Tucumcari schools posts reopening plan

Tucumcari Public Schools recently posted its reopening plan for when the school year begins Aug. 17.

Classes would begin remotely only on Monday because of the state’s coronavirus restrictions. The district tentatively plans to move to a hybrid model of in-person classes and online learning the first week after Labor Day in early September for elementary students.

Though online classes remain an option for any student who wants it during the first semester, TPS plans to transition to partial in-person classes for the middle school in late September and high school by early October.

Tucumcari’s plan may be viewed as a Google Document at https://tinyurl.com/y3z3podq.

Logan plans to go with a similar reopening when its school year begins Aug. 17.

San Jon voted last month to move the start of its school year to Sept. 8 with the hope it would have more students in classrooms at that time.

Tucumcari’s plan details procedures on how to keep its schools clean. High-touch surfaces would be cleaned throughout the day. Stations with hand sanitizer would be available at several sites in all buildings. Hand washing would occur throughout the day at the elementary levels under the supervision of a teacher or aide. Custodians would disinfect buildings daily with state-approved procedures, including deep sanitation each Tuesday. Restrooms would be monitored for social distancing protocols.

The plans states water fountains won’t be operable to limit the threat of infection. Students must bring labeled water bottles that can be refilled.

Students and staff would be screened for COVID-19 infection daily. Symptoms would include shortness of breath, sore throat, loss or change in taste or smell, body aches or chills, headache, exposure to anyone with the virus and a body temperature of over 100.4 degrees. Anyone with symptoms or an elevated temperature would be sent to a designated area by nursing staff, then directed to return home until symptoms subside for 48 hours without medication or within 14 days or a negative COVID-19 test. Students and staff also must self-monitor their conditions during the day.

Everyone entering buildings must maintain 6-foot social distancing and wear a facial covering or shield.

For remote learning, all students in middle and high school would be issued a Chromebook that would be used throughout the school year. Elementary students would have to provide their own device. If a family doesn’t have one, the district will provide one.

Families would need to provide their own internet service because Plateau will not supply free Wi-Fi as it did in the spring. The document notes the district is working to create internet hotspots to provide service. Wireless internet also is available near school buildings.

Teachers would use the Google Classroom platform. Students must log in each day for instruction and finishing assignments. Unlike continuous learning plans, there would not be pass-fail grades; percentage grades from A to F would be earned. Teachers would document student participation daily.

During the hybrid model scheduled to start Sept. 8, TPS would operate on an A/B schedule where students go to school two days a week from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and work from home two days a week. Fridays would be devoted to remote office hours with teachers. Tucumcari opted to add 10 days to its school calendar for additional instruction.

With special education, case managers would contacted families about individual education plans.

Breakfast, lunch and snacks would be free for all students. Meals would be available for pickup at the Mesa Cafeteria from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday meals would be included in Thursday’s service. When schools return to a hybrid model, all meals would be grab-and-go style, with breakfast in classrooms and lunch and snacks distributed when students are dismissed for the day.

On school buses, students and drivers must wear masks or shields. Vehicles would be sanitized after morning and afternoon routes. Drivers would assess boarding students for symptoms and take temperatures at each stop. Students with temperatures higher than 100.4 degrees would not be allowed on the bus. Students would be socially distanced and assigned to no more than two to a bus seat.

Parents or visitors would not be allowed to go to classrooms or walk down hallways. Parents should remain in drop-off zones rather than parking with the intent to walking students to school. Any parent who needs to enter the school to drop off something or pick up a student must buzz in and await instructions. A school employee would escort a sick student to the parent’s vehicle with a clipboard to sign out the child.

Noting the pandemic “has caused large amounts of stress to children,” the plan states the district would prioritize student well being by making counselors and social workers available to assist children “during this time of uncertainty.” Teachers would be instructed to include activities during lessons to promote emotional and mental health. “This can include strategies for refocusing on positive things, appropriately dealing with frustration and learning to communicate fears or frustrations,” the plan states.

With athletics, Tucumcari states it would follow all rules established by the New Mexico Athletics Association.

With clubs and organizations, meetings would be held virtually. More details would be given as health orders are updated.