Penn Yan plans for options during school year

PENN YAN--The Penn Yan Central School District Board of Education met Monday, July 27 and Superintendent Howard Dennis gave details of the district's reopening plan that has recently been submitted to the state. As it currently stands, Dennis explained the plan is to enter the school year under a hybrid in-person remote learning model for roughly two weeks before transitioning to in-person learning.
"We are going to start with the hybrid model to ease the transition back into schooling for students after having been home for five months," Dennis said.
During those two weeks, Dennis said the district and students would also be adjusting to new realities, such as increased cleaning, social distancing and the like. Once everyone adjusts, Dennis said he feels comfortable with the school going back to being completely in-person.
"We have found ways to reduce capacity on buses and in classrooms while maintaining social distancing and being safe," Dennis said.
However, for parents who are not comfortable sending their children back, full-time remote learning will be offered in the pending reopening plan.
"We want as many options as possible for families so we can meet their needs," Dennis said.
Despite planning to be completely in-person by the end of September, Dennis made it clear that the district has developed plans for all contingencies.
"We are prepared to pivot between models at any point," Dennis stated. "We are putting a lot of work into making that as potentially seamless as possible."
However, Dennis did say that if the district goes to a full-time remote learning model, it would be because they were "forced."
Dennis also touched on social distancing protocols for both transportation and in schools, saying that on buses non-family members will not be allowed to sit next to each other and all available space in schools will be used to reduce class size and enforce a six-foot distance between everyone.
One area where the six-foot rule will need to be increased is during music classes or practice, as they must figure out a way to guarantee a 12-foot distance instead.
"We are still trying to figure that out and we are working with the music department to make it happen," Dennis said.
Dennis added that transitional concerts will not be held in traditional means, and the district is working hard to create alternatives.
Visitors to buildings will also be limited with parents currently not being allowed to enter.
"If a parent has to pick up their child we will probably have them stay in their car and bring the student to them," Dennis said.
To get a better grasp on the transportation plans of parents and what they would be comfortable with, Dennis told the board a survey will be sent on Monday, Aug. 3 to parents.
Dennis also said some education timelines related to curriculum development and adaptation to new learning standards have been pushed back by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Social studies, English, math, science and physical education timelines have all been affected, meaning the district has had to readjust timelines to match up with current realities. When asked about the status of Regents exams since they were canceled during the previous year, Dennis said the state currently plans on having students taking the exams again in the coming school year.
"In short (the state) has already put out an assessment calendar for the school year," Dennis added. "Right now we are working under the understanding that those assessments will be administered."