The physical and mental health and safety of our students and staff remain our highest priority; we cannot create an environment that is conducive to teaching and learning without it. While it is impossible to eliminate all risks, every decision will be made with an eye to minimize it to the greatest possible extent. In all stages and phases of pandemic response and recovery, schools must comply with Center for Disease Control (CDC), state, and local guidelines.

Decision-Making Principles

The use of guiding principles led the district in all of its decision-making processes. Where we are unable to mitigate fully in one area, we will compensate in another to achieve the same end.

Decision Making Principle 1 – Reducing crowds and close personal contact
Decision Making Principle 2 – Reducing the number of persons with whom an individual comes in contact each day
Decision Making Principle 3 – Monitoring the prevalence of symptoms and spread in our schools and communities
Decision Making Principle 4 – Disinfecting and reducing vectors

Key Subject Areas

In accordance with the New Jersey Department of Education’s “The Road Back: Restart and Recovery Plan for Education,” the Delaware Valley Regional High School District offers this Fall 2020 school reopening plan. Specifically, this plan addresses all of the required components of the four key subject areas, minimum standards, and other considerations. 

Key Subject Area 1 – Conditions for Learning

Critical Areas of Operation:

1. General Health and Safety Guidelines
2. Classrooms, Testing, and Therapy Rooms
3. Transportation
4. Student Flow, Entry, Exit, and Common Areas
5. Screening, PPE, and Response to Students and Staff Presenting Symptoms
6. Contact Tracing
7. Facilities Cleaning Practices
8. Meals
9. Recess/Physical Education
10. Field Trips, Extra-curricular Activities & Use of Facilities Outside of School Hours

Key Subject Area 2 – Leadership and Planning

Critical Areas for Leadership and Planning:

1. Restart Committee
2. Pandemic Response Team
3. Scheduling
4. Staffing
5. Educator Roles Related to Technology Needs
6. Athletics
7. Core Guiding Principles: 

Key Subject Area 3 – Policy and Funding

Policy and Funding Considerations:

1. Purchasing
2. Use of Reserve Accounts, Transfers, and Cashflow
3. Costs and Contracting
4. Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund
5. Federal Emergency Management Agency – Public Assistance
6. State School Aid

Key Subject Area 4 – Continuity of Learning

Focus Areas for Continuity of Instruction:

1. Ensuring the Delivery of Special Education and Related Services to Students with Disabilities
2. Technology and Connectivity
3. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessments 
4. Professional Learning
5. Career and Technical Education

The Road Back