COVID-19 MCOB District FAQ
FAQ – MCOB District Parent Survey
update 8-10-2020
#1 School Start Date – August 17th
Governor Ducey’s Executive Order on July 23rd, 2020 states that schools must begin instruction no later than August 17th. Our District has adjusted the 2020-2021 School Calendar to reflect an August 17th start date. The Order further states that the decision for return to physical school buildings will be made at the local level, the Arizona Department of Health Services will develop health benchmarks for the safe return of in-person instruction and make them available no later than August 7th.
In addition, schools are required to offer on-site learning opportunities and support services beginning on August 17th. This is not in-person instruction, but supervision and support for students in need. Please refer to On-Site Supervision if you feel your student will qualify.
#2 In-person Instruction
Please refer to MCOB District Procedure for In-Person Learning for details on our procedure, and Safely Returning to In-Person Instruction from ADHS/ADE guidance When our district meets the yet to be determined health benchmarks we will begin in-person instruction. If the benchmarks are not met by August 17th, we will begin virtual instruction and continue virtual instruction until the health benchmarks are met.
When in-person instruction is allowed our district will follow all feasible mitigation strategies in our schools. Schools will follow the regular school day - 5 days per week, students will be expected to attend full days, every day that they are healthy. Classroom instruction will be as similar as possible to normal instruction following feasible mitigation strategies.
#3 Virtual Instruction
If the health benchmarks are not met by August 17th, we will begin virtual instruction and continue virtual instruction until the health benchmarks are met. Principals and staff will be meeting August 4th to 10th to work on detailed plans for virtual instruction. Principals will communicate with students/parents as these plans are finalized.
#4 Parent/Student Choice
Our small district does not have the capacity to provide both in-person instruction and virtual learning concurrently. For this reason, parents/students that choose not to attend in-person instruction when allowed, will need to enroll in a school or district that provides the option of virtual learning. Guidance from ADE and the Pinal County Attorney's Office indicates that distance/virtual learning is NOT required when in-person learning is resumed. Several attempts to receive clarification from the Governor's Office have not been answered..
#5 Face Coverings
Governor Ducey’s Order requires face masks or face shields for all students and staff at school when physical distancing is not possible.
#6 Symptom Screening – Temperature Checks
Parents will take temperatures of students and screen for symptoms each morning before school. District staff may take student temperatures during the school day and determine if a student or staff member needs to be isolated and sent home.
#7 Positive COVID-19 at School
Our district will follow Arizona Department of Health Services and local public health guidelines and procedures in the event of a positive case of COVID-19 at school. Guidelines begin on Page 9 of the Safely Returning to In-Person Instruction.and we will be in close contact with the Pinal County Department of Health for guidance.
#8 Hybrid or Alternate Schedule
We gave consideration to various models of instruction for the 2020/2021 School year. An every other day or hybrid schedule is not feasible in our district for two primary reasons; our small size and limited staff members, and the requirement that we offer in-person supervision 5 days per week.
