Broken Arrow Public Schools delay start date by two weeks, new deadline for virtual enrollment

BROKEN ARROW — Broken Arrow Public Schools announce the decision to push the state of the 2020-21 school year back by two weeks.

Officials said the first day of school for grades K-12 is Sept. 3. Pre-K will begin on Sept. 8.

Also, BAPS is extending the deadline to enroll in their Virtual Academy to Aug. 19 by 5 p.m.

Broken Arrow Public Schools Board of Education approved their "Return to Learn Reentry Plan" for the 2020-21 school year in July.

The board approved mask requirements for students.

FACE COVERINGS:

• Students in Pre-K through 2nd grade - masks are high encouraged, but optional
• Students in 3rd grade through 12th grade - masks are mandatory (exceptions per approval of site principal)
• All employees must wear a mask - exceptions: when they are outside, alone in room or in school-owned vehicle

VIEWBroken Arrow Public Schools 2020-21 instructional calendar

Students have three learning options to choose from:

At-School Learning

• 100% in person learning
• Five days a week
• grades Pre-K through 12th
• If necessary, due to coronavirus conditions, school may move to distance learning)

Full-time Virtual Academy

• 100% online learning
• students in grades Pre-K through 12th
• MUST enroll to participate in virtual academy
• Students required to remained enrolled for entire semester
• DEADLINE to enroll is Aug. 19
• Click here to enroll for BAPS virtual academy

Blended Virtual Academy

• Grades 6th through 12th
• Students can enroll in Virtual Academy but still participate in elective courses
• Courses could include fine arts or athletics
• Parent/guardian must provide transportation
• DEADLINE to enroll is Aug. 19
• Click here to enroll for BAPS virtual academy

Officials said Special Education Services will communicate directly with students about learning options and accomodations. If parents/guardians have questions or concerns, please contact 918-259-7704.

The district will follow color-coded risk phases. Each phases is determined by the amount of coronavirus cases in the school boundaries, which is determined by local and state health officials.

Each Monday, officials will review coronavirus cases and a color phase will be communicated with school sites each Monday afternoon.

The color-coded risk phases are red phase, orange phase, yellow phase and green phase.

READ MORE on how the color-coded phases are determined

Broken Arrow Public School officials said they will begin the year operating under the "Orange Phase" guidelines for the first nine weeks.

Below are the guidelines for each color-coded risk phase, according to the Broken Arrow Public Schools board of education:

Red Phase

• Districtwide distance learning for a minimum of 14 calendar days.

Orange Phase

• Social distancing practiced as much as possible
• Students upon arrival will be sent to their classrooms or a designated place with social distancing provided
• Students will remain in classrooms or be gathered in designated classrooms in conjunction with bus routes or parent pickup
• No large group daily activities (assemblies) or field trips
• Only approved visitors, i.e. IEP meetings
• No classroom parties
• No students will be walked to class or be able to have visitors at lunch
• Large group evening activities should not exceed the capacity where social distancing cannot be practiced
• Screen all guests for temperature and COVID19 symptoms if they need to meet with a teacher or administrator in person. (SafeSchoolID will perform COVID screen questions and alert administrator of any yes responses- guest not allowed past the office, and provide other means for communication)
• Masks are required for 3rd-12th grade students
• Masks are highly recommended for Pre-K-2nd grade students
• Masks are required for staff and visitors
• Masks and other protective gear will be provided for staff members
• Cafeteria practices social distancing in lines, seating will be distanced as much as possible and assigned seats will be required. Good hygiene practices will be expected to include washing hands or sanitizing immediately prior to eating
• High school will remain open campus for lunch
• Schools should provide virtual opportunities for parent and community involvement ie. Parent Night
• Playground handwashing
• Students exhibiting signs will be sent to a symptom monitoring room and isolated until parents can pick up the child. This designated area will be determined by the site principal.
• Avoid large groups of students moving to various classrooms
• B&A Connections’ parents check students in/out at a designated door (this will require additional staff members to stay within ratio).
• B&A Connections will practice same hand washing/sanitizing protocols for snack and outdoor recreation as listed above.
• B&A Connections will space centers out in the cafeteria and gymnasium for social distancing.

Orange Phase - Overall safety guidelines:

• Masks are required for students in grades 3 through 12 and required for staff and visitors; masks are recommended for students in grades Pre-K through 2. Students are to provide and be responsible for their own masks.
• Teachers will be provided masks and face shields, should they choose to wear both. Face shields cannot be used in lieu of a mask.
• Teachers may wear spirit wear and jeans daily for ease of changing and cleaning of clothes.
• Social distancing encouraged and practiced as much as possible.
• If there is a confirmed positive case of COVID-19, the classroom will be closed for 48 hours of cleaning, any students within six feet that came into direct contact will quarantine and receive distance learning. Students who did not come into direct contact will attend class in an alternate location on site.
• Site principals and counselors will complete the contact tracing course.
• Students and staff should conduct the at-home wellness check daily before attending school.

Orange Phase - School Opening and Dismissing Guidelines:

• Schools should avoid large groups of students congregating.
• Offer students the opportunity to go directly to classrooms, rather than waiting in common areas at the start of the school day.
• Offer students the opportunity to wait in the classroom at dismissal and dismiss in phases to avoid large groups of students.

Orange Phase - Classroom Guidelines:

• Assigned seats required for each classroom
• Students’ desks are separated as much as possible
• Students stay in their seats for questions, rather than approaching the teacher’s desk- teacher goes to the student to maintain appropriate distance
• Students have access to hand sanitizer and wipes
• Common drinking fountains may be closed. Students are permitted to have a water bottle in class.
• Each classroom has masks for students who may start coughing, showing symptoms
• Students will use individual supplies, group supplies should be limited use only with disinfectant practices in place
• Computer Labs wipe down devices after each hour or use.
• Classroom door handles wiped before each hour, prop open the doors for students entering and exiting to avoid hands on door handles
• Classroom items will be disinfected after use.
• Teachers of younger will ensure students will wash or sanitize hands often and older students will be asked to do the same
• Any snacks provided in the classroom must be individually packaged. No sharing of snacks is allowed.
• Teachers may remove masks when teaching as long as they are maintaining a six-foot distance.
• B&A Connections will follow classroom guidelines as much as possible. Each student will have individual supply boxes provided. Playdough and other sensory equipment will be provided in individual containers/bags.

Orange Phase - Building guidelines:

• Social distancing is practiced as much as possible in the hallway, office, common areas
• Buildings have clear traffic patterns to eliminate cross traffic or congestion in hallways and corridors
• Cafeteria tables are distanced as much as possible and students will have assigned seats
• High school will remain an open campus during lunch
• Cafeteria - Social distancing practiced
• Enforce use of Student IDs for 9-12 to minimize student typing in student ID.
• Avoid large groups of students as much as possible
• Until further notice, elementary sites may use gymnasium with activities practicing social distancing, good hygiene for interactive games.
• Media centers will be open for students to come in small groups and individual check outs.
• Media, Art and Music classes will be sanitized between each rotation
• If there is a confirmed positive case of COVID, the classroom will be closed for 48 hours of cleaning, any students within six feet that came into direct contact will quarantine and receive distance learning. Students that did not come into direct contact will attend class in an alternate location on site.

Yellow Phase

• Social distancing practiced as much as possible
• Large group activities-school-wide assemblies may be allowed with students and teacher only, large group activities must be limited so social distancing may be practiced
• Classroom parties will be allowed, but guests are limited to homeroom parents and asked to wear masks. Any food items must be packaged.
• Approved visitors will have temperature taken and a symptom check with nurse/health aid
• Masks are required for 3rd-12th grade students
• Masks are highly recommended for Pre-K-2nd grade students
• Masks are required for staff and visitors
• Cafeteria practices social distancing in lines, seating will be distanced as much as possible and assigned seats will be required. Good hygiene practices will be expected to include washing hands or sanitizing immediately prior to eating
• High school will remain open campus for lunch
• Visitors are not permitted at lunch.
• Playground handwashing before and after
• Schools should provide virtual opportunities for parent and community involvement
• Students exhibiting signs will be sent to a symptom monitoring room until parents can pick up the child.
• B&A Connections would continue much like Phase 1 with arrival and dismissal procedures.

Green Phase

• Schoolwide assemblies allowed
• Visitors are allowed during lunch
• Masks are optional and not required
• Large group evening events allowed
• Temperature screening may be an option, but not required
• Regular cafeteria practices, to include all the good hygiene practices and handwashing
• B&A Connections would allow parents to use their keypad codes to enter the building for arrival and dismissal procedures.

Officials announced the replacement of 'Late Start Wednesdays" with six virtual days. The board also approved revised school times.

The six new distance learning days will occur on:

• Oct. 5

• Nov. 2
• Dec. 7
• Feb. 1
• March 1
• April 5

The six distance learning days will provide students the ability to complete coursework from home. Teachers will report to their classrooms for virtual instructions and to collaborate with their colleagues.

The new school times for the 2020-21 school year are below:

• Early Childhood Centers – 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

• Elementary – 9:10 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.
• Middle School – 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
• Freshman Academy & High School: 7:40 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.

For more information on transportation, nutrition, Early Childhood Centers and more, click here.

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