Executive Order 2020-35, this letter shall serve as ......Plan for Student Learning: Build on each...
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April 14, 2020 Mr. Michael Coykendall 217 W. Walnut St. Hastings, MI 49058 Dear Michael: Consistent with Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-35, this letter shall serve as official notification that the Ferris State University Charter Schools Office has reviewed the Battle Creek Monterssori Academy (BCMA) Continuity of Learning Plan and it has been approved. Thank you and the entire BCMA team for your attention to this important matter. Two important things now need to happen: 1. The full Board needs to hold a meeting to approve the plan, PRIOR to April 28, 2020. Since the Stay Home Order will still be in effect at this time, this meeting should be conducted electronically. 2. The approved plan (attached here with signature) must be placed on the academy’s website. These are unprecedented times in our country and the K-12 field, and it seems that every day brings new information, guidance, and requirements for all of us. As your Authorizer, we remain committed to helping our academies navigate these issues and to providing support to you and the academy staff in successfully enacting their remote learning plan, Please do not hesitate to contact Sharon Hopper ([email protected]) if you have any questions about virtual Board meetings, or me ([email protected]) if I can be of any assistance. Thank you, take care, and remain safe. Sincerely, Ronald S. Rizzo, Ph.D. Director cc. Ms. Jessica Eldridge, Headmaster Mr. Stan Rathbun, Choice Schools Associates Ms. Sharon Hopper, CSO Mr. Art Willick, CSO TRANSMITTED VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
Transcript of Executive Order 2020-35, this letter shall serve as ......Plan for Student Learning: Build on each...
April 14, 2020 Mr. Michael Coykendall 217 W. Walnut St. Hastings, MI 49058 Dear Michael: Consistent with Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-35, this letter shall serve as official notification that the Ferris State University Charter Schools Office has reviewed the Battle Creek Monterssori Academy (BCMA) Continuity of Learning Plan and it has been approved. Thank you and the entire BCMA team for your attention to this important matter. Two important things now need to happen:
1. The full Board needs to hold a meeting to approve the plan, PRIOR to April 28, 2020. Since the Stay Home Order will still be in effect at this time, this meeting should be conducted electronically.
2. The approved plan (attached here with signature) must be placed on the academy’s website. These are unprecedented times in our country and the K-12 field, and it seems that every day brings new information, guidance, and requirements for all of us. As your Authorizer, we remain committed to helping our academies navigate these issues and to providing support to you and the academy staff in successfully enacting their remote learning plan, Please do not hesitate to contact Sharon Hopper ([email protected]) if you have any questions about virtual Board meetings, or me ([email protected]) if I can be of any assistance. Thank you, take care, and remain safe. Sincerely,
Ronald S. Rizzo, Ph.D. Director cc. Ms. Jessica Eldridge, Headmaster Mr. Stan Rathbun, Choice Schools Associates Ms. Sharon Hopper, CSO Mr. Art Willick, CSO
TRANSMITTED VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
ContinuityofLearningandCOVID-19ResponsePlan
BattleCreekMontessoriAcademy
April2020
AsaresultofCOVID-19andtheclosingofschoolbuildingsforthe2019-2020SchoolYear,schooldistrictsmustsubmitaContinuityofLearningandCOVID-19ResponsePlan(“Plan”)inordertocontinuetoreceivestateaidforoperations.Althoughschoolsareclosedandnotprovidingin-personinstruction,teachingandlearningmustcontinue.Michiganeducatorshavebeencalledtoprovideourstudentswithcontinuedlearning.
Therearevariedstatesofreadinesstoprovidecontinuityinlearningamongdistricts.Evenwithindistrictsofmultipleschoolsites,therearevariedstatesofreadiness.Itisexpectedthatschoolswillprovideinstructionatadistanceusingavarietyofmethodsthatmeetlocalneeds,includingprintedmaterials,phonecontact,email,virtuallearning,oracombinationtomeetstudentneeds.Weshouldavoidassumingthatcontinuityinlearningcanonlyoccurthroughonlinemeans.
Whilemanyeducatorshavebeenprovidingdistancelearningopportunities,theGovernor’sExecutiveOrder(EO2020-35)requiresallschoolstobeginprovidinglearningopportunitiesforallstudentsnolaterthanApril28,2020.Districtswhoareabletobegintheirplansearlierareencouragedtodoso.
EachDistrictshallsubmitasinglecompletedAssuranceDocument,BudgetOutline,andContinuityofLearningPlantoitsIntermediateSchoolDistrict.EachPublicSchoolAcademyshallsubmitacompletedAssuranceDocument,BudgetOutline,andContinuityofLearningPlantoitsAuthorizer.AsingleApplicationshouldbefiledforthedistrictratherthanmultipleapplicationsforindividualschoolswithinadistrict.ThefollowingitemsarerequiredfortheapplicationwhichmaybesubmittedbeginningApril8,2020:
1. AssurancesDocument2. ContinuityofLearningPlan3. BudgetOutline
ContinuityofLearningandCOVID-19ResponsePlan(“Plan”)GuidingPrinciples
AsDistrictsandPublicSchoolAcademiescompletetheAssurancesandContinuityofLearningPlans,theyshouldconsiderutilizingthefollowingprinciplestoguidetheirwork:
KeepStudentsattheCenter
Intentionaloutreachtocontinuebuildingrelationshipsandmaintainconnections.Helpstudentsfeelsafeandvalued.Atminimum,plantodothefollowing:
● PlanforStudentLearning:Buildoneachstudent’sstrengths,interests,andneedsandusethisknowledgetopositivelyaffectlearning.
● DevelopaWeeklyPlanandSchedule:Offerroutinesandstructuresforconsistencyandforthebalancingofthinktime,worktime,andplaytimeforhealthandwell-being.
● ContactFamilies:Partnertosupportstudentlearningthroughongoingcommunicationandcollaboration.Thiswillnotlookthesameforeverystudentandfamily—safetyremainsthepriority.Providetranslationsasnecessary.
DesignLearningforEquityandAccess
Plananddelivercontentinmultiplewayssoallstudentscanaccesslearning.
● TeachContent:Setgoalsusingknowledgeofeachstudent,contentareastandards,andofMichiganMeritCurriculum.
● DeliverFlexibleInstruction:Considerhowtodelivercontentdependingontoolsandresourcesaccessibletoeachstudent.Alternativemodesofinstructionmayincludeuseofonlinelearning,telephonecommunications,email,virtualinstruction,videos,slideshows,project-basedlearning,useofinstructionalpackets,oracombinationtomeetdiversestudentneeds.
● EngageFamilies:Communicatewithfamiliesaboutengagementstrategiestosupportstudentsastheyaccessthelearning.Familiesarecriticalpartners.Providetranslationsasnecessary.
AssessStudentLearning
Manageandmonitorstudentlearningandplanwhat’snextforlearningincluding
thepotentialneedforsummerandsupplementallearning.
● CheckStudentLearning:Useavarietyofstrategiestomonitor,assess,andprovidefeedbacktostudentsabouttheirlearning.
● MakeInstructionalAdjustments:Useformativeassessmentresultstoguideeducators’reflectiononeffectivenessof instructionandtodeterminenextstepsforstudentlearning.
● EngageFamilies:Communicatewithfamiliesaboutassessmentresultsinordertoinformnextstepsandthepotentialforsupplementalsummerlearning.Providetranslationsasnecessary.
ContinuityofLearningandCOVID-19ResponsePlan(“Plan”)Assurances
DateSubmitted:
NameofDistrict:BattleCreekMontessoriAcademy
AddressofDistrict: 399N20thStreet,Springfield,MI49037
DistrictCodeNumber:13900
EmailAddressoftheDistrict:[email protected]
NameofAuthorizingBody:FerrisStateUniversity
ThisAssurancedocumentneedstobereturnedtoyourIntermediateSchoolDistrictor,forPublicSchoolAcademies,yourAuthorizingBodywithyourContinuityofLearningPlanandBudgetOutlinebeginningApril8,2020toindicatethattheDistrictwilladoptaplantoensurecontinuouslearningforallstudentsthroughtheremainderofthe2019-2020schoolyear.
Districtsshouldsubmitasingledistrictplanthatrelatestoalloftheirschools.
TheapplicantherebyprovidesassuranceitwillfollowtherequirementsforaPlanfortheremainderofthe2019-2020schoolyear:
1. Applicantassuresthatallstudentlearningwilltakeplaceunderthedirectionofateacherofrecordforeachstudentenrolledinthedistrict.
2. Applicantassuresthatitwillcontinuetopayschoolemployeesduringthebalanceofthe2019-2020schoolyearunderthesametermsandconditionsestablishedpriortotheschoolclosureorderperiod.
3. ApplicantassuresthatthePlanwasdevelopedincollaborationwithdistrictadministrators,schoolboardmembers,teachers,andlocalbargainingunits.
4. Applicantassuresthatfooddistributionhasbeenarrangedfororprovidedforeligiblestudents.
5. ApplicantassurescoordinationbetweenapplicantandIntermediateSchoolDistrictinwhichtheDistrict/PSAislocatedtomobilizedisasterreliefchildcarecenters.
6. ApplicantassuresthattotheextentpracticabletheDistrict/PSAwillingoodfaithprovidestudentswithIEPs/Section504Planstheopportunitytoparticipateinlearningconsistentwithexistingplans.
7. ApplicantassuresthatContinuityofLearningandCOVID-19ResponsePlan,AssuranceDocument,andBudgetOutlinewillbepostedimmediatelyfollowingapprovaltotheDistrict’s/PSA’swebsite.
ContinuityofLearningandCOVID-19ResponsePlan(“Plan”)
ThegoalofaContinuityofLearningPlanandCOVID-19ResponsePlanistoensurethateachDistrictorPublicSchoolAcademyisproviding,tothebestofitsability,eachstudentwithalternativemodesofinstructiontohelpthemstayonpaceintheirlearning.Thisapplicationrecognizesthatthereisno“one-size-fits-all”solution;multiplemeansofengagingstudentsandsupportingfamiliesmaybenecessarythatmayvarybygradelevel,schoolbuilding,orstudentpopulationserved.
ForthepurposesofthePlan,“district”referstoschooldistrictsandpublicschoolacademies.
DateSubmitted:APRIL 9, 2020
NameofDistrict:BattleCreekMontessoriAcademy
AddressofDistrict:399N20thStreet,SpringfieldMI49037
DistrictCodeNumber:13900
EmailAddressoftheDistrictSuperintendent:[email protected]
BoardContact:MikeCoykendall,BoardPresident/StanRathbun,BoardLiaison
NameofAuthorizingBody:FerrisStateUniversity
InaccordancewithExecutiveOrder2020-35aPlanmustincludeallofthefollowingparts:
1. Pleasedescribethemethodsthedistrictwillusetoprovidealternativemodesofinstructionotherthanin-personinstructionandasummaryofmaterialseachpupilandthepupil’sparentsorguardianswillneedtoaccessmeaningfullythealternativemodesofinstructionincludedinthePlan.IfthePlanreliesonelectronicinstruction,thePlanmustensuretotheextentfeasiblethatpupilshaveaccesstoaconnecteddevicecapableofaccessingtheelectronicinstructionandmustnotpenalizeapupilforthepupil’sinabilitytofullyparticipate.
“Alternativemodesofinstruction”meansmodesofpupilinstruction,otherthanin-personinstruction,thatmayinclude,withoutlimitation,partnershipswithotherdistrictsorintermediatedistrictsorcommunitycollegesorinstitutionsofhighereducation,useofvendors,useofonlinelearning,telephonecommunications,email,virtualinstruction,videos,slideshows,project-basedlearning,useofinstructionalpackets,orahybridofmultiplemodesoflearningthatstillpromoterecommendedpracticesforsocialdistancingtomitigatethespreadofCOVID-.
District/PSAResponse:
BattleCreekMontessoriwillbeprovidinginstructiononlinethroughuseofFreckleandKhanAcademy.Studentsandteacherswillmeetaminimumofonceperweekforvirtuallessons.Familiescanaccessweeklyworkplansonourwebpage,https://battlecreekmontessori.com/online-continued-learning/.Throughinformationobtainedfroman“AccesstoTechnology”Survey,BattleCreekMontessoriAcademyhasidentifiedstudentswhowillneedalaptoporchromebooktobecheckedoutfromtheschoolforhomeuse.FamiliesmayalsochoosetohaveMichiganStandardAlignedpacketsmailedtothemweekly,inplaceoftheonlinelearningplatform.
2. Pleasedescribethemethodsthedistrictwillusetokeeppupilsatthecenterofeducationalactivities,includingoutreachtocontinuebuildingrelationshipsandmaintainconnections,andtohelppupilsfeelsafeandvalued.
District/PSAResponse:
BattleCreekMontessoriAcademywillusetheAcademy’swebsite,socialmedia,USPostalmail,email,amongstotheravenuestocontinuecommunicationwithstudentsandfamilies.BattleCreekMontessoriAcademystaffwillreachouttofamiliesatleastonceaweektoprovideguidance,assurance,andtonurtureschool-homerelationships.Teacherswillmaintainregularofficehours,inwhichtheycanrespondtostudentrequests.Forstudentswhohavespecialeducationprogramsandservices,wewillbeinitiatingacontingencyplan,withparentinput,toaddresstheneedsofeachindividualstudent.StudentswithIEPswillbeprovidedwithlearningopportunitiesinthesamemannerasgeneraleducationstudents.Theselearningopportunitieswillincludeaccessibilityoptionsaswellasmaterialsthathavebeenaccommodatedandmodified.Teacherswillbesupportingstudentsthroughvirtual,socialmedia,orphonecontact.
3. Pleasedescribethedistrict’splanstodelivercontentinmultiplewayssothatallpupilscanaccesslearning.
District/PSAResponse:
BattleCreekMontessoriAcademywillusemultipleresourcestodeliverinstruction,inadditiontoFreckleandKhanAcademy,teacherswillteachlessonsusingZoom.Packetswillbemailedouttostudentsonaweeklybasisforthosestudentswhodonothaveaccesstotechnologyorpreferpacketworkoveronlinework.FamilieswillreceiveweeklyplansFridayafternoonforthefollowingweek,theseplansarealsopostedonline,https://battlecreekmontessori.com/online-continued-learning/.Forstudentswhohavespecialeducationprogramsandservices,wewillbeinitiatingacontingencyplan,withparentinput,toaddresstheneedsofeachindividualstudent.StudentswithIEPswillbeprovidedwithlearningopportunitiesinthesamemannerasgeneraleducationstudents.Theselearningopportunitieswillincludeaccessibilityoptionsaswellasmaterialsthathavebeenaccommodatedandmodified.Teacherswillbesupportingstudentsthroughvirtualorphonecontact.
4. Pleasedescribethedistrict’splanstomanageandmonitorlearningbypupils.
District/PSAResponse:
Teachersareencouragedtomakeaminimumofonceperweekofindividualizedcontactwiththeirstudentstoprovideassignments,discusscompletedworks,reassignactivitiesthatdidnotmeetmastery,provideadditionalresourcesforlearning,answerquestionsfromlessonworkprovided,andcheckontheirwellbeing.Studentscompletingpacketswillsharepicturesoftheircompleteworkviaphotos,sharedthroughRemindoremail.Studentsandfamiliesareencouragedtoalsoreachouttotheirteachers.Thiswillallowtheteachertoassesstheprogressandlearningneedsofthestudent.Allteachers,uponthestartofthe20-21schoolyear,willassessstudents’pre-existingknowledgeincludingthecontentfromthefinal19-20schoolyeartrimester.
5. PleaseattachabudgetoutlineestimatingadditionalexpendituresassociatedwiththePlanandsourcesofrevenuetopayforthoseexpenditures.
District/PSAResponse:
Postageformailingpacketshome
$150Weeklyfor8weeks
1,200.00
GF
Additionalpaperandinkcosts
$50weeklyfor8weeks
400.00
GF
Stipendforinternet/datastaff
$60permonthfortwomonths,20staffmembers
2,460.00
GF
Gradelevelappropriatebooks
$20perstudent,180students
3,600.00
GF
Total 7,660.00
6. Pleasedescribethemannerinwhichdistrictadministrators,boardmembers,teachers,andanyrepresentativesofteacherscollaboratedindevelopmentofthePlan.
District/PSAResponse:
Schooladministrationpartneredwithrepresentativesfromtheeducationalstaff,membersofthemanagementcompany,andotherschoolleaderstocreate,discussandprovideinputfortheplan.Theplanwasthengiventorepresentativesofteachingstafftodiscussandprovideinput,oncefeedbackwasreceivedtheplanwasfinalized.ThePlanwascommunicatedtotheSuperintendentwhointurn,communicatedtheinformationtotheschoolboardforapproval.
7. PleasedescribethemethodsthedistrictwillusetonotifypupilsandparentsorguardiansofthePlan.
District/PSAResponse:
BattleCreekMontessoriAcademywillprovidetheinformationontheplantostudentsandparentsimmediatelyuponapproval.Aformalletterwillbewrittentoourcommunityoutliningstudentandparentexpectations,aswellasaccesstotheentireplan.ThisletterwillbesentthroughMailChimptoparentcontactinformationandviaUSPostalMail.ThisletterwillalsobepostedtoourschoolFacebookpagetoensureparentshavebeencontacted.TheplanwaspostedtoourwebsiteandamessagewillbesentviaSchoolMessengertoparentstoinformthemofthislocation.
8. PleaseprovideanestimateofthedateonwhichthedistrictwillbeginimplementationofthePlan,whichmustbenolaterthanApril28,2020.
District/PSAResponse:
ThedistrictestimatesthatthePlanwillbeimplementednolaterthanApril20,2020.
9. Pleasedescribetheassistance,totheextentfeasible,topupilsenrolledinanypostsecondarydualenrollmentcoursesunderPublicActof,asamended,MCLandCareerandTechnicalPreparationAct,PA,asamended,MCL.toincompletingthecoursesduringthe-schoolyear.
District/PSAResponse:
N/A
10. Pleasedescribehowthedistrictwillcontinuetoprovideorarrangefor
continuationoffooddistributiontoeligiblepupils.
District/PSAResponse:
BattleCreekMontessoriregisteredfortheSchoolMealsClosureProgram,andfamilieswerealertedbyemail,Remind,Facebook,andourwebsiteoftheschoolsthatprovideamealprogram(includingBattleCreekMontessori).FamilieshavealsobeenreferredtousetheSchoolClosureMealProgram(MeetUpandEatUp)interactivemap,ortextFOODto877-877,tofindmealsintheirimmediatearea.Familieswerealsoreferredtolocalfoodpantries,viaemail,bycalling211andthroughourschoolwebsite’sCOVID-19resourcewebpage.MealscanbepickedupMondaythroughFridayatBattleCreekMontessoriAcademyfrom11:30a.m.-12:30p.m.inourparkinglot.Eachchildreceivesabreakfastandlunch.
11. PleaseconfirmthatthedistrictwillcontinuetopayschoolemployeeswhileredeployingstafftoprovidemeaningfulworkinthecontextofthePlan,subjecttoanyapplicablerequirementsofacollectivebargainingagreement.
District/PSAResponse:
AllemployeesareexpectedtoparticipateintheapprovedContinuityofLearningPlanandmaybeaskedbytheschoolleadertoworkinaroledifferentthanwhatwasintheiroriginalofferofat-willemploymentforthe2019-2020schoolyear.Schoolleaderswilltakeeachemployee'sstrengthsandgrowthplansintoconsiderationwhenmakingtheseassignmentsandwillcommunicatethemclearlyinwritingtoeachhourlyemployeeassignedtoadifferentrolethanwhatwasstatedintheirofferofat-willemployment.
EmployeesassignedtotheAcademyintheboard-approvedbudgetwillbepaidasoutlinedintheirsignedofferofat-willemploymentforthe2019-2020schoolyear.Theoffersofat-willemploymentforthe2019-2020schoolyearhavenotbeenamendedduetocircumstancessurroundingCOVID-19.Iftheschool'sspringbreakfallsduringtheclosure,hourlystaffwillbepaidandwillnothavetousePaidTimeOff(PTO).TeachersarerequiredtoprovidetheirstudentswithlearningopportunitiesasoutlinedintheapprovedContinuityofLearningPlanandinaccordancewiththeexpectationsoftheschoolleader.
Ataminimum,hourlystaffwillbepaidbasedontheaveragenumberofhoursworkedduringanormalweek.Theaveragehoursofanormalweekwillnotincludeovertime.Iftheschoolleaderasksanhourlyemployeeinwritingandinadvancetoworkbeyondtheaveragenumberofhoursofanormalweek,thehourlyemployeewillbepaidforthoseleaderapprovedhours.Hourlyemployeeswillbeaskedbytheschoolleadertohelpwithtaskstoassistwiththecontinuityoflearningplans.
12. ProvideadescriptionofhowthedistrictwillevaluatetheparticipationofpupilsinthePlan.
District/PSAResponse:
Ifastudentdoesnothaveaccesstotechnology,teacherswillkeeptrackofwhichstudentsarecompletingtheweeklyinstructionalpacketsviaparentandstudentcontactsviaphone,email,Remind,andFacebook.Ifastudenthasaccesstotechnology,teacherswillusetheinstructionalplatformtomonitorstudentwellbeing,engagement,andcompletionofassignments.Teacherswillalsokeepalogofcommunicationwithstudentsandfamiliestoensurecommunicationwithparentsandstudents.Whencompletionand/orcommunicationfromstudentsareinconsistent,staffwillintervenetoensureaconnectionismade.Asupportteamofstaffmembershasbeenestablishedforthispurpose.Ifcommunicationcannotbeestablishedfollowinginterventionbythesupportteam,theschoolleaderwillcollaboratewiththeteacheranddevelopaplantoconnectwiththestudentandfamily.
13. PleasedescribehowthedistrictwillprovidementalhealthsupportstopupilsaffectedbyastateofemergencyorstateofdisasterpromptedbyCOVID-19.
District/PSAResponse:
Aspartofthecommunicationwithstudents,teacherswilltalkaboutquestions,fears,concerns,andideasthattheirstudentsmayhaveduringthiscrisis.BelowareresourcestosharewithparentstohelpthemtalkwiththeirstudentabouttheCOVID-19outbreak:
● Talkingtokidsaboutthecoronavirus–ChildMind● JustforKids:Acomicexploringthenewcoronavirus–NPR● Talkingtoteensandtweensaboutcoronavirus–NYTimes● PBSvideosandresources● JEDFoundation-JEDexiststoprotectemotionalhealthandprevent
suicideforournation'steensandyoungadults.Text"START"to741-741orcall1-800-273-TALK(8255)○ https://www.jedfoundation.org/covid-19-and-managing-
mental-health/● Coping&DealingwithCOVIDviaCDC● NationalAssociationofSchoolPsychologists● SupportingstudentswithAutismSpectrumDisorderandCOVID-19
Additionally,theprincipalwillholdweeklymeetingswithteacherstoidentifyanyadditionalstudentsorfamiliesinneed.Iftherearespecificconcernssharedbyteachers,staffwillreachouttofamiliesandstudentstoassessanyneedsandprovidesupportsforstudentsandfamilies.
MentalHealthHelp:24-HourCrisisPhoneNumber
CalhounCounty
• 800-632-5449
14. PleasedescribehowthedistrictwillsupporttheeffortsoftheintermediatedistrictinwhichthedistrictislocatedtomobilizedisasterreliefchildcarecentersasdescribedintheExecutiveOrder-oranyexecutiveorderthatfollowsit.
District/PSAResponse:
Atthistimethelogisticalabilitytoallowfordisasterreliefchildcarewasnotanoption.Parentscangotowww.helpmegrow-mi.org/essentialtofindchildcare.
Optionalquestion:
15. DoestheDistrictplantoadoptabalancedcalendarinstructionalprogramfortheremainderoftheschoolyear?DoestheDistrictplantoadoptabalancedcalendarinstructionalprogramforthe-schoolyear?
District/PSAResponse:
Notatthistime
NameofDistrictLeaderSubmittingApplication:JessicaEldridgeDate
Approved:4/14/2020
NameofISDSuperintendent/AuthorizerDesignee:Dr. David Eisler, President,
Ferris State University
DateSubmittedtoSuperintendentandStateTreasurer:4/14/2020
ConfirmationapprovedPlanispostedonDistrict/PSAwebsite:4/22/2020
