Frequently Asked Questions October 13, 2020

Q: How will we know which school supplies need to come to school and what should stay home? 

A: This will be communicated by your child’s Homeroom teacher (F2F students only) but a good rule of thumb will be to bring back all school supplies that were sent home in August. Teachers will have individual storage spaces for all student materials, limiting sharing and cross contamination. 

Q: Do Chromebooks/iPads need to be brought to and from school each day? 

A: Yes! We are asking that students K-5 bring their technology to and from school each day. If this is difficult for our younger students, they can opt to leave their technology in the classroom but if we need to go virtual, it may be difficult to get into school to retrieve it at a later time. Students will also have the option to bring a personal device as well. The district plans to go 1:1 with technology in mid November. 

Q: What happens when a MB student or family member tests positive for Covid?

• If a student or staff person tests positive and self-reports, information should be reported to HR and health services by the school principal.
• Employees should follow the guidelines provided by their healthcare provider.
• District will prepare and provide communication letter to send home to parents. Phone calls are also made in follow up for individuals identified as close contact.
• The district, in consultation with the local boards of health, will provide the names of individuals determined to have been in close contact for case consultation.
• Depending on the outcome of the investigation, a determination is made as to whether a partial closure is needed or whether select individuals need to be quarantined.

Q: If a student is quarantined due to symptoms of COVID 19, when can they return to school for F2F learning? 

A: A student can return to school when a family member can ensure that they can answer YES to ALL three questions: 

• Has it been at least 10 days since the child first had symptoms? 
• Has it been at least 24 hours since the child had a fever (without using fever reducing medicine)? 
• Has it been at least 24 hours since the child’s symptoms have improved, including cough and shortness of breath? 
• OR If a person has had a negative COVID-19 test, they can return to school once there is no fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines and they have felt well for 24 hours. 

Q: What are the requirements for daily health screening? 

A: The school will do a health screening (temp check and health questions) to any students, faculty and staff that enter the building each day. Parents should check for signs of illness and/or symptoms of COVID each morning.

Q: Are visitors or volunteers allowed in the buildings? 

A: For the time being, visitors will not be allowed past the front office of either building unless for special circumstances like an IEP or critical student meeting which would have to be pre-arranged. 

Q: What happens if I drop my child off, or if they come via bus, and they register with a fever? 

A: If a child is screened and determined to have a fever which may result in COVID-19 symptoms, they will be directed to our CARE rooms located within each building where they will be separated from other students in a comfortable and safe environment until a parent or guardian is able to pick them up. More information on CARE rooms are below: 

• Staff or students that present with symptoms of communicable disease (fever, cough, runny nose) during health screenings should be evaluated by the school nurse for further follow up.
• If symptoms are confirmed, symptomatic individuals will be escorted to the designated area at the school and parents will be contacted for pick up and provided further guidance by the school nurse. Schools will ensure symptomatic students safely remain under the supervision of a staff member until parents or guardians arrive.
• Individuals presenting with a fever cannot return until symptom-free for 24 hours without fever reducing medications. If a healthcare provider suspects COVID-19, they should remain out of school and follow the “Return to School and Child Care Guidance After COVID-19 Illness or Exposure.”
• Cleaning and disinfection of the designated space will take place within 24 hours following the student’s departure, per DPH guidelines.

Q: What happens if my child forgets his or her mask? 

A: Morris Brandon has extra masks and PPE supplies for every student. Should a student forget, lose, or damage their mask, a new one will be provided free of charge. 

Q: If we come back f2f and then change our minds, how will we make the change to virtual? 

A: If a family decides to remove their child from F2F learning and opt for a virtual learning environment, they must email the school Principal who will hear the appeal on a case by case basis. Students will have the option to either remain F2F, move to site based virtual, or move to Atlanta Virtual Academy depending on space in the virtual setting. Students will not be able to be moved from virtual to F2F until the 2nd 9 weeks are completed on 1/19/2021. 

Q: If my child is sick, with COVID or anything else, and cannot come to school, will they be able to learn virtually? 

A: If a child is sick (non-COVID) they will complete classroom work and assignments upon return similar to a typical absence. Teachers will continue to post assignments in Google Classroom and make up work can be completed when the child is well. If a student is diagnosed with COVID or in quarantine based on potential exposure (<10 days) they will join the virtual grade level classroom until it is time to return. This is for confirmed or suspected COVID cases only and for an extended amount of time, not the typical 1-5 day absence. .

Q: How will carpool be run in the afternoons so children aren’t congregating outside of their cohort? 

A: Carpool will be dismissed from student classrooms using a Google Doc that will be filled out in real time and projected onto classroom Digital boards. Students will need to listen to their teacher for their carpool numbers and be prepared to dismiss each day from the classroom. 

Q: Will after school be an option when we return for F2F? 

A: Yes! The Hive will be running as usual when we return to F2F. They will reach out with more information in regards to safety and planning. 

Q: What do the results of the survey look like? 

A: 807/858 Intent-to-Return surveys were completed. Of the 94% of the school that completed the survey, 76% (651) opted for in person learning while 24% (207) opted for site based virtual learning. It is important to note that 55 students did not complete the survey and defaulted to virtual learning, increasing the total to 207 students. 

Q: When will final staffing decisions and class makeup be determined and shared? 

A: Staffing decisions will be relayed to our community the week of 10/19 and shared again at our 10/21 Town Hall at 6pm. If students will have a change of their homeroom teacher, individual letters will be emailed the week of 10/19.