved by the Board of Trustees is to transport at 50% occupancy or greater and that all riders, including the bus driver, must wear face coverings.
Elementary School: Students at District elementary schools will attend Monday through Friday in person. All students and staff will be required to wear face coverings unless they have a medical exception. Physical distancing will be maintained. Families will have the option to keep their students at home and utilize distance learning through their zoned school.
Middle School: Students at District middle schools will attend a hybrid model where they are in the building 2 or 3 days a week and learning from home the remaining days each week. This model allows schools to maintain physical distancing. All students and staff will be required to wear face coverings unless they have a medical exception. Families will have the option to keep their students at home and utilize distance learning through their zoned school. Principals will work with families who have siblings to keep them on the same schedule if that is the families’ wish.
High School: Students at District high schools will attend a hybrid model where they are in the building 2 or 3 days a week and learning from home the remaining days each week. This model allows schools to maintain physical distancing. All students and staff will be required to wear face coverings unless they have a medical exception. Families will have the option to keep their students at home and utilize distance learning through their zoned school. Principals will work with families who have siblings to keep them on the same schedule if that is the families’ wish.
Exceptions to the A/B model in middle and high schools will be made for vulnerable populations, including students receiving special education services, children in transition or foster care, students participating in the English Learning program, and students in gifted and talented education.
Each of these models is subject to state approval and could change depending on further guidance. If the state reduces the need for physical distance, all students could go back to school full time. If the state deems that more restrictive measures are necessary, students may need to have full-time distance learning again. These models allow for fluidity and change as needed. Plans for all of these options – full distance, hybrid, and full in-person – will be submitted to the state and utilized as necessary.
More specific details of the plan will be posted when they are available. Read our FAQs for answers to specific questions you might have about the plans.
State of Nevada Reopening of Schools Committee
Additionally, WCSD’s Superintendent Dr. Kristen McNeill and other staff members sit on the Statewide Re-opening of Schools Committee. The group, consisting of state health officials, district superintendents, charter school leaders, the state’s Department of Education, and other experts, will work to produce an actionable framework based on the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and State health officials. The framework will address the physical, mental, social, and emotional considerations to reopen and manage districts and schools during this ongoing crisis.
Learn more about Nevada Reopening of Schools Committee
As reopening plans are developed, they will be shared with our families and the community. We want to work together to make the transition to recovery as smooth as possible.
Reopening FAQ - Preguntas Frecuentes de Reapertura
-
If I have COVID-19 symptoms, when should I get tested?
Si tengo síntomas de COVID-19, ¿Cuándo debería hacerme una prueba?
-
Why are students able to obtain free school meals?
¿Porque los estudiantes pueden obtener comidas escolares gratuitas?
-
How can students who attend school everyday obtain these free meals?
¿Cómo pueden los estudiantes que asisten a la escuela todos los días obtener estas comidas gratuitas?
-
What about students doing distance learning full time? Can they have access to free meals?
¿Qué pasa con los estudiantes que hacen aprendizaje a distancia tiempo completo? ¿Pueden tener acceso a comidas gratuitas?
-
My child attends a private pre-school, how can we access these free meals?
Mi hija asiste a un centro prescolar privado, ¿Cómo puede tener acceso a estas comidas gratuitas?
-
My child has food allergies, how can they get free meals that accommodate their dietary restrictions?
Mi hijo tiene alergias a los alimentos, ¿Cómo puede tener comidas gratuitas que se ajusten a sus restricciones de alimentos?
-
Can students who are homeschooled obtain free meals?
¿Pueden los estudiantes que no asisten a la escuela obtener comidas gratuitas?
-
Why are other states playing athletics and we can’t?
¿Por qué otros estados juegan atletismo y nosotros no podemos?
-
Why can’t all teams (regardless of season) and all extra-curricular activities conduct meetings in person condition every day of the week? What are the days limited to 8 days of conditioning per sport and every other day (once per week) to have clubs and
¿Por qué no pueden todos los equipos (independientemente de la temporada) y todas las actividades extracurriculares realizar reuniones en persona todos los días de la semana? ¿Cuáles son los días limitados a 8 días de acondicionamiento físico por deporte y día por medio (una vez por semana) para que los clubes y otras actividades extracurriculares se reúnan en persona?
-
What is the major difference between Phase 2 and Phase 3 (of the NIAA Guidelines) in terms of practicing and the possibility of playing games/competitions?
¿Cuál es la mayor diferencia entre la Fase 2 y la Fase 3 (de las Directrices de la NIAA) en términos de práctica y posibilidad de jugar juegos / competencias?
-
What happens with extra-curricular activities in January - June 2021?
¿Qué sucede con las actividades extracurriculares de enero a junio del 2021?
-
Why are we ending all conditioning sessions and extracurricular activities at 6:30 PM?
¿Por qué terminamos todas las sesiones de acondicionamiento y actividades extracurriculares a las 6:30 p.m.?
-
Why did we begin this conditioning period with spring sports, then fall and end with winter?
¿Por qué comenzamos este período de acondicionamiento con deportes de primavera, luego el otoño y terminamos con el invierno?
-
Will the district be able to run their programs based on their own guidelines and protocol or do they have to follow the Governor’s protocols?
Podrá el distrito ejecutar sus programas de acuerdo con sus propias pautas y protocolo o tienen que seguir los protocolos del gobernador?
-
Why can’t all the sports team practice as soon as possible?
¿Por qué no puede practicar todo el equipo deportivo lo antes posible?
-
Will Washoe County School District host volunteers in the schools this year?
¿El Distrito Escolar del Condado de Washoe recibirá voluntarios en las escuelas este año?
-
What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?
¿Cual es la diferencia entre cuarentena y aislamiento?
-
How will attendance be taken on distance learning days during a hybrid model, or if a student is enrolled in full distance learning?
¿Cómo se tomará asistencia en lo días de aprendizaje a distancia del modelo híbrido, o si un estudiante esta participando en el aprendizaje a distancia tiempo completo?
-
What if there aren't enough teachers available to work at a school due to teacher illness or exclusions?
¿Qué sucede si no hay suficientes maestros disponibles para trabajar en la escuela a causa de exclusiones o enfermedades?
-
My child needs a device to participate in distance learning. How do I get one?
Mi estudiante necesita un dispositivo (computadora/laptop) para participar en el aprendizaje a distancia. ¿Cómo obtengo uno?
-
May non-students, such as family members, observe or participate in a virtual lesson?
¿Pueden otros familiares en la casa observar o participar en una sesión virtual?
-
How will student privacy be protected during virtual lessons on Microsoft Teams or Zoom?
¿Cómo se protegerá la privacidad de los estudiantes durante las sesiones virtuales en Microsoft Teams o Zoom?
-
How does a child get cleared to come to school if they have one of them symptoms listed?
¿Cómo sea autoriza a un estudiante a regresar a la escuela si ha tenido algunos de los síntomas enumerados?
Other Reopening Resources
-
COVID Risk Meter FAQs
View the FAQs at: https://tmrpa.org/covid-wc-faq/
-
Executive Summary: Evidence and Guidance for In-Person Schooling during the COVID-19 Pandemic
PolicyLab-Executive-Summary-Evidence-Guidance-In-Person-Schooling-During-COVID-19.pdf 427.69 KB (Last Modified on October 23, 2020) -
Evidence and Guidance for In-Person Schooling during the COVID-19 Pandemic
PolicyLab-Policy-Review-Evidence-Guidance-In-person-Schooling-During-COVID-19.pdf 352.36 KB (Last Modified on October 23, 2020) -
Nevada Guidance for Safe Gatherings
COVID-19-Safe-Gatherings-Guidance-NVHealthResponse.pdf 640.28 KB (Last Modified on October 22, 2020)
Reopening Links
-
Nevada Guidance and Directives
Links to all of Governor Sisolak's directives and guidance
-
CDC Resources for schools