Smithfield Superintendent Report Gives Return To School Updates

SMITHFIELD, RI —As Rhode Island moves toward the anticipated return to at least some in-classroom learning this fall, Smithfield Superintendent of Schools Judy Paolucci and the Return To School Committee released an update on how the town is progressing when it comes to transportation, scheduling and contingency plans should parents want to deviate from the final recommendations of the state and district.

"Overall, health experts are stressing that a safe return to school is possible and beneficial to students," Paolucci said in a report to the community. "This, however, depends strongly on the conditions at the location in which schools are opening."

Parents were asked to complete and opt in/opt out form on transportation for the fall to determine how much additional busing may be needed to keep students socially distanced to and from school.

Paolucci said when those in the "walk zone" were taken out it was determined that busing is sufficient for elementary schools, but that middle and high schools may need additional runs that could require tweaking the start times for classes.

"Although buses are usually only partially full on a normal year, we do not yet have enough students in the walk zone or opting out to be accommodated by the current number of buses in our fleet," the report said. "Some students only need transportation after school, however, we need to keep pods consistent so we cannot fill their empty seats in the morning with other students. Also, far more students need transportation only in the afternoon than only in the morning.

"Our next option is to get a price for adding an additional bus run (middle and high school students). This would change school start times slightly."

The report noted some differences between Massachusetts and RI guidelines when it comes to return-to-school plans. In MA, face masks are required for those in grade 2 or higher, and recommended for kindergarten and grade 1. That is not the case in RI.

Neither state recommends separating teachers and students with plexiglass barriers "since they add more surfaces that must be cleaned well between student groups."

Other related CDC guidance can be found here.

The report said the Instructional Core and Social-Emotional Learning Subcommittee is working on distance learning plans so students do not develop gaps in their learning if distance learning is needed extensively to start the next school year.

The report said this week a subcommittee, consisting of administrators and teachers, will work to determine whether a "choice" option can be given to parents who do not wish to send their children to in-classroom learning if it is re-instituted.

"While (the Rhode Island Department of Education) guidance did not include this option, we want to be ready if guidance changes," the report said. "Many Smithfield parents have expressed interest in such a model."

The report said a "choice" option for both students and teaches could be challenging based on the ratio of how many parents and teachers might choose the option. It could result in too many students in school with too few teachers there to teach them in the smaller class sizes recommended due to social distancing.

Combining students from different elementary schools presents additional challenges.

"Not only do we not have the buses to transport students all over town, but we would have very upset parents who don't want their children split between schools and going to a different school," the report said. "The logistics just don't work out at this time. We'll think through some other models to see what we may be able to do."

The report said the Operations and Resources Subcommittee has already ordered additional personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies and other equipment to prepare for the return to school.

The report said revisions will be made based on updated guidelines and recommendations from the RI Department of Education.