School year starts with in-person classes

Wrangell Public School District has opened its new year with in-person classes. The final decision between in-person and online classes was made the Thursday before the first day of school, on Sept. 3.

In a school board meeting on Aug. 31, Superintendent Debbe Lancaster said Sept. 3 was the soft deadline for a final decision, upon consideration of the district's enrollment numbers and staffing needs.

"Taking into account our current staffing model, student enrollment numbers, and mitigation plan, Wrangell Public Schools will open Evergreen Elementary, Stikine Middle School, and Wrangell High School under a medium risk designation on Tuesday, Sept. 8," Lancaster wrote in a Sept. 3 email.

"Delivery methods for medium risk are outlined in the district's Smart Start plan."

The "medium risk" level of operations for Evergreen Elementary School has half of the student body taking in-person classes, and the other half distance learning. In a Sept. 7 Facebook post responding to some common questions about the SMART Start plan, the district informed the public that Evergreen Elementary will not be open on Fridays.

"Currently, every teacher has taken on additional duties due to our lack of applicants for positions such as a health aide, sanitation aide, and paraprofessional aides," the document reads. "In order to provide enough coverage to have students in school and open the building, reassignments have been implemented for the few support staff and bus volunteers. The thought is to see how this schedule goes for September. If the 4-5 para positions are filled, that would allow EES to look at the schedule differently."

At the secondary schools, students will have a regular schedule Mondays through Thursdays, with a half day on Fridays. The second half of Friday will be for deep cleaning of the schools, to be ready for the following Monday.

The Sept. 7 post on the district's Facebook page also shared some information on how parents will be informed of any outbreak of COVID-19 in the schools. According to the FAQ document shared in the post, families will be informed about how their child was exposed, whether it was in a classroom or another part of the school. However, they will not be given information about who they were exposed to, to protect that person's confidentiality. All staff and students who come into close contact with a COVID-19 case will be informed, the document reads, but the district will be following state and federal laws to protect individual privacy.

"Wrangell Public Schools staff appreciates your continued patience and cooperation as we work to ensure a safe learning environment," Lancaster wrote in an email. "The plan, and subsequent risk factor assignment, will remain fluid as information emerges about mitigating COVID-19, its presence within the community, and the necessary local response."

The first day of school was proceeding smoothly, Lancaster said on the morning of Sept. 8. Students were asked screening questions prior to getting on their bus or entering the schools themselves, she said, and everyone was wearing masks and sanitizing their hands. At the elementary school, students had painted dots on the sidewalks to help them remember to social distance, and at the high school students were informed of one-way traffic in the hallways.

"So far, this has been a very smooth entry and it is evident, in every area, how hard all staff members have worked to prepare for this day," she said in a text message.

"We're off to a good start," Secondary School Principal Bob Davis said. "We'll find a few glitches but we'll fix them as we go. Give me a call if you have any concerns or questions."

Lancaster also provided enrollment numbers as of 10 a.m. on Sept. 8. Evergreen Elementary School has 65 registered students and 40 official withdrawals. Stikine Middle School has 48 registered students and eight official withdrawals. Wrangell High School has 51 registered students and 14 official withdrawals.

A copy of the SMART Start plan, frequently asked questions, and other information can be found at http://www.wpsd.us.