Additional Information Regarding Reopening Plans 2/2/21

Throughout the day, we have been taking questions and listening to thoughtful feedback from members of our community about our reopening plans.  Many of you have expressed excitement about this decision, and others have shared very understandable concerns.  We have a great deal of work ahead of us for this endeavor to be successful, and even our best plans will likely change as we move forward.  This message is intended to address some of the more common questions we are hearing today.

Anticipated Start Dates: Three Phases

1. Center School - All cohorts grades 3-4, return Thursday*, February 25^th
2. Middle School - All cohorts grades 5-8, return on Monday, March 1^st
3. High School - All cohorts grades 9-12, return on Monday, March 8^th

How did you decide which grades would come back first?
There was a great deal of discussion on this topic, and we ultimately decided that our youngest students have the most difficulty with remote learning, and they are the least independent.  This sequence was also discussed with the HTA during our negotiation process and agreed upon.  As we return all of our students, please understand that there are only ten days between the return for elementary school and high school students.  This will happen very quickly.  There are excellent reasons for bringing every student back first, but we had to go forward with a plan and we opted to start with our youngest students.

How will each school support students who are home for extended medical/personal reasons or quarantine?
We will be exploring several age-appropriate strategies to support students who will be away from school for an extended period of time.  These plans will evolve as we move forward.  Our current plans rely on multiple resources when a student is required to be out of school for quarantine, or other health or personal reasons.  Assignments and materials will be accessed asynchronously through the platforms currently in use: Google Classroom, See Saw, email, etc.  Teachers and students will be able to connect daily using these platforms and/or arrange a time to connect with the teacher via Zoom before or after school.  Extended absences have been challenging for generations, and our current reality increases the complexity and frequency of these situations.  Understanding this, we will continue to seek solutions to keep students connected when they are away from school.  

Will there be additional seats on the busses in the future?
As soon as the state changes the requirements for bus capacity and seating arrangements, then we will be able to increase ridership.  That decision may not come until later in the year when (hopefully) COVID-19 cases greatly diminish.  In the meantime, each principal is accepting requests from parents who have transportation challenges, and they will attempt to make accommodations wherever possible.  

What is “Pooled Testing” and how does it work?  Does everyone have to participate?
More information about this program will be shared in the days ahead as we implement the election process.  In the meantime, here are some basics about pooled testing:

• The purpose of pooled testing is:
  • To identify asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic individuals who are infected with COVID-19 at school.
  • Reduce the incidence of COVID-19 infection in our school and community.
  • Provide reassurance when no positive cases are identified.
• All students, educators, staff, and bus drivers are strongly encouraged to participate - but it is not mandatory.  Participation is voluntary and requires active consent.  
• Parents will be provided with a consent form for the program in the days ahead.  
• The more individuals who participate, the more valid our data will be and the more effective the program will be. We hope that everyone will participate!
• Pooled testing will be done for all consenting students, educators, staff, and bus drivers every week.
• People excluded from testing: symptomatic individuals, close contacts of a positive case within the quarantine period, or those who have tested positive within the prior 90 days.
• The “Pools” are 10 swabs or less (10 or fewer people per pool).  The pooled vials are sent to the Broad Institute for PCR testing.
• Students and staff are allowed to attend school while waiting for pool test results.
• We plan to test on Tuesdays and Fridays in order to obtain results when students are not in school so that any positive pools can be re-tested right away, and then receive their PCR tests right away.  We are trying to limit any loss of school time where it isn’t necessary. 
• The first six weeks are being funded by the State.  We will evaluate the effectiveness of the program before making a determination if we want to continue on our own.   

Process

• If a pool comes back positive, all members of the pool are required to stay home from school and have individual PCR testing through the Hanover Fire Department MIH Testing Program (drive-thru at the Hanover Senior Center). Results take less than 24 hours.
• Once the members of the positive pool test negative and are not identified as a close contact of the positive case, they may return to school.
• Testing takes 12 seconds per person and involves an anterior nasal swab (shallow nasal swab) of both nares.
• Our younger students will have their swab performed by a nurse or a paramedic.  Older students may be able to self swab.
• Testing will take place during the school day in the morning.  We expect less than 10 - 15 minutes of interruption of the class once/week.
• Testing is expected to begin the week of February 8 with a small pilot group, followed by a larger rollout after February vacation.
• We will be partnering with the Hanover Fire Department to roll out this program so please know your children are in excellent hands.  

Very Important Next Step: Official Election Process

Families must submit this election form for each child to indicate their intention to participate in the return to school plans -or- to pivot into (or out of) the Virtual Academy.  This election form must be submitted by Friday, February 5^th at 5:00 PM. 

We need a response for each student no matter what path you choose.  All classrooms need to be prepared for each and every returning student, therefore it is vital that your responses are submitted for every child in your household.  After submitting a response for one child, you will find a link to submit again as needed.  The survey closes Friday; please submit as soon as possible.  

If you have questions, please attend the School Committee meeting on Wednesday, February 3^rd, or contact your child's principal.  The public session for the School Committee meeting will begin at 7:00 PM. 

Sincerely,

Leah Miller, Chairperson, Hanover School Committee
Matt Ferron, Superintendent of Schools
Patricia Smith, Director of Health Services