Approximately 125 members of the school community joined the meeting remotely, either through Zoom or Conference line.

M. Dixon read the Mission Statement.

Administrative Meeting Review.
M. Dixon reminded attendees to use mute when not speaking.

Richa Agarwal
Shared concern for K-2 students. Would prefer to have a homeschool option because of the risk of the spread of the virus.

Kasuma Rada
Prefers virtual school.

Jasvinder Hora
Wishes to comment after the presentation.

Anu Shenoy
Concerned about having kindergarteners wear masks. Has experienced difficulty having her own child wear a mask for extended periods.

Soujanya Kolli
Would prefer a homeschool option.

Vishal Patil
These are extraordinary circumstances, but these are formative years for the children. Wishes to have a community discussion about how to best foster an enriching experience while maintaining safety.

Mrudula Pericharla
Concerned about how kindergarteners will maintain social distance and wear a mask. Would prefer a homeschool option.

Angie Willis
Thanked the Board and Staff. Shared concern for the teachers and their safety. Has questions about cleaning, air circulation, classroom density. Has questions about what was learned from the Spring virtual school experience.

Feng Yu
Thanks the school for providing plan and giving the opportunity. Concerned with the difficulty of simultaneous online and in-person instruction.

Shweta Gupta
Suggests teacher can do one on one instruction with virtual students for one hour per week.

A. Pieper presented the Director's Report (2020-2021 Return to School Plan)
A plan has been developed with the best interests of the children in mind with the goal of keeping staff and students safe.
There will be a town hall on Tuesday Night at 6:00 where members of the community can ask questions and share comments.
 
On Tuesday, July 14th, Governor Copper announced the NC Return to School Plan. All schools may choose either Plan B or C.
Plan B: Reduced student capacity, strict social distancing, additional health screening, and social distancing requirements.
Plan C: Virtual School only.

Sources for Decision Making include health guidance from NCDHHS and CDC, Lighting Our Way Forward: North Carolina's Guidebook for Reopening Schools, Return to School Community, Feedback from Parents and staff, Collaboration with NC Carter Schools, Local school system decisions - CMS, Union County, and International Schools that have already returned to school.

The Parent Return to School Questionnaire showed 
Currently 56% are planning for in school attendance
86% have access to both reliable internet and working devices
10% request on-site child care during remote days
55 families ask for after school care, 11 families need before school care, and 40 families require bus service

Scholars Academy will proceed with Plan B - Hybrid Model

There will be two attendance options
Option 1 - Hybrid: Students have a blend of in school and virtual school attendance
Option 2 - Full Virtual: Students will remain at home and receive all instruction virtually. Students choosing option 2 must remain as full virtual until the end of the 1st quarter. This is so we can plan classroom spaces based on maximum numbers for in school attendance. Parents must submit their choice by August 3.

Health and Safety Plan
Option 1 students - 
Covid-19 Exposure Questionnaire
Temp/health screenings - all students will have temperature tested at drop-off.
Any student or staff exhibiting symptoms will be isolated and sent home. Any student or staff having a positive test for COVID-19 will be sent home for 14 days and until they receive a negative test. A child with a fever and a negative test for COVID-19 must stay home until all symptoms are gone. Students and staff will be notified if they have come in contact with anyone who has had a positive test.
Required use of cloth face coverings any time children are in a classroom longer than 15 minutes or when social distancing cannot be maintained. Mask breaks will be incorporated throughout the day as long as 6 foot social distance is maintained: while eating, structured PE in gym, outdoor recess.
Social Distancing - 6 feet of distance and one-way hallways. Lunch will be four lunch periods so that students can spread out and use masks. PE will be limited to 20 students. A large outdoor tent will be placed in the back of the school to enable for outdoor lunch and gym in inclement weather.
Hand Washing - there will be frequent handwashing reminders and breaks, hand sanitizers in each classroom and all entrances to the building. There will be frequent cleanings for high-touch surfaces (teachers have rotating duty). There will be cleanings between activities where supplies are shared or during transitions. Daily cleanings with a spray cleaner.
Students must use their own water bottle at the water fountain.

A New Health and Wellness Coordinator will be hired for the purpose of ensuring that the plan is implemented.

Staff will follow the same protocols as students for screening and staying home. Staff with medical concerns have been given flexibility to work remotely as is possible.

The first day of school (August 17) will be an orientation day. Students can be accompanied by a parent that day.

Fully Virtual Students will have a Zoom orientation and a drive-by pick-up process for getting supplies.

The school supply list will be posted next week.

Days of Attendance
Hybrid students Starting August 24
K-4 in school Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Virtual Wednesday and Friday.
5-8 in school Tuesday and Thursday. Virtual Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Virtual Students in all grades will have virtual school every day.

Attendance is required for all students every day. Virtual Students and Hybrid Students virtual days must log in to the online classroom in order to be counted that day.

Synchronous vs. Asynchronous
Virtual instruction will include two types of work.
Synchronous is real time live instruction with a teacher or TA. Students will have a specific time to login.
Asynchronous instruction will be placed on seesaw or google classroom and there will be suggested times to complete the work, but there is flexibility for families with Asynchronous work.

Synchronous instruction in all core subjects and technology
Synchronous and asynchronous instruction in music, art, foreign language, and PE

Wellness Wednesdays: AM - synchronous SEL, wellness, peer interation, PM - independent work, virtual club meetings, enrichment.

Fridays: Remote instruction - synchronous and asynchronous

Students need opportunities for social interation and collaboration
Homeroom is extended for teacher/student and student/student interaction.
Lunch will be socially distanced but in the cafeteria for peer interaction
Group work - socially distanced, non-technology based collaboration
Recess - mix of structured and reduced-risk free play activities
Wellness Wednesday - synchronous SEL lessons with whole class
Counseling - individual by request and topic-specific groups

K-4 Considerations
More in-person days due to increased need for adult support for young children
Shorter periods to allow more frequent movement and face covering breaks
Grade level bell schedules independent from middle school to allow teachers more flexibility.
Structured and unstructured recess periods throughout the day.

5-8 Considerations
Extended period lengths for increased content delivery
Fewer class changes to enforce social distancing
Dedicated homeroom period includes SEL activities
Schedule created to accommodate for math and foreign language class placements.
Delayed start for middle school electives - target is 2nd quarter
Recess with time allowed for socially distanced peer interaction.

All - Virtual Students
Special care has been taken to ensure that virtual students have an equally enriching experience. There will be synchronous instruction in enrichment programs. PE will require a log of 60 minutes of daily activity or participate in posted exercise routines. Wednesday and Friday virtual synchronous instruction allows the whole grade to stay on pace.
K-2 Zoom meetings will be small group instruction each day to replicate instruction happening in the classroom in ELA and Math. Science and Social Studies will be a combination of synchronous and asynchronous instruction. Breaks will be built into the schedule.
3-8 Real time instruction broadcasted live from the school for core subjects. Breaks will be built into the schedule.
Zoom attendance required as proof of attendance
Daily schedule provided for students by grade level
Expected instructional hours similar to Spring.

Feedback and Assessment
K-2 feedback will be narrative only and will focus on individual growth of each student.

3-8 grading will be recorded in the Google Classroom Gradebook

Before and After School, Extra-Curriculars
Before school care will be provided on in-person days from 7:00 to 7:45am
Superlative club will offer after school care on in-person days and full day care on virtual days.
No fall sports. Decisions about winter and spring sports will be made on a later date.
No field trips.
No in-school after-school clubs.
No outside groups may rent the facility.

Only approved visitors, including school volunteers, will be allowed in the building and will be subject to the same screening requirements as students and staff.

Flexibility in the Model of Instruction
Scholars Academy will re-evaluate the effectiveness of the Plan B implementation. Parent and Staff feedback surveys will go out in September.

SA will move to Plan C in any of the following scenarios:
1. A NC order declared by the governor
2. At the recommendation of NCDHHS or Mecklenburg County Health Department
3. Lack of adequate staffing
4. Upon the recommendation of the Executive Director and approved by the Board of Directors.

Questions and Feedback are welcome at adminsa@scholarsacademy.org by Tuesday July 21 at 12:00 PM.
Questions submitted will be addressed at the town hall meeting.
 

S. Liner gave the Governance Committee Update. 
There is a personnel issue that needs to be discussed in closed session.

S. Korrapati gave the Expansion Committee update. 
The Expansion committee has not met this month. They continue to monitor market conditions.