Newsroom

YCSDigest - January 25, 2021

Return to School Update

The School Board received an update on the division’s Return to School plan, beginning with information on COVID-19 vaccination efforts. More than 600 YCSD employees have begun receiving and/or scheduling their vaccinations. This is an important step in our ongoing efforts to resume in-person instruction for all students enrolled in the Flexible Framework. While we do not have a definitive timeline for when all employees will have received both doses of the vaccine, we do know it takes up to 3-4 weeks after the second inoculation before the vaccine reaches optimal protection.

Dr. Carroll, chief operations officer, also provided an overview of the new interim guidance issued by the Virginia Department of Education and Virginia Department of Health which incorporates and replaces guidance issued this summer to assist school divisions in developing Return to School plans. This revised guidance, which has been posted on the division’s Return to School website, aligns with the strategies YCSD has implemented throughout the school year and places greater emphasis on the effectiveness of mitigation strategies along with community transmission rates.

The division continues to experience a strain on staffing due to quarantine and isolation protocols, required ADA accommodations, and decreased substitute teacher availability. Staffing reached a critical level at Bethel Manor Elementary School this week, causing that school to shift to the Remote Model for at least one week, possibly two.

As we shared in the January 11 YCSDigest, we must assess staffing and the impact of community transmission on our school operations prior to bringing additional grade levels into schools for in-person learning. Unfortunately, while we would like to continue moving forward, we do not have the capacity to safely shift more grade levels into the Hybrid Model at this time. Once transmission rates begin to trend downward and more staff have begun the immunization process, we will reassess our operational integrity (staffing) to identify new target dates for grades 7-11 to enter the Hybrid Model.

Quarter 2 Report Cards

The division has adjusted dates for issuing Quarter 2 report cards. Teachers will have through February 5, 2021 to enter grades. Reports cards will then be posted on Aspen on February 8, 2021.

Calendar Adjustment Reminder

Please be sure to follow the new calendars for this week, which were updated and released in the January 11 YCSDigest. Links to the adjusted calendars are provided below.

Adjusted Elementary Calendar for January & February

Adjusted Secondary Calendar for January & February