ESSER III

 

Section 1: Introduction

The purpose of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III Fund is to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impacts of COVID-19 on the nation's students by addressing students’ academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. Dudley-Charlton Regional School District has been awarded $2,519,086 in ESSER III funds. This plan describes how the awarded funds will be used. Questions about this plan should be directed to Steven M. Lamarche, Superintendent of Schools, 68 Dudley-Oxford Road, Dudley, MA 01571, 508-943-6888.

Dudley-Charlton Regional School District's response to the Covid-19 pandemic has been and continues to be based upon the most up-to-date guidance from state and local health officials as well as the CDC. At the heart of our response has been our students' academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. The goal of the 2021-2022 school year is to return as much as we can to a "normal" year with masks on. Extracurricular activities, sports, and field trips have returned.  This grant will be used to provide some support in 2021-22

Section 2: Prevention and Mitigation Strategies

ARP ESSER Funds may be used to implement prevention and mitigation strategies that are, to the greatest extent practicable, consistent with the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on reopening schools, in order to continuously and safely open and operate schools for in-person learning. Dudley-Charlton Regional School District will use approximately $121,563 of its ARP Act ESSER III funds to implement prevention and mitigation strategies as described below.

• Invest in a Director of Public Facilities to ensure all building infrastructure equipment, most especially Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) is maintained and operating at a optimal level to ensure all schools meet the expectations for the safe return of students to school.
• Replace HVAC units in disrepair to ensure appropriate ventilation.

Section 3: Addressing Unfinished Learning

Section 200 I(e)(I) of the ARP Act requires each LEA to use at least twenty percent of its formula funds to address the academic impact of lost instructional time (learning loss) through the implementation of evidence-based interventions, such as summer learning or summer enrichment, extended day, comprehensive after school programs, or extended school year programs. Dudley-Charlton Regional School District will use approximately $1,546,318 of its ARP Act ESSER III funds to address unfinished learning as described below.

• Provide remedial summer school opportunities during the summers of 2022 and 2023
• Provide additional summer academic recovery and enrichment opportunities during the summers of 2022 and 2023.
• Provide additional Academic Support personnel for students with special needs during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years
• Purchase of high quality textbooks and instructional materials in either mathematics or science or both content areas.
• Provide high quality professional development and instructional materials to Special Education staff to help assist with the transition from the interrupted learning of the last two years.
• Implement an after school hours program for tutoring and targeted support programs for students identified as at-risk of academic regression.
• Restructure reading program at all schools to provide enhanced opportunities for students to reach grade level competency.
• Create positions to provide academic support to students in classroom as identified in Individual Education Plans.
• Provide Free and Appropriate Education to students requiring services the District cannot currently support.

Section 4: Other Uses of Funds

Section 200l(e) of the ARP Act permits school divisions to use the ARP Act ESSER III funding not reserved to address unfinished learning to address the impacts of COVID-19 in  a variety of ways. Dudley-Charlton Regional School District will use approximately $386,205 of its ARP Act ESSER III funds in accordance with Section 200 I(e) of the ARP Act as described below.

Uses include:

• Nurses
• Special Education Team Chair
• Student Services additional office support
• Retirement expenses as required by the grant

Section 5; Addressing Students' Academic, Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Needs

Dudley-Charlton Regional School District has addressed students’ academic social, emotional and mental health needs by hiring three additional adjustment counselors for the District.  This will continue the supports in place during the 2021-22 school year.  These supports are viewed as critical to re-engage students after the last two years of interrupted development of students in these areas.  Funds in this section total approximately $465,000.

Section 6; Consultation with Stakeholders and Opportunity for Public Comment

In developing the ARP ESSER Plan, Dudley-Charlton Regional School District conducted consultation in the following ways:

• With stakeholders, including: students, families, school and district administrators (including special education administrators), teachers, principals, school leaders, other educators, school staff, and their unions - Dudley-Charlton Regional School District involved school and district administrators, teachers, students and families in the initial development of the ARP ESSER Plan through the use of numerous scheduled meetings and a district survey to families, students, and community members. Stakeholders representing the interests of children with disabilities, English learners, children experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, migratory students, children who are incarcerated, and other underserved students are invited to attend the District's SEPAC meeting and other targeted meetings, and were provided with surveys in Spanish and Portuguese. Input was obtained by the District's Director of Student Supports, who is also the District's liaison for Federal Programs and homeless/homebound/foster care, as well as by the Director of English Language Education.
• Public was invited through the survey sent to all families in the District.

Section 7: Making the Plan Available to the Public

Dudley-Charlton Regional School District has taken the following steps to make this plan available to the public:

• The plan is posted at www.dcrsd.org.
• The plan is available in multiple languages through the use of our web provider powered by google translate.
• Upon request, a parent who is an individual with a disability as defined by the ADA may be provided with the plan in an alternative format accessible by contacting Mr. Robert Bergeron, Director of Student Support Services, at 508-943-6888, Ext. 272.

 

COVID-19 Protocols SY 2021-2022

 

The Dudley-Charlton Regional School District is committed to providing a safe environment for students and staff during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic. The protocols outlined below are subject to change based on guidance and data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Department of Public Health (DPH) and, the Local Board of Health (LBOH), Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

COVID-19 Exposure Plan

 

The following outlines the plan that will be followed by the school nurse in coordination with building and district administration for possible or known exposure lo COVID-19.

Isolation:

A confirmed or presumed positive COVID-19 case

• 5 days of isolation from onset of symptoms, can return on day 6 (as long as symptoms have improved).

Quarantine:

A close contact Is defined as an individual who was within 3 feet of a positive individual for a cumulative total of 15 minutes within a 24-hour period

For in school exposure

• Those under 3 feet of the positive individual will have to quarantine if unvaccinated
• Those who are within 3-6 feet of the positive individual but masked will be notified of possible exposure, but will not have to quarantine
• For community exposure • those within 6 feet of the positive individual will have to quarantine if unvaccinated
• Close contacts who are fully vaccinated will not have to quarantine as long as they are asymptomatic. If symptoms develop, they should stay home from school and be tested.

Testing during Quarantine:

• No test - 10 days of quarantine are required. Can return on day 11 if asymptomatic.
• Negative test on day 5, 6 or 7 • can return on day 8 if asymptomatic. ••
• Positive test at any point during quarantine • see above Isolation timeline.

Under Investigation:

• Those who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should not report to school if symptoms are present/prior to the school day, and should contact their School Nurse to discuss next steps.
• If symptoms develop during the school day, the individual should report to the School Nurse for assessment.
• Both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals who are symptomatic will require testing for COVID-19 at the direction of the School Nurse.
• If students/staff are dismissed from school with illness, the classroom will be sprayed with disinfectant known to be effective against COVID-19 as a precaution by the custodians as requested by the School Nurse.

Education during quarantine/isolation/investigation:

It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian and/or student to communicate with the Dudley-Charlton teachers to get make-up work during the quarantine period, as remote learning Is not approved as time on learning by DESE for the 2021-2022 school year.

COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies

Masks:

According to public health experts, wearing a face covering/mask that covers the nose and the mouth and secures under the chin is the best mitigation strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In alignment with recommendations from public health experts, all staff and students in the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District will have to wear face coverings while indoors regardless of vaccination status as required by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Outdoor Activities:

Masks are not required when outdoors. No masks need to be worn during outdoor activities due to the low transmission rate of COVID-19 in outdoor settings. Mask breaks should be outdoors whenever possible.

Breakfast/Lunch:

DCRSD will attempt to have 3 feet distance between students when masks are off while students are eating.

Classroom:

No social distancing requirements will be in place between student desks. Teachers will assign seats and maintain sealing charts to assist with contact tracing.

Transportation:

Masks are required to be worn by all students when riding the bus. Windows will be down 2” to improve ventilation, so parents/guardians/students should dress accordingly during times of inclement weather.

Additional Cleaning:

School nurses will coordinate with custodial staff for additional cleaning as needed when individuals are under Investigation, quarantine or isolation.