2020- 2021 Restart Plan

On June 26, 2020, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) published “The Road
Back – Restart and Recovery Plan for Education” (NJDOE Guidance), a Guidance document to
assist New Jersey school districts to develop, in collaboration with community stakeholders, a
Restart and Recovery Plan (Plan) to reopen schools in September 2020 that best fits the school
district's local needs. The NJDOE Guidance presents information for New Jersey public school
districts related to four key subject areas: Conditions for Learning; Leadership and Planning;
Policy and Funding; and Continuity of Learning. Please note that this plan will be updated as
needed.

The Board of Education Restart and Recovery Plan has been developed to be consistent with the
requirements in the NJDOE Guidance with consideration of our local needs in order to ensure
our schools reopen safely and are prepared to accommodate students' unique needs during this
unprecedented time.

The requirements outlined in the NJDOE Guidance and incorporated into this Plan are controlled
by the Executive Order of the Governor of New Jersey and are subject to change. Our plan
attempts to provide a transition back to in-person schooling to the safest extent possible for our
students and our staff. While this is a plan, the recent pandemic has taught all of us that any plan
is subject to changes, small and large, based on the conditions related to the virus. To this end,
our initial schedule is a starting point (Phase I). Ultimately, if conditions allow, we would like to
move towards Phase II, more in-person learning for our students and ultimately, Phase III, being
a resemblance of a traditional school day/schedule. This plan provides flexibility as well, should
we need to move towards even more, or an exclusive remote learning model.

This document also clarifies that in-person instruction is a requirement of any plan. Among other
aspects of the guidance is the formulation of a district Restart Committee to provide input and
insight on the reopening plan. Our district’s Restart Committee (Return To School Task Force)
was composed of several subcommittees made up of teachers, administrators, parent
representatives, board representatives, health officials, school nurses, local teachers association,
support staff, IT department and our buildings and grounds supervisor. The district has also
consulted with, and remains in regular communication with the local health officer and the local
public health nurse as well as the mayor of Montvale and the school district physician.

At the heart of our opening plan are measures and protocols to keep our students and staff safe to
the greatest extent practicable. When moving around hallways and classrooms, face coverings
must be worn by students. Additionally, all staff will wear face coverings and many may also
wear face shields during the school day. As per the NJDOE guidelines, when social distancing
of 6 feet or more is possible, face coverings do not need to be worn by students. However, in an
abundance of caution, we are asking students to wear masks even while socially distanced in a
classroom. We are working to reduce the overall class size in every classroom so that social
distancing of at least 6 feet can be achieved. Students may also be taken outdoors at various
times during the in-person portion of instruction as weather allows.

All classroom windows will be opened and remain open during in-person learning. All
classrooms contain a unit ventilator system that pulls in fresh air from outside. We have
evaluated each unit, made all appropriate repairs to ensure that each unit is functioning properly.
Air conditioning units will operate if deemed safe by the local health officer and, as a matter of
routine maintenance, all filters have been inspected and cleaned as needed.
Hallways will be clearly marked to remind students of what side of the hallway to walk on and to
socially distance. As mentioned, face coverings will be required of students and staff while
moving through each school’s hallway. For the time being students will not use lockers at the
middle school and shared materials (i.e., books, toys, electronic devices) will only be allowed if
properly cleaned.

Hand sanitizing stations will be available in every classroom, at the entrance and exits in every
building and within bathrooms. Students who are ages 5 or under will be supervised when using
hand sanitizer. Regular and frequent hand washing will also be enforced. Minimally, students
will need to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds using soap after using the bathroom and
after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezing and after eating.
To the greatest extent possible, students will remain in the same cohort during in-person
instruction. On the elementary level, students will remain with their homeroom class.
Special-area classes (i.e., art, music, PE) will be delivered virtually or the special area teacher
will rotate into the homeroom. On the middle school level, students will also be divided into
cohorts and teachers will rotate to each cohort’s classroom to deliver instruction. For the time
being, locker rooms will not be utilized. Also, for the time being, there will be no off-campus
field trips, assembly programs, or lunch/recess period during the in-person school day.

Parents/guardians should not send a child to school if he/she exhibits any of the symptoms
related to COVID-19 is of the utmost importance. Parents or caregivers will be strongly
encouraged to monitor their children for signs of infectious illness every day. Temperatures will
be taken at arrival on the school campus. If a child has a fever (temperature of 100.4 or above) or
symptoms aligning with COVID-19, the child’s parent will be called immediately to pick up the
child. If the parent is not currently on-campus, the child will be escorted to a designated
quarantine room where the student will wait until a parent/guardian arrives to pick up the child.
Any signs/symptoms of COVID-19 will be documented.

Memorial Elementary:
Memorial School will be utilizing a one session day schedule where direct-instruction takes
place from 8:50 am to 12:55 pm. Students in kindergarten and grade one will be in their
classrooms every day. Students in grades two, three, and four will be attending school on
alternating days (groups A & B). On the days when students are learning from home, they will
be participating in remote learning. Grades 2-4 staff will be available to provide virtual support
to their students in the afternoon.

Fieldstone Middle School:
Fieldstone Middle School will be utilizing a one session day schedule during which instruction
will take place between 8:50 am to 12:55 pm. The first half of the day will be organized into six
forty minute periods during which mathematics, social studies, science, and expressive arts will
be offered. Language arts instruction will be provided during a double block of 80 minutes.
Students who are learning remotely on a full time basis as well as those who are home on
alternating days will continue to participate in instruction and learning activities through
live-streamed teacher presentations and by accessing posted assignments and resources on
Google Classroom.
Physical education/health and world language instruction will be provided remotely to all
students from 1:42-3:06 each day. All content area teachers will offer virtual support to students
on a rotating basis throughout the afternoon.

FMS Schedule:
● Our schedule will follow a hybrid/“A/B” model. (click here) Half of the student
population will attend class in-person 2 to 3 days per week, while the other half will
engage in remote learning 2 to 3 days per week. Please note that a number of students
will be participating solely in remote learning.
● Our morning schedule will be comprised of six 40 minute periods as follows:
○ Language arts - 80 minutes
○ Social Studies - 40 minutes
○ Science - 40 minutes
○ Math - 40 minutes
○ Expressive Arts - 40 minutes
*Art, Music, Industrial Arts, and Family Life will be taught to a single
grade level for each cycle.

● Our afternoon schedule will consist of three 25 minute periods during which world
language, study skills, and physical education/health, and content area support in all
subjects will be provided.
Cohorts/Student Groupings
● Cohorts of students are being organized and their composition will be reflective of our
ongoing practice of establishing heterogeneous groupings, placement recommendations
from previous grade level teams, and the coordination of family members’ schedules
across grades K-8.
● Cohorts will be situated in their homeroom locations throughout the single session day,
and teachers will circulate among classrooms.
Remote/Hybrid Learning
● As per the NJDOE mandate, we will be providing a full remote program for those
students whose parents have chosen this option.
● In order to deliver content at each grade level, we will livestream one period daily for
each curricular area.
● Teachers will deliver instruction via this platform to those students who are physically
present in the classroom as well as to those who are at home.
● Benefits of this practice include the consistent delivery of daily instruction to those
students who will be learning from home on any given day, thereby providing for
continuity of learning.

Special Education Specific Schedule Info for Memorial Elementary School and Fieldstone
Middle School:
Preschool:
Integrated Preschool: All students will follow a typical AM/PM full school day schedule daily.
Students will receive related services virtually during the session that they are not in school
in-person. It will be determined if certain students would benefit from the delivery of related
services virtually, while in the classroom, supported by a teaching assistant.
Preschool Disabled: All students will follow a single session day/daily, with related services and
any additional ABA therapy in the afternoon virtually. It will be determined if certain students
would benefit from the delivery of related services virtually, while in the classroom, supported
by a teaching assistant.
Self-Contained LLD classes:
In both schools will follow a single session day/daily, with related
services and additional support in the afternoon virtually. It will be determined if certain
students would benefit from the delivery of related services virtually, while in the classroom,
supported by a teaching assistant.
Students with pull-out replacement and in-class support (collaborative classes) - will follow the
same schedule as all general education students.

Memorial Elementary:
Parents/guardians should not send a child to school if their child exhibits any of the symptoms
related to COVID-19 is of the utmost importance. Parents or caregivers will be strongly
encouraged to monitor their children for signs of infectious illness every day. Students will be
entering the building through their designated doors in order to reduce large gatherings and allow
for social distancing. Also, students who arrive at school by bus will be utilizing the school’s
main doors to enter the building. As students enter the building, staff members will take each
student’s temperature. If a child has a fever (temperature of 100.4 or above), the child’s parent
will be called immediately to pick up the child. If the parent is not currently on-campus, the
child will be escorted to a designated quarantine room where the student will wait until a
parent/guardian arrives to pick up the child. Any signs/symptoms of COVID-19 will be
documented.

At dismissal, students will be dismissed through their assigned doors or their exterior classroom
door. Students who ride the bus will be dismissed through the front entrance of the school. These
students will wait for buses in designated locations. This will minimize large gatherings from
occurring.

Fieldstone:
Parents/guardians should not send a child to school if their child exhibits any of the symptoms
related to COVID-19 is of the utmost importance. Parents or caregivers will be strongly
encouraged to monitor their children for signs of infectious illness every day. Students will arrive
at designated doors and move to assigned areas where social distancing can be maximized.
Those arriving by bus will enter the building through the main entrance, and those being dropped
off by car will enter through the gym doors. As students exit cars and buses, staff members will
take each student’s temperature. If a child has a fever (temperature of 100.4 or above), the
child’s parent will be called immediately to pick up the child. If the parent is not currently
on-campus, the child will be escorted to a designated quarantine room where the student will
wait until a parent/guardian arrives to pick up the child. Any signs/symptoms of COVID-19 will
be documented.

Dismissal areas will be assigned to cohorts of students in order to promote social distancing.
Procedures will include staggered dismissal schedules from classrooms in order to minimize
gatherings in hallways. Teachers will dismiss their last period classes through designated exit
doors. Students will wait for buses in designated locations. In inclement weather, students will be
socially distanced in the hallways.

Montvale Schools’ staff and students will arrive each morning to schools that have been
intensively cleaned and disinfected the night before. The custodial supervisor and facilities
manager will inspect each school to ensure the facilities are ready to welcome the Montvale staff
and students for a robust day of learning. Fieldstone and Memorial will each have multiple
custodians working during the half day session who will be responsible for increased routine
cleaning throughout the day, including bathrooms, touch points (i.e. door handles, handrails,
light switches, etc), shared spaces and for spot cleaning as the needs arise. The evening custodial
team will be responsible for the detailed cleaning of the classrooms and schools, once cleaned,
each space will be disinfected. The traditional evening process will be augmented with
additional CDC approved COVID-19 disinfectants and the use of electrostatic guns cleaners.
The Montvale custodial staff receives on-going training in cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting
techniques and the proper use of PPE. The cleaning and sanitation plan for the school will be
monitored and adjusted as needed. Documentation of cleaning will be maintained by the business
office.

While ventilation is always important, in these unprecedented times the flow of outside air into
the schools is even more essential. The simplest way to accomplish this air flow is to open
windows and all staff are encouraged to open classroom windows whenever possible. In
addition, every classroom has a unit ventilator. Unit ventilators introduce outside air into the
classrooms. All the classrooms unit ventilators are functioning properly and the filters were
replaced over the summer months. We are also fortunate in Montvale to have beautiful fields
and outdoor classrooms at our schools, and staff are welcome to take their classes outside for
lessons and brain breaks throughout the day.

Our experiences during the remote learning school closure of the 2019-2020 school year
provided the district with valuable experiences and insight into the instructional needs of
students, families, and staff. This knowledge, which has been obtained through community
survey responses, many hours of committee meetings, community “town hall” discussions,
formal presentations, and other everyday methods of communication, has been aggregated and
incorporated into this reopening plan.

As should be the case with all school decisions, this plan’s approach to teaching and learning has
been designed with the best interests of students in mind. As such, the district has planned for a
maximum amount of live instructional experiences to be incorporated into the school day for
every student, regardless of whether they are learning in-person or remotely at home (see
“scheduling” sections for building information). The instructional approach has also been
designed to address the social, emotional, and academic needs of our youngest students, as they
require more direct instruction from their teachers and need daily interactions with their peers.
K-1 students will attend school every day, in-person, for a 1⁄2 day schedule. During this time
period, students will be exposed to all NJSLA-aligned content areas and receive opportunities to
participate in expressive arts courses (art, music, PE, library, world language) on a rotating basis.
Students and staff will have access to both pre-existing and new resources to support learning
throughout the upcoming school year. These tools include resources to support literacy, literacy
assessment, home learning (if necessary), and home/school communication. Section numbers
have been increased in both of these grade levels to allow for social distancing in every
classroom. Pre-K and LLD classes will also attend school in-person every day.

Students in grades 2-8 will participate in a hybrid model where students alternate attending
in-person lessons in school and participating in remote learning activities at home. Based on
community feedback and best practices in education, all students will have the opportunity to
receive live instructional experiences from their teacher(s) every day.

During the school day, teachers will live stream essential components of their lessons directly
from their classrooms to students who are assigned to be home on that day. Both the in-person
and remote student groups will receive live, synchronous instruction aligned to the learning
objectives for that day. In the afternoon, after the in-person students have returned home,
teachers will have additional sessions in the afternoon to “check-in” on student understanding
from the lesson and review any independent work that was assigned. This approach will better
support instructional pacing and minimize lost instructional time.

Live streaming instruction and afternoon “check-ins” will all be scheduled in advance, with
teachers receiving professional development and opportunities to collaborate on ways to best
utilize remote instructional time.

Montvale is planning to continue to run its traditional bus routes each morning and afternoon for
student transportation. Students who reside two miles or further from their school will be
provided courtesy busing as will students that have transportation specifications in their IEPs.
Should seats be available, subscription busing will be offered to other students.

Families and students will be notified of the importance of complying with the safety
expectations and guidelines for all students while traveling on a school bus.

While waiting at the bus stops, students and parents are encouraged to practice social distancing
and wear masks. Masks will be mandatory on the bus for all students and bus drivers.
School Bus companies have been informed about recommended guidelines to follow by the NJ
Department of Education and CDC. These include the following:

● Bus personnel (Drivers and Aides) are to wear masks.
● Bus personnel are reminded to frequently wash their hands.
● Bus Companies are required to clean and sanitize the vehicles daily.
● Students will be required to wear masks upon entering and leaving the bus, and during
the ride should social distancing not be possible.

Before care will begin at 7 a.m. and after care hours will begin immediately at the conclusion of
in-person learning. After care will end at 5 pm to allow the custodial staff ample time to full
clean and sanitize these locations. Students will only be allowed to attend on in-person school
days.

Registration and details about our program are being revised accordingly. The District will
continue to use CommunityPass for registration and monthly invoicing. Please be on the lookout
for MCC registration information mid-August.