2020 Reopening Plan

2020 Reopening Plan

Click on the links below to review Neshannock Township School District’s board-approved reopening plan:

• Reopening Plan: Neshannock Memorial Elementary School (Grades K-6)
• Reopening Plan: Neshannock Jr./Sr. High School (Grades 7-12)
  • Hybrid students in Group A are to attend in-person on Tuesday, September 8.
  • Hybrid students in Group B are to attend in-person on Wednesday, September 8.
  • Hybrid students are to attend virtually on school days when they are not learning in-person.

Parent Response Required:  Selection of Learning Options and Transportation Arrangements

Parents and caregivers are to select their chosen learning option and transportation arrangements for their student through this digital response form.  This form will need to be submitted  for each student. Please be sure to carefully review the reopening plan prior to submitting responses.  Responses must be submitted no later than Wednesday, August 12, 2020.  

Reopening:  A Collaborative Decision-Making Process

Three focus groups – comprised of administrators, teachers, medical professionals, and parents – were dedicated to creating a safe reopening plan for Neshannock Township School District.  Health and safety guidelines provided by the CDC, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and Pennsylvania Department of Education have guided all decisions for our finalized reopening plans.   Plans were constantly evolving as the committees actively examined every detail while also trying to anticipate factors beyond the control of the District.  In addition to preparing the physical space, we also continued to prepare the virtual learning environment for our learners who are not comfortable returning to the brick and mortar setting.  

The learning options presented within this document are the result of months of dedicated analyzing, revising, and planning. In the face of uncertainty, the committees feel confident that these are the best possible options for the staff, students, and families of Neshannock Township School District at this time.

Our first day of school will be Tuesday, September 8. Given Lawrence County remains in the green phase, these options will be in effect through October 30. The committees will continue meeting to discuss possible revisions and/or extensions throughout the first quarter. Any such revisions and/or extensions of the learning options will be announced by October 9, 2020.

Elementary Virtual Program:  This enhanced online learning option will allow students in Grades K-6 to experience school through a virtual learning environment on a Google Classroom platform. This format will allow Neshannock teachers, dedicated exclusively to cyber instruction, to deliver Neshannock curriculum at the same pace as our in-person learners. Cyber teachers will present both live instruction and pre-recorded instruction on a daily basis. Should our online learners decide to switch to in-person instruction later in the school year, the transition will be rather seamless as the coursework will mirror that of their peers already enrolled in the in-person learning option.

Jr./Sr. High Full Virtual Program:  This enhanced online learning option will allow students to experience school through a virtual learning environment on our Schoology platform. This format will allow Neshannock teachers to deliver Neshannock curriculum at the same pace as our hybrid learners. NTSD teachers will present pre-recorded instruction and assignments on a daily basis. There will be established times for both posting of assignments by teachers and completion of assignments by students. Should our online learners decide to switch to hybrid instruction (or full-time in-person instruction, if possible) later in the school year, the transition will be rather seamless as the coursework will mirror that of their peers already enrolled in the hybrid learning option.

Jr/Sr. High Hybrid Instruction:  All students in Grades 7-12 have the option of receiving instruction through a hybrid learning option. For this option, students will receive both in-person and virtual instruction, using Neshannock’s Schoology platform, in an alternating, every other day schedule. NTSD teachers will present pre-recorded instruction and assignments for students to access, with established teacher posting times and student completion times, on their off-campus instructional days.