Reopening FAQs

The planned dates for return are:

Week of September 29 (no school on 9/28):

All Kindergarten students,

• Assigned AM or PM classes with additional support staff to facilitate de-densification of classrooms where necessary
• Elementary principals will follow up with building-specific details

Week of October 5:

• Next group of special education students
• Grades 1-3 in their assigned hybrid cohorts

Week of October 12:

• Grades 4-5 in their assigned hybrid cohorts

Week of October 19:

• Grades 6-12 in their assigned hybrid cohorts

Under a dual-hybrid model:

• For elementary students, the schedule will be based on morning and afternoon cohorts for in-person instruction.
• For middle school and high school, the cohorts will alternate full days of in-person instruction.

The District continues to receive guidance from the numerous sources, including the Pa. departments of Health and Education (DOH and PDE), the Montgomery County Office of Public Health (MCOPH) and the PolicyLab at CHOP. Many variables that will need to align in order for the phased-in return to in-person instruction to begin and the ultimate decision will rest with the Lower Merion Board of School Directors.

The challenge remains that the guidance continues to change over time.  In addition to looking at Montgomery County, MCOPH and PolicyLab     have recommended our District take into consideration the status of Delaware and Philadelphia counties, due to their geographic proximity and the fact that many of our staff and the family members of many our students move among these counties regularly. 

The District Administration will make every effort to keep siblings on the same schedule,  to the extent possible.

Exceptions may be made in extreme circumstances, but the logistical challenges of  balancing the numbers of children in classrooms and on buses and keeping siblings on  the same schedule are already very complex, so requests will not be accepted.

Kindergarten students will attend in-person instruction five days each week (Monday through Friday) either in the morning or in the afternoon, as in years past, in the hybrid model. Class times will be 9:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. for the morning cohort and 1:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. for the afternoon cohort.

Students in grades 1-5 will be assigned to either a morning or afternoon cohort. Morning cohorts will attend in-person instruction from 9:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Afternoon cohorts will attend in-person instruction from 1:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. Monday through Thursday. During the morning or afternoon when students are not physically in school, they will participate in asynchronous instruction. On Fridays, students in both cohorts will participate in blended synchronous and asynchronous instruction from 9:00 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.

Sample schedules are available in the Board Presentation here.

The current plan is that students in grades 6-8 will be assigned to one of two cohorts. The first cohort will attend in-person instruction on Mondays and Wednesday. The second cohort will attend in-person instruction on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Letter Days the first week will be Monday/A, Tuesday/B, Wednesday/C, Thursday/D. The second week, letter days will be Monday/D, Tuesday/C, Wednesday/B and Thursday/A. This will pattern will repeat. During the days when students are not physically in school, they will participate in asynchronous instruction. On Fridays, students in both cohorts will participate in blended synchronous and asynchronous instruction from 8:15 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.

Sample schedules are available in the Board Presentation here.

The current plan is that students in grades 9-12 will be assigned to one of two cohorts. The first cohort will attend in-person instruction on Mondays and Wednesday. The second cohort will attend in-person instruction on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Letter days will be repeated – both Monday and Tuesday will be “A” Days. Then, Wednesday and Thursday will be “B” Days. The following week, both Monday and Tuesday will be “C” Days and then Wednesday and Thursday will be “D” Days. Then that pattern will repeat. During the days when students are not physically in school, they will participate in their scheduled classes via technology, such as streaming or zoom. On Fridays, students in both cohorts will participate in blended synchronous and asynchronous instruction from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sample schedules are available in the Board Presentation here.

High school students will follow their class schedules from home using technology, such as streaming and Zoom.

Middle school teachers will connect synchronously with at-home students on a daily basis during every class period using the digital tools for a variety of purposes (e.g. direct instruction, modeling, facilitating student collaboration/guided practice, conferencing, and assessing student progress individually and in small groups).

As is typical in classroom instruction, the experience will differ from teacher to teacher on any given day, depending on the grade level, content area and the particular priorities for a given lesson. In order to differentiate instruction, teachers need to group students flexibly and provide targeted small-group instruction throughout class periods to assess students’ progress and provide feedback. To that end, there will be times when teachers will need to divide their time between supporting students in the physical classroom and online in breakout. They may launch group work or independent work and direct students to turn their cameras off while they circulate to monitor student work and support students in these two settings. While connecting online is a primary means of moving learning forward, teachers are also sensitive to the need to manage students’ screen time.

The LMSD Virtual Academy   is a K-12 option, which we are offering in  conjunction with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit’s MVP program. You can find   detailed  information about this option  and a registration link on the District website. This option is    almost fully asynchronous (students work on their own timetable) and uses the MVP curriculum and instructors, though some support from LMSD educators will be available.

The District is also offering LMSD@Home.  This option will provide instruction similar to the fully remote instruction all students will receive if schools are closed.   Classes will be taught by LMSD educators and will  follow  LMSD’s  core curricular areas. This five-day-a-week model will combine synchronous and asynchronous instruction throughout the day, with the hours of each type of instruction varying according to grade level and course. Information sessions and registration will be available in mid-August.

Prior to offering the LMSD@Home option, we had said that students enrolling in LMVA would be able to return to their home schools without the possibility of partner-schooling. However, with the addition of the LMSD@Home option, teachers may have to be reallocated to staff that program. Therefore, while students enrolled in LMVA or LMSD@Home will be able to return to their home school for the 2021-22 school year, we cannot guarantee that students will be able to return to their original school if they re-enroll in the brick-and-mortar option during the 2020-2021 school year.

For grades K-8, the commitment to LMSD@Home is for the year. For grades 9-12, families can opt out of LMSD@Home after the first semester, or after the third quarter and join in-person instruction (if it is being offered at that time).   We are asking families who are willing to work through the reopening phases to commit to these    options. Teacher assignments and class assignments will be based on the numbers of families committing to one option or another. There is more flexibility in increasing class sizes for remote instruction, since social distancing isn’t a consideration, so it may be possible to opt into LMSD@Home during the year, but we cannot guarantee that a student who opts into (or out of) the program during the year will be placed with classmates from their home school.

A: Livestreaming from some classrooms, perhaps one per grade per school for students who must quarantine, is still being investigated. The biggest concern, especially for elementary and middle school classes, is that teachers do not stand in the front of a classroom and lecture in grades K-8. They move around the room and interact with students one-on-one.  Some 40% of students in our District receive student services, and their privacy is protected by law. Our teachers provide differentiated instruction to students based on IEPs, GIEPs, 504 plans and whether they are English language learners. Delivering differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all of our students while protecting their privacy with cameras in the classroom is a huge challenge.  Additionally, the cost of outfitting each classroom with a camera and suitable microphone is about $700/classroom.

Right At School is looking for a location outside of our school buildings where they might  be able to offer childcare for out-of-school days if we are in a hybrid scenario. At this  time, they have not located a space, but they are continuing to look.

Parents/Guardians are encouraged to drive children to school, or have them walk or ride bikes, if possible. The District intends to work with the Township to expand safe walk zones and add crossing guards where needed. Social distancing will be practiced on buses to the extent possible.  Siblings will be urged to share seats, while other students will be asked to sit singly, if  there is space available. All students riding buses will be required to wear face  coverings/masks that cover the mouth and nose. Students will be expected to wear  their face coverings prior to boarding the bus.

Student boarding buses will fill the bus from back to front. They will depart the bus from front to back, to minimize passing students in the aisle. The exception will be Kindergarten students, who will be seated at the front of the bus so they can be more closely supervised by the driver.

The District can request a change to parking restrictions, but changes can only be implemented by the Township.

Bicycle racks will be provided at all schools. Students who can safely ride bikes to school are encouraged to do so. Students will need to provide their own bicycle locks.

If two student drivers can work this out between them and notify the school, this will be  allowed.

Building principals are looking at how they will be able to open early and provide  supervision for children before school to spread out the time when car drop-offs can  occur. How this will work may differ from school to school.

At this time, no outside organizations are able to use indoor school facilities. This will  limit additional potential exposure to COVID-19 for our students and staff and allow  time for proper cleaning. Some extracurricular clubs/sports can use outdoor facilities,  provided they submit a Health and Safety Plan that meets District requirements.

August 28, the Central League announced the postponement of the fall season. LMSD plans to continue to keep students engaged by offering voluntary fall workouts for all fall teams twice a week in accordance with Phase 2 of the LMSD Athletics Health and Safety Plan. Additional information about schedules are available under the Athletics tab of each high school’s webpage.

LMSD continues to work with USciences; however, since LMSD class schedules may be altered by the scenario in which students will return to school, professor assignments have not yet been made. Whether the program can be offered will be dependent on the availability of professors from the University.

Our health departments do not recommend screening of asymptomatic employees or students. It is costly, takes up area resources for the large student /staff population, cannot be mandated and yields little benefit.  The person that tests negative one day can test positive the next. LMSD resources are focused on mitigation (masking, physical distancing and hygiene), while the community rate of incidence and positivity are within a range where reopening is possible.  LMSD will implement the Health Department guidelines for symptomatic students or staff, as well as all restrictions.

Parents/Guardians will be expected to complete a screening at home each morning, prior to  sending students to school.

The screening tool is available here.

Most children with COVID-19 do not have symptoms or have very mild symptoms that  do not include a temperature above 100.4. LMSD will not routinely check all students’  temperatures; however, nurses may check students who are symptomatic or students  who are unable to communicate how they are feeling. Parents will be asked to check  students at home as part of a daily screening before sending children to school.

Nursing suites are being divided into separate areas for general nursing care and for  students displaying COVID-19 symptoms. Parents/Guardians must be ready to pick up  sick children promptly. They will be kept away from others to the extent possible until  they are picked up.

The District will follow guidance from the Montgomery County Office of Public Health  regarding isolation, quarantine periods and the necessity to one or more close schools.

The District will ask families to follow guidance from the Montgomery County Office of  Public Health regarding isolation and/or quarantine periods after travel and/or  exposure.

Help your children get comfortable wearing a mask and with maintaining appropriate  social distancing by modeling these behaviors and practicing at home, where they feel  safe. Encourage children to decorate and personalize their masks, as this may help  create a sense of ownership and control of the situation. Be on the lookout for signs of  discomfort (physical or social/emotional). And remind students that they can speak with  their teachers and other school staff if they are feeling anxious, nervous or  uncomfortable.

Staff will follow state guidelines for using face coverings, similar to students. In some  cases, staff members may wear face shields in addition to or instead of masks. This may  include staff who work with students with special needs, nurses, etc.

Students will be required to wear face cloth coverings at all times in District buildings or on District vehicles. Face coverings may be removed to eat when social distancing can be maintained, for exercise outdoors and for brief mask breaks outdoors or when social distancing can be maintained.

It is possible that students who refuse wear face coverings and are not exempted from  doing so may face exclusion from school.

We encourage parents/guardians to practice mask wearing with their children prior to  the start of the school year, so they become comfortable with them. Children may wear  a face shield that covers their face to below the chin instead of a mask. We understand  that wearing masks may hamper communication between students and staff. When  appropriate, some staff may wear a face shield instead of a mask.

Current guidelines only allow masks to be removed for eating if six-foot social distancing  can be maintained. Cafeterias will have to be de-densified. Other lunch locations will  vary from building to building, but can include classrooms with forward-facing desks,  auditoriums, gymnasiums, gathering stairs, and even tented outdoor spaces.

No. Partitions would require additional cleaning between each use by different  students. Please see the Q&A above for lunch plans.

In most cases, no. Partitions require additional cleaning. Most classrooms will be set up  with desks spaced as far as possible and facing forward. When students work at tables  or in closer proximity, they will need to wear face coverings.

It is likely that in elementary schools, specials teachers will move from classroom to  classroom, rather than having numerous classrooms use a single specials room. Some  specials may be provided via video. Specials teachers will maintain social distancing  from students.

Administrators are looking at changes to bell schedules to ensure fewer students are in  hallways at the same time. Additionally, lockers will be removed in some areas to widen  hallways. Signs encouraging social distancing will be posted throughout schools.

At the elementary level, students will have scheduled to hand-washing times  throughout the day. Additional hand-washing stations are currently back-ordered; but  when they are available, they will be placed in schools. At the secondary level, hand-washing  will be encouraged and additional hand-sanitizer stations will be placed  throughout the secondary schools. Secondary students may bring UNSCENTED hand sanitizer  for their own use during the school day. The unscented hand sanitizer must be  used responsibly and may not be shared.

High-touch areas throughout schools will be cleaned multiple times each day. Every  classroom will be equipped with 3M #5 cleaner and a microfiber cloth, which teachers  will use to wipe down any commonly touched surfaces throughout the day. All spaces  will be thoroughly cleaned nightly, with further deep cleanings between cohorts in a  hybrid scenario.

The  existing  ventilation systems  throughout LMSD’s  buildings already met or exceeded ventilation standards, prior to the pandemic. However, the District is increasing the levels of ventilation and filtration of the  HVAC equipment – subject to capacity limits on the systems.  This includes the installation of MERV 13 filters.   Higher levels of ventilation become more challenging in a fully populated school and become more feasible if the school population is decreased. While staff can opt to open classroom windows on temperate days, air coming in through open classroom windows is not treated to prevent allergens from entering the room. Additionally, on days that are very hot and/or humid or very cold, HVAC systems will not be able to maintain a comfortable classroom temperature if windows are open.

The District did purchase one large event tent for possible use as auxiliary cafeteria space.  However, this tent will not be air conditioned or heated.  It would need to be removed if there are high winds and during the winter months (snow). Any additional instructional space needs to comply with all building code, fire code, and life safety requirements.