PPS return-to-work/school plans outlined

PPS return-to-work/school plans outlined
Posted on 11/05/2020
PPS return-to-work/school plans outlined

In its Thursday, Nov. 5 meeting, the Portsmouth School Board set Monday, Nov. 23 as the date all employees will be expected to return to their physical work locations on their normal operating schedules. Instructional staff will be permitted to work remotely on Wednesdays (Flipped Learning Days).

In addition, administration identified the dates students can return to school in 2021. Those dates are: Monday, Jan. 4 for Pre-K-Grade 3 students; Tuesday, Jan. 19 for 4th, 5th grade and 6th grade students; and Tuesday, Feb. 2 for middle and high school students.

On the first issue, the Human Resources Department will be surveying all employees to assess their return-to-work intentions. That survey is expected to be distributed on Friday, Nov. 6 with a response deadline of Friday, Nov. 13.

Superintendent Dr. Elie Bracy, III, addressed the rationale for the Nov. 23 return-to-work date with the School Board. He cited the main factor as the need to reinforce the support of special education students in line with the expectations outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

On the issue of students’ return to school, Dr. Bracy shared with the School Board the administration’s plans to survey all elementary parents/guardians, also in the Nov. 6-13 timeframe.  The intent of the survey is to ask families to choose the educational option that will best serve their children in 2021. The two options parents must choose between are: 1) the in-person/hybrid model in which students will attend school two days and learn virtually for three days; or 2) the virtual model in which students will receive their instruction online 100 percent of the time. Secondary parents will be surveyed in the near future. 

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