The Peru Gazette

July 24th – This is an overview of our plan. The finished document will look much different but this is a chance for the public to see some of the planning steps and processes that the Peru Central School District has been working on as a leadership team and the Teachers’ leadership team. The final product will be posted on Friday, July 31st.

Redefining Readiness for Reopening

Required Components of the Peru Central School District Reopening Plan

•   Students and staff will be wearing masks all the time they are on campus.
•   Daily health screenings for employees and students.
•   Parents/guardians to screen their children before sending them to school.
•   Students could be randomly subject to temperature checks at school.
•   Contact tracing and coordination with local health department guidelines.
•   Daily cleaning and disinfecting protocols
•   School visitors will be restricted to those required for school business.
•   Students and staff will be trained on proper hand hygiene practices.
•   Shared books and supplies will be minimized and where used books (e.g. libraries books, trade books) supplies will be disinfected or allowed to remain untouched for three (3) days between use.
•   Parents are expected to fill out a questionnaire on Parent Square one (1) time per week in accordance to your child(ren)’s grade level. Additional guidance will be forthcoming.

  Operationalize Academic/Instructional Parameters for Reopening Prekindergarten-Grade 5

•   Grade Prek-5 is planned for everyday onsite instruction.
•   Due to social distancing requirements, all school spaces may be used as instructional spaces (e.g.

  classroom, cafeteria, special area classrooms).

•   The traditional instructional program will be modified with students learning form classroom teachers and

  at other times supervised by school personnel during times of independent or remote/livestream instruction from within the school buildings.

Grades 6 -12

•   Grade 6-12 is planned for an alternate day model with half of the students coming to school on two days a week and the other half of the students coming to school on the other two days a week. Remote Instruction will occur on the two days the students are not in school as well as Wednesday of any week that is five days for all students in 6-12.
•   On virtual instruction days, students will be required to participate in classroom work remotely and/or completed assignments Students expectations on virtual days will be determined by the teacher based on what will work best for the specific class and what is being learned. An example would be for students to complete an independent reading assignment at home and then have a discussion in class about the material read. Another example would be a flipped classroom where the students would watch the lesson remotely and then come into class the next day and work through guided practice of the skills that were taught.

  Specialized Services

•   Students in self-contained special education programs will be onsite daily when school is in session.
•   Students receiving special services will continue in receiving those services (E.g. ENL, speech).

  General School Information

•   Time dedicated during the first week of school to orientation for PreK-12 students to familiarize students with school and new protocols.
•   Families will be notified of the orientation schedule and official start date at the end of August. (August 21)
•   Alternate locations will be provided for students with severe food allergies as needed.
•   Where ever possible, hallway traffic will be one-way with appropriate signage.
•   Classes moving within the hallways will be regulated to reduce the number of students in the hallway at a

  given time.

•   There will be no field trips for the time being.
•   Filtration and ventilation will meet or exceed minimum requirements.
•   Teachers will be encouraged to have windows open and instruct parts of classes outdoors, where feasible.
•   Lockers will not be used at the 5-12 grade level.
•   Students will be asked to carry a reduced number of materials with them on a daily basis.

  Extra-Curricular, Athletics, Physical Education and Performing Arts.

•   Feasibility to provide physical education and performing arts given requirements to ensure 12 feet between participants is being assessed.
•   Currently, interscholastic sports are currently not permitted. Additional guidance is expected to be forthcoming.
•   Extra-curricular activities will be examined to determine which can be conducted virtually. Shift to virtual learning in the Event of School Building Closure due to COVID-19

•   In the event school buildings are compelled to close, school will resume virtually.
•   PreK-5 grade students will resemble the in-school schedule at home with a combination of synchronous

  (live on-line) and asynchronous (recorded) teacher lessons, online group work or small group instruction. Time spent on instruction will vary by grade level, however, students will engage with learning daily.

•   Grades 6-12 students will resemble the in-school schedule when at home with live, virtual instruction (most common method), blended with recorded teacher lessons, online group work, and small group instruction, Students will be engaged in learning activities when classes would have been in session.
•   Student and staff attendance will be taken daily.

  Student Grading and Reporting Practices

•   Grading protocols are being reviewed and will be shared at the start of school.
•   The District will issue report cards based on the scheduled cycle. At the high school, grades will factor into

  the students’ GPA.

•   PreK-5 report cards will be issued three times per year (Dec, March, June)
•   Grades 6-12 will be based on a traditional numeric grade issued on the quarterly report card.

  Transportation

•   Masks will be required on school buses.
•   Parents/guardians must screen their child(ren) for fever/signs of COVID prior to getting on the bus: sick

  students must be kept home.

•   Students will be assigned seats for appropriate social distancing.
•   Members of the same household /family may be required to sit together on the bus.
•   Parents are encouraged to drive their children where feasible.
•   Buses will be cleaned in between all runs with appropriate cleaning protocols
•   DUE TO CONTACT TRACING, BUS NOTES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED THIS YEAR.

  This document is subject to change based on new information that will come out throughout the course of the school year.

Peru Board of Education background information for the resolution to retire the term Indians and form a committee of stake holders to guide the process.

At the July 14th, School Board Meeting the Peru Central School Board of Education voted to retire the “Indians” name and mascot for the Peru Central School District. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Palmer has been directed to assemble a stakeholder task force, inclusive of community members, students and staff, to develop a new Peru name that will carry forward into the future while still respecting the proud traditions and school spirit that Peru School and the entire community has displayed over the years.

As part of the District’s efforts to provide a more inclusive environment in line with its
Mission and Core Beliefs: “We value inclusivity and hold diversity and respect paramount.” The Board of Education believes that it has the responsibility to correct the culturally inappropriate use of the term “Indians” as a logo, in media or as a mascot. The Board of Education is respectful of the past and the pride that was exhibited over the years through the success Peru has accomplished and does not diminish those proud traditions. It is time to move forward and adopt a new nickname/mascot for the district that creates a more inclusive environment for future generations.