“Without parent backing, we're not going to have success. That said, you also need strong teacher backing.””

Diane Farnworth

TIVERTON — Days before the state deadline, Tiverton Superintendent of Schools Pater Sanchioni described a complex back-to-school plan that includes an array of options, models and scenarios.

Behind it all, he said, are three primary goals: Safety first, full in-person attendance in school — “that's certainly the (option) we are going to strive for,” and “provide the highest quality instruction,” he told the School Committee last week.

They approach the start of school, he admitted, with plenty of unknowns, but, based in part on the success of the schools' remote learning experience, he said he is confident that the return will work — whatever shape it eventually takes.

Getting there, he added, will require participation and help from all — students, parents, teachers, unions …

And he said the key to everything is transportation. With state rules for social distancing requiring one student per seat, there simply aren't enough school buses to carry every student who might normally take the bus. That means families will need to help with car pooling and helping younger students walk to school.

He said he was heartened by response received from a recent meeting attended by over 60 people with another 30 or 40 participating on-line. “We received a lot of feedback,” he said, and “will center decisions on what is best for all — students, families and educators.”

To that end there will be multiple Zoom meetings for staff and for families starting the last Tuesday of July and continuing on Tuesdays through August to explain plans and solicit reaction and ideas.

But ultimately, he added, the schools will have to act “decisively.”

“Given the size and scope of the challenge, we must move deliberately and make tough choices. We will need to be flexible and nimble, and we will adapt quickly as variables on the ground change.”

They have developed three plans, Supt. Sanchioni said — “All in, all out” and some of each.

“RIDE (RI Department of Education is going to make the decision for the district and that is going to be interesting if they pick one that is going to be tough for us to execute if our transportation doesn't work out.”

'Full- in person'

Right now, the goal for the state and for Tiverton is that every student head back to school.

Supt. Sanchioni acknowledged that not all students, and perhaps educators, will be able to do so.

“We know there are students who are not coming to school, for whatever reason … They are immune compromised, their parents have just made that decision. So for all of our students we have to have distance learning available.”

That, he said, will be accomplished by having a camera in the classroom focused on the teacher so that those at home see and hear what those in school see and hear. “We have to work out some of the particulars,” he said.

Those who do return to school will find the experience much different than before. Masks for all is the rule although there are some variants — the youngest children, for whom masks can be a challenge, will be provided with face shields.

Families must monitor their children's health and never send a child with symptoms of any sort to school — staff must follow that same rule. There will be some level of student monitoring in school and constant cleaning of rooms between uses.

Students who are found to be sick in school will be placed in an “isolation room” then be immediately sent home.

And if, for instance, a student or teacher contracts the virus, “we will be sending a lot of staff and students home for 14 days and that will certainly break up the model.”

Some students may be eating lunch in their classrooms if cafeteria space proves insufficient. There will be no use of water fountains (the schools plan to buy water “filling stations”), and bathrooms will receive “constant disinfecting.”

Do you have the custodial staff to handle all that cleaning, he was asked. “No,” he replied. They are still figuring that out and it may require some changes to work schedules.

Students in pre-K to grade 8 will stay in “stable groups of no more than 30,” and distance as far as possible. When they leave their classroom to go to the cafeteria or some other common location, they will be required to stay at least 14 feet away from students in any other group. Classroom seats will be assigned and facing forward, not toward one another. In-class dining may be needed to some extent.

Older students, who will be in “non-stable groups” due to moving room-to-room for different classes, will be required to maintain social distancing — one-way traffic patterns will be set up in hallways and there will be no use of lockers. Classrooms will be disinfected during the change of classes, and staggered passing times will be set up.

Chorus and band, he said probably can't happen as usual. They are searching for spaces large enough to enable social distancing, or these might have to happen remotely.

As for high school sports, no decisions yet from the state, he said, but the fact that many colleges are already canceling fall schedules makes the prospect bleak for high schools

Partial in-person scenario

Circumstances may require a shift to one of several partial-in-person scenarios, the superintendent said, which would be accomplished in part by scheduling adjustments.

At the high school where there are no stable groups, “in one scenario we can have 50 percent of the students in school — must maintain six feet of separation.” The other half would receive remote learning with potential for rotation of in-school and out-of-school learning. Another scenario would have only 25 percent of high schoolers present.

Elementary and middle school classes might be limited to 15 students at a time in one scenario.

Transportation is key

“Transportation is critical,” the superintendent said. “This is going to govern whether we can do full in-person learning” or a partial in-school model.

State restrictions on the number of students allowed in a bus (one per seat) would enable at most 1,008 students to ride the bus to school, he said.

“That leaves approximately 600 students who would normally take the bus not able to do so,” the superintendent said. “The bottom line is that we cannot safely transport our middle and elementary school students as we have been. We need to rely on our parents to help us.”

Parents of families living within reasonable walking distance of school could help by walking with small groups of students. Parents would also organize car pools, he suggested.

What won't work will be for every family to drive just their own child — “We will have massive traffic jams” at drop-off and pick-up times … We are working on alternate drop-off spots.”

Reactions to the plans

Committee members congratulated the superintendent on the plans but had questions and concerns.

Who is paying for all of the protective gear and other equipment that was discussed, asked Sally Black.

We have not received our CARE funding yet, the superintendent said “and can't wait any longer.” So equipment is being purchased — “Our hope is that we will be reimbursed.”

She also asked about the possibility of using substitute teachers.

If a teacher is out for two or three weeks, the superintendent said, “There is not a substitute out there who can do the job for our students. We need to do the job with our existing staff.”

He said response from teacher groups “has been pretty positive so far,” and that they will be meeting with the teacher union.

“Without parent backing, we're not going to have success,” said Diane Farnworth. “That said, you also need strong teacher backing.” Meeting with NEW is going to be important.

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