Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The School District of Brown Deer understands that students, families and staff have many questions about the 2020-2021 school year. Please see the information below for answers to some of the questions that you have asked to date. When we have more answers we will add them to this FAQ. Questions can be submitted in this feedback form.
Here is a printable PDF of the FAQ
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Yes, families will be able to choose a 100% virtual learning option for the 2020-2021 school year.
In-person learning would be offered on a gradual, phased in approach. All BDSD students will start with virtual learning September1st. Starting on September 21 (Phase 2), students in Grades K4-6, and 9 would begin a hybrid learning schedule with some days in person and some days virtual. (See plan for details). Students in Grades 7, 8 and 10-12 would continue with all virtual learning.
While a virtual option is not exactly the same experience as an in-person attendance, instruction will be delivered by a certified teacher with the same learning expectations, supports and curriculum. There will be synchronous learning opportunities (virtual learning occurs in real time, for example during live teacher classes and office hours) and asynchronous opportunities (virtual learning occurs on student’s own schedule).
Students will have the opportunity to re-enter in-person instruction at every quarter.
The Board proposed a 5-Phase Re-Opening Plan for learning. Re-Opening Phases will be determined by the burden of the disease in the community. Please see the July 28 presentation to the Board but here is an overview:
- Phase 1: 100% Virtual for ALL students
- Phase 2: 50% 2-1-2 Attendance Model Grades K4-5, 6 & 9
100% Virtual Option and Grades 7-8, 10-12
- Phase 3: 50% 2-1-2 Attendance Model All Grades
100% Virtual Option
- Phase 4: 100% 2-1-2 Attendance Model ALL Grades
100% Virtual Option
- Phase 5: 100% Attendance Model ALL Grades
100% Virtual Option (re-entry possible at quarters)
To reduce the number of students in the building to safely social distance, the District is using a staggered schedule where students attend school in-person two days a week and engage in virtual learning from home three days a week. The 5 phases identify which grade levels will be returning to school in-person and when (Phase 1 - all students will be virtual, Phase 2 - students in only grades K4-5, 6 & 9 will return to school on M/T or TH/F). Half of the students in phase-identified grade levels will attend in-person on Mondays and Tuesdays and the other half will attend in-person on Thursdays and Fridays. On Wednesdays all students will engage in virtual learning, while teachers plan and collaborate and the schools engage in deep cleaning and sanitization protocols.
The needs of neurodiverse students will be met in the virtual environment by providing necessary resources, i.e. technology, supplies(printed materials) troubleshooting with student/parent, conferencing, and other supplemental items needed to provide service. Because of the distant nature of virtual interaction, services that are in traditional school settings will not be replicated in the exact manner.
IEP meetings will be conducted within the timeline that they are due. Dependent upon the phase the School District is in will determine if the meeting will be held virtually or face to face.
SPED Services will be provided for students with an IEP. Based on the format virtual/face to face the IEP Team will determine how services are provided.
SPED Services will be provided for students with an IEP. Based on the format virtual/face to face the IEP Team will determine how services are provided.
Because of the need to attend school virtual and dependent on the type of service received the amount of services may be adjusted.
When the 2020/2021 school year begins, the IEP/ELL Team will determine if compensatory services are needed for the student. If the team agrees compensatory services are needed they will provide the amount and schedule in which these services will be delivered.
This will be a building based decision determined by the number of students who choose virtual learning.
Yes, ALL students can use our Library Catalog (Destiny) to place books on hold (a video will be created to teach you how to do this), and we will offer concierge curbside pickup for materials at designated times, even if they choose the 100% virtual option. Safety protocols will be in place to return and pick-up items. The same method will be in place for picking up textbooks circulated through the library.
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Yes, we are requiring that all staff wear masks daily to school and we strongly recommend that all students wear a mask while in the building, unless they are medically fragile. There will be times when students' masks are down based on the appropriate situation. Staff may also need to have their mask down when communicating with specific students (ELL) if needed. Social distancing protocols will always be in place.
Where possible, teachers will move in and out of classrooms and students will stay in small cohorts of classrooms to reduce potential exposure and assist contact tracing if needed. Students will not share objects in classrooms and bubblers will be turned off (refill water bottles only, provided by families). Field trips will not be allowed.
The district will increase cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch areas; install physical plexiglass barriers (sneeze shields) in high-traffic areas such as school offices.
The Brown Deer School District is committed to keeping the health and safety of ALL at the forefront of this pandemic. We are closely monitoring the virus and will pivot as needed. We have assessed each room in our buildings and calculated the number of students who can socially distance in that space. To avoid large gatherings of students and maximize distancing, students will use multiple, staggered entrances/exits and follow directional signs for movement in hallways and other common spaces. Bringing all students back into the building is Phase 4 of our plan.
Schools will focus on safety protocols recommended from the CDC, as well as state, county and North Shore health officials. Those protocols include wearing masks, social distancing, regular hand washing, hand sanitization and staying home when COVID-19 symptoms arise. Kid-friendly signage will reinforce these safety measures, and teachers will educate students on the proper way to wear masks and how masks help students protect themselves and others, including their families, relatives and teachers.
Under normal circumstances, the Brown Deer School District welcomes visitors and volunteers to our campus. The COVID-19 pandemic is a difficult time for all of us and times have changed quickly and dramatically due to the virus. Safety is our top priority and we must do everything we can to prevent the spread of this disease and protect our students and staff. To minimize risk, our new visitor policy places strong limits on visitors and volunteers entering our schools during this pandemic. Any vendor who enters our buildings to perform a repair will be screened and must wear a mask.
No, staff and families will need to choose the doctor of their choice for testing or access one of the public testing sites offered in Milwaukee County. Impact 2-1-1 is a central resource for accessing information regarding active COVID-19 testing sites.
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The Board approved a reopening model at the July 28 Board Meeting. From there we will work further on a detailed re-entry to the building teaching and learning plan to be presented at the August 11 Board Work Session. We will be looking for Board approval at the August 25 meeting.
Forms and Fees will not be in person for the 2020-2021 school year. Registration will be online via Skyward. More information will be shared in late July with registration beginning August 1st. Please log onto Skyward to complete returning family registration.
At this time, no decision has been made about where student meals will be served. District leadership is using published DPI guidelines, discussions with our food service vendor, and district data to determine the best route forward. Families should expect to learn more about the food service program in the coming weeks as guidelines are released.
The district will be providing meal service every scheduled day of the 2020-2021 school year. We are currently under the Summer Food Service Program which has provided waivers for the district to use offsite locations through August 31, 2020. It is unclear as to whether these waivers will be extended into the school year. If not, the district will provide meals to our students under the guidelines provided in the National School Lunch Program.
Busing will be available for resident students who are eligible for district transportation by either living two or more miles from school or who live in an area deemed to be hazardous. Students must register for bus transportation during the enrollment process after selecting the in-person schooling option for Phases 2-5.
On buses students must wear masks and practice social distancing with a maximum number of students determined by total seat capacity of the school bus. Students who live in the same family will be allowed to sit in the same seat.
During registration, all families are asked to identify if their student(s) has their own device or a district provided device as well as connectivity to the internet. If a student did not receive a device in the Spring of 2020, and needs access to a device, the district will provide a Chromebook. If the student does not have internet access, information about broadband access will be shared as well as an opportunity to use a district provided hotspot.
You can test your home internet speed by going to https://www.speedtest.net/. The download speed of your internet is the biggest factor when learning from home. Internet access should not be a barrier to a student’s ability to learn or a teacher’s ability to teach. If it is, we can assist you in finding access or receiving a hotspot. Below is a guide of recommended bandwidth based on the number of devices in your home being used simultaneously:
We will be holding Virtual Concierge and Information Desk hours for parents, students and staff. We will be sharing help documents, resources and even creating a ticket system so we can reach students, families and staff just in time when they need it. Our Virtual Concierge will also be able to assist with Library and resource needs too. More information will be shared soon!
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Per the WIAA, Fall Sports will be offered but it is contingent upon local control (the school’s District Administrator). A decision matrix will be in place to determine whether or not events will take place.
Volleyball contact days will run from August 3-7 from 8:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Additional information will be provided by Mr. McGregory’s office regarding safety protocols and the training that will occur for coaches and students. Students who expressed interest in playing met with the volleyball coach this evening at 5:00p.m. and parents at 6:00p.m. via Zoom. Students will practice in 3 pods of 10. Questions or concerns can be directed to Mr. McGregory at gmcgregory@browndeerschools.com.
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