Northville Public Schools

COVID-19​ Preparedness and

Response Plan
(Executive Order 2020-142 District Preparedness Plan)
8/11/2020

Name of District: ​Northville Public Schools

Address of District:​ 405 West Main Street, Northville, MI 48167

District Code Number: ​ 82390

Web Address of the District: ​ www.northvilleschools.org

Name of Intermediate School District: ​Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency

(Wayne RESA)

Name of Authorizing Body (if applicable):​ N/A

Note: Please be advised that this ​COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan​ is
intended to execute the district’s obligations under applicable law, executive orders, and
the ​Return to School Roadmap​. In the event the district does not implement or perform
one or more of its obligations under the Plan, any such failure is not intentional and will
be remedied promptly after the district is notified of the deficiency. To the extent
permitted by law, the district may modify the Plan as a result of evolving circumstances
or the development of further legal obligations.

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Preparedness Plan Introduction
Governor Whitmer’s​ ​Executive Order 2020-142​ “provides a structure to support all
schools in Michigan as they plan for a return of pre-K-12 education in the fall. Under the
order, school districts must adopt a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan laying
out how they will cope with the disease across the various phases of the ​Michigan Safe
Start Plan​. In turn, the accompanying Michigan Return to School Roadmap offers a guide
to the types of safety protocols appropriate during each phase. There’s no one-size-fits-all
solution: What works in Lansing may not work in Sault Sainte Marie. Districts will retain the
flexibility to tailor their instruction to their particular needs and to the disease conditions
present in their regions.” (EO-2020-142)

Each district (public, public school academy (PSA), nonpublic, and intermediate school
district (ISD) that educates pre-K-12 students) shall submit a single completed Assurance
Document and Preparedness Plan to its Board in time for approval by August 15 or seven
days before the first day of school, whichever comes first. This template, when completed,
serves as a single Assurance Document and Preparedness Plan​.

The Preparedness Plan will be collected by the Intermediate School District for public
school districts, the authorizing body for public school academies, or the chief/designated
school administrator for nonpublic schools for transmission to the State Superintendent of
Public Instruction and State Treasurer by August 17, 2020. Additionally, this Preparedness
Plan must be posted on the district’s/PSA’s, or nonpublic school’s public website home
page no later than August 17, 2020. A single application should be filed by the district
rather than multiple applications for individual schools within a district.

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Preparedness Plan Assurances
The District agrees to meet all of the following requirements of Executive Order 2020-142
✓ The District assures that when it provides in-person instruction to its students without
disabilities, the district must also provide in-person instruction to its students with disabilities,
consistent with their individualized education programs (IEPs).
✓ The District assures that when schools are closed to in-person instruction, districts must strive
in good faith and to the extent practicable, based upon available resources, technology,
training, and curriculum, as well as the circumstances presented by COVID-19, to provide
equal access to any alternative modes of instruction to students with disabilities from birth
through age 26. This assurance includes the provision of auxiliary services under section 1296
of the Revised School Code, MCL 380.1296.
✓ The District assures that while any state of emergency or disaster related to the COVID-19
pandemic continues, it shall comply with guidance from the United States Department of
Education, including its Office of Civil Rights and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services, and the Michigan Department of Education concerning the delivery of alternative
modes of instruction to students with disabilities in light of the impact of COVID-19.
✓ The District assures that it shall, to the extent practicable and necessary, make individualized
determinations whether and to what extent compensatory services may be needed for students
with disabilities in light of the school closures during the 2019–2020 school year. ​(Note:
Recovery services, where applicable, will also be considered)
​ f the ​Michigan Safe Start Plan​ it will close its
✓ The District assures that during ​Phase 1, 2, or 3 o
buildings to anyone except: (a) District employees or contractors necessary to conduct
minimum basic school operations consistent with a Preparedness Plan, including those
employers or contractors necessary to facilitate alternative modes of instruction, such as
distributing materials and equipment or performing other necessary in-person functions. (b)
Food-service workers preparing food for distribution to students or their families. (c) Licensed
child-care providers and the families that they serve, if providers follow all emergency protocols
identified by the state.
✓ The District assures that during ​Phase 1, 2, or 3 o ​ f the ​Michigan Safe Start Plan​ it will suspend
athletics, after-school activities, inter-school activities, and busing.
​ f the ​Michigan Safe Start Plan​ it will provide
✓ The District assures that during ​Phase 1, 2, or 3 o
for the continued pay of school employees while redeploying staff to provide meaningful work in
the context of the Preparedness Plan, subject to any applicable requirements of a collective
bargaining agreement​. ​(Note: Assuming no additional reduction in foundation allowance or
proration once the state’s FY21 budget has been approved, Northville Public Schools would
agree to continue staff wage and salary payments if we move into Phases 1, 2, or 3.)
✓ The District assures that in ​Phases 1, 2, or 3 ​of the ​Michigan Safe Start Plan​ it will provide for
the continuation of food distribution to eligible students.
​ f the ​Michigan Safe Start Plan​ it will prohibit indoor
✓ The District assures that during ​Phase 4 o
assemblies that bring together students from more than one classroom.
✓ The District assures cooperation with the local public health department if a confirmed case of
COVID-19 is identified, and agrees to collect the contact information for any close contacts of
the affected individual from two days before he or she showed symptoms to the time when he
or she was last present in school.

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Preparedness Plan
Every district must develop and adopt a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan (“Preparedness Plan”)
that is informed by ​Michigan’s 2020-21 Return to School Roadmap​ (“Return to School Roadmap”) from the
COVID-19 Task Force on Education and Return to School Advisory Council.

In accordance with Executive Order 2020-142 a plan must include all the following parts:

A. The policies and procedures that the District will follow when the region in which the district is located
is in ​Phase 1, 2, or 3​ of the ​Michigan Safe Start Plan.
1. Describe how the district will offer alternative modes of instruction other than in-person
instruction and a summary of materials each student and the student’s parents or guardians
will need to meaningfully access the alternative modes of instruction included in the
Preparedness Plan. If the Preparedness Plan relies on electronic instruction, the
Preparedness Plan must consider how the district will aid students who lack access to
computers or to the internet. This is also in the Continuity of Learning and COVID-19
Response Plan submitted in April. You may want to update and link to this plan in your
response below.

District and Building Implementation Plan:

The ​2020-2021 NPS Continuity of Learning - COVID-19 Plan​ outlines what learning will look like in the
event Northville Public Schools must deliver alternative modes of learning other than in-person
instruction during phases 1, 2, or 3 of the ​Michigan Safe Start Plan​. In addition, this plan details what
full distance learning for all students will look like in 2020-2021.

B. The policies and procedures that the District will follow when the region in which the District is
located is in ​Phase 4​ of the Michigan Safe Start Plan. Those policies and procedures must, at a
minimum, include:
1. Face coverings​ (p. 22)
a. Please describe how the district will implement ​requirements​ for facial coverings that at
a minimum require the wearing of face coverings, except during meals and unless face
coverings cannot be medically tolerated.

District and Building Implementation Plan:

● PreK-12 families who choose in-person instruction must comply with, among other mitigation
requirements, their child wearing a facial covering at all times while at school and on the
school bus, excluding lunch.
● If a child cannot medically tolerate a face mask, parents must provide a signed letter from the
child’s physician explaining why the child cannot medically tolerate a face mask. The District
may obtain a second opinion at its expense. If the District determines that the child has a
legitimate medical reason that prevents the child from wearing a face mask at school or on the
bus, alternative safety measures will be required, such as wearing a required face shield,
provided by the District, in lieu of a face mask.
● Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if the child cannot or will not wear either a face mask, face
shield and/or comply with the designated alternative safety measures at school or on the bus,
in-person instruction will be discontinued and the child will be required to utilize the District’s
full virtual learning program.
● Each building within the district will identify a system for tracking students that are on an
approved medical exemption for mask wearing, including the alternative safety measure(s) in
place.

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 ● The expectations for the wearing of face coverings and how to obtain clean facial coverings
will be included in parent communications, student orientations, and staff orientations.
● Students and parents will sign-off on their awareness of facial covering requirements before the
students are permitted to enter the classroom on the first day of school.
● Students requiring special considerations (example: 504 Plans, IEPs, health care plans)
regarding failure to wear a face covering will be referred to their specific case manager for the
development of additional interventions.
● Building, grounds, and transportation signage will be prominent throughout all school facilities
and clearly identify the requirements to wear facial coverings in all areas operated by the
district, including buildings, grounds, or bus.
● Emergency facial coverings will be provided to students and staff members who did not bring
their mask to school or the bus that day. These will be available on all busses with signage at
facility entry points of each building operated by the District that describes what a person
without a mask should do in order to obtain a mask for entering the building.
● Guests to the school building (presenters, substitute teachers, etc) who did not bring their own
mask will be issued a disposable face covering prior to entering the building. Such guests will
be instructed to wear their face covering at all times, except during meals. Instances of
non-compliance will result in the guest being escorted from the building by the building
administrator or designee.
● Brief mask breaks (less than 15 min) for PreK-5 students, at the direction of the teacher, are
allowed where students are physically distanced within the classroom and all students are
working quietly. Mask breaks outside require that physical distancing be maintained.
● In instances of uncertainty about individuals not wearing face coverings, these matters will be
relayed to the building administration for review and decisive action.

2. Hygiene
Please describe how you will implement the ​requirements​ for hygiene protocols from the ​Return to
School Roadmap ​(p. 22-23​).

District and Building Implementation Plan:

● Under the direction of the district school nurse, teachers will teach students the following on
the first day of school and reinforce weekly or more often as needed:
○ proper hand washing, including soap and water for at least 20 seconds and/or the use of
hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, on the first day of school and
reinforce weekly or more often if needed.
○ how to cough and sneeze into their elbows, or to cover with a tissue and dispose of it in
the trash
● The distinct will procure and distribute adequate supplies to support healthy hygiene behaviors
(soap, 60% alcohol hand sanitizer, paper towels, tissues, and signage.)
● Supplies (paper towels, soap, hand sanitizer, tissues, trash receptacles) will be checked daily
and restocked in the classroom.
● Teachers will contact the office immediately if supplies run out during the school day.
● Each classroom will have a hygiene protocol with routines established and communicated via
newsletters, web pages, bulletin boards, and the like. It will include
○ Hand-washing expectations
○ Room and materials cleaning protocols
● Proper mitigation strategies including hand washing and sneezing will be communicated to
families via newsletters, web pages, bulletin boards, and the like. Parents and caregivers will be
asked to review and reinforce with their students.
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 ● Maintenance and Operations will:
○ Procure and maintain adequate supplies of soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, tissues.
○ Post signage related to cleaning and hygiene strategies in each room, restroom, and
throughout the hallways.
○ Monitor hygiene supplies and refill as needed three times daily.
○ Procure hand sanitizing stations as deemed necessary during safety protocol
walk-throughs with the building leader.
● Sharing school supplies will be limited to items that can be cleaned/sanitized.
● Building administrators and teachers will provide families with a list of supplies that would be
helpful for students during in-person or distance learning, with supplies provided for any
student without access to any necessary supplies.

3. Cleaning
Please describe how you will implement the cleaning ​requirements​ for cleaning protocols from the
Return to School Roadmap (​ p. 27)​.

● Custodial staff cleaning protocols have been implemented that require all frequently touched
surfaces, including light switches, doors, benches and bathrooms to undergo cleaning at least
every four hours with an EPA approved disinfectant or diluted bleach solution.
● Staff are required to wear gloves, a surgical mask, and a face shield when performing all
cleaning activities.
● Libraries, computer labs, arts and other hands-on classrooms will undergo cleaning after every
class period with either an EPA approved disinfectant or diluted bleach solution.
● Student desks or workspaces that are shared with multiple students will be wiped down before
and/or after each class period with an EPA approved disinfectant wipe. Students that utilize the
same desk or workspace area throughout the day will have access to EPA approved disinfectant
wipes throughout the day.
● Each night, all desks and workspaces will be cleaned and sanitized with soap and water.
● Play structures will continue to undergo normal routine cleaning.
● District Level Administrators and Building Operations met and reviewed all guidance related to
cleaning and disinfecting of buildings and reviewed all cleaning and facility needs outlined in
the ​Return to School Roadmap.​
● EPA-approved cleaning supplies related to COVID-19 were identified and proper supply
amounts needed to address increased cleaning protocols were ordered and an adequate supply
will be maintained.
● All classrooms will be provided spray bottles and/or wipes with EPA-approved disinfectant,
paper towels, face shield and gloves in order to address new cleaning protocols.
● Custodial leadership along with district and building administrators toured each building to
identify areas of frequent usage throughout the building. Each building has a unique cleaning
schedule and protocol binder that documents all COVID-19 cleaning protocols that will be
followed by all regular and substitute custodial staff.
● Custodial staff will walk the building wiping all high frequency usage areas throughout the day
and at minimum every four hours and following any evening activities in the building.
● All classrooms will have the appropriate EPA-approved disinfectant in their rooms.
● Staff will be trained on cleaning materials and protocols. This training will show the use of
PPE when cleaning, protocols for the classroom and storage of cleaning materials.

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4. Athletics
Please describe how you will implement the ​requirements​ for athletics protocols from the ​Return to
School Roadmap ​(p. 27).

District and Building Implementation Plan:

● The district will comply with all guidance published by the Michigan High School Athletic
Association (MHSAA)
● Large scale indoor spectator events are suspended. Outdoor spectator events will adhere to the
requirements outlined in the ​Return to School Roadmap.​ Spectators not part of the same
household must always maintain six feet of distance from one another. Consideration is being
given to video or audio streaming competitions, where possible.
● Students, teachers, and staff must use proper hand hygiene techniques before and after every
practice, event, or other gathering.
● Every participant is required to confirm that they are healthy and without any symptoms prior
to any event utilizing the district athletic participation symptom screening form process.
● All equipment is disinfected before and after use.
● Buses are cleaned and disinfected before and after every use. Athletic transportation in Phase
4-5 will be limited to minimize exposure possibilities.
● Each participant is required to use a clearly marked water bottle for individual use. There
should be no sharing of this equipment.
● Indoor weight rooms and physical conditioning activities are allowed only when physical
distancing of six feet between participants is maintained, and there is no sharing of equipment.
● Handshakes, fist bumps, and other unnecessary contact must not occur.
● Concessions in Phase 4-5 will be limited, if offered at all. Overnight trips will not be allowed
until Phase 6.

5. Screening
Please describe how you will implement the ​requirements​ for screening protocols from the ​Return to
School Roadmap ​(p. 24).

District and Building Implementation Plan:

● Parents are required to complete a health checklist each morning with their child before
sending the child to school. The health checklist will consist of a self-report on possible
exposures, symptoms, and a required temperature check (done at home). Parents will report
any COVID-19 symptoms or factors on the checklist to the school and will follow the
guidelines and timelines for quarantine according to health department guidance. It will be
communicated regularly to parents that it is essential that this process be done daily with
integrity and fidelity. Temperature checks at school may be instituted periodically as
appropriate.
● If a child displays any COVID-19 symptoms while at school, the student will be brought to a
designated quarantine room (with other illnesses in a separate location), given a medical grade
mask and monitored by school personnel. Parents will be contacted and provided clear and
concise directions on where and how to pick up the student. School personnel caring for a
student in the quarantine room will wear appropriate PPE.
● Each building will have an identified and trained staff person to supervise students who
become ill at school.
● During the time of quarantine, the student will be asked to self identify the location and

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 individuals they came into contact with for the past 48 hours to the best of their recollection.
Priority will be placed on those individuals that they were in close contact with for a sustained
15 minutes of more.
● The health department will be contacted after parents have been contacted to assist in contact
tracing and notification of vulnerable individuals.
● All school staff will be required to conduct a health safety self assessment prior to coming to
work and verifying through an electronic form that they are safe to work. This will include
taking their temperature and reporting on the form that it is not over 100.4 degrees.
● Students or staff that exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19 as identified in the screening
questionnaire are expected to stay home and follow up with a primary care physician.

6. Testing
Please describe how you will implement the ​requirements​ for testing protocols from the ​Return to
School Roadmap (​ p. 25).

District and Building Implementation Plan:

● The District will cooperate with the local public health departments (Wayne and Oakland
Counties) on protocols for screening students and staff.
● Students who become ill at school with one or more COVID-19 symptoms will be provided a
mask and be sent home with parent, legal guardian or designated emergency contact.
● Staff who become ill at work with one or more COVID-19 symptoms will wear a mask, leave
work and be encouraged to seek off-site COVID-19 testing and consult with a primary care
physician.
● Where consistent with health department guidance, any students or staff sent home from school
due to COVID-19 symptoms will be expected to remain home until tested negative AND they
are symptom free for 24 hours without the use of medications prior to returning to school.
● In the event of a confirmed COVID-19 case, where consistent with the health department
guidance, household members, classmates and teachers who have been within 6 feet of the
person for at least 15 minutes of the COVID-19 positive case are excluded for 14 days after
their last date of close contact with the positive case to monitor for symptoms. All other
families and staff will be notified so as to monitor for presentation of any symptoms.
● Parents are required to check student temperatures as part of the online daily self screening
symptom reporting.
● Staff will be reminded of confidentiality laws pertaining to privacy of health information.

7. Busing and Student Transportation

Please describe how you will implement the ​requirements​ for busing and student transportation
protocols from the ​Return to School Roadmap ​(p. 28).

District and Building Implementation Plan:

● District Business and Operations Administrators and our Transportation Services vendor met
and reviewed all guidance related to busing and student transportation outlined in the ​Return to
School Roadmap.
● All buses will be equipped with hand sanitizer in a manner approved by Michigan State Police
and require all riders use the provided sanitizer at the time of boarding.
● The driver, staff and students will be required to use facial coverings at all times.
● Buses will be cleaned and disinfected between each route, without children present at the time
of cleaning.

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 ● To the extent feasible, windows and doors will be open during cleaning.
● Frequently touched surfaces will be cleaned prior to morning and afternoon routes.
● Equipment, including adaptive equipment such as walkers or wheelchairs being transported to
school, must be cleaned and sanitized.
● In the event a student may not be transported, including but not limited to a student who
becomes ill or symptomatic at school, a plan must be implemented to ensure the student gets
home safely.
● Weather permitting, windows will be opened while the bus is in motion to increase air
circulation.
● Signage will be added to each bus to address the required use of facial coverings of all students
and drivers and use of hand sanitizer protocols.
● Face masks will be available at the entrance of the bus in the event that a student does not come
to the bus equipped with the necessary item.
● Communication documents will be developed to enable the drivers of the buses to know what
the safety plans are for any specific students and who, for medical reasons, will not be wearing
a face mask.
● Professional development will be required for all bus drivers related to the changes including
the appropriate usage of face masks and policies regarding the requirement of their usage on
the bus, hand sanitizing, and cleaning protocols.

C. C-1.​ Indicate which highly recommended protocols from the ​Return to School Roadmap​ the district will
include in its Preparedness Plan when the region in which the district is located is in ​Phase 5​ of the
Michigan Safe Start Plan.

District and Building Implementation Plan:

All of the Strongly Recommended protocols for the following categories will be included in Phase 5:
● PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
● Hygiene
● Screening Students, Staff and Guests
● Testing Protocols for Students and Staff and Responding to Positive Cases
● Responding to Positive Tests Among Staff and Students
● Food Service, Gathering, and Extra-Curricular Activities (note hand sanitizer clarification in
C-2 below)
● Athletics
● Busing and Student Transportation
● Cleaning
● Medically Vulnerable Students and Staff

C-2.​ I​ ndicate which highly recommended protocols from the ​Return to School Roadmap​ the district will
not include in its Preparedness Plan when the region in which the district is located is in ​Phase 5​ of the
Michigan Safe Start Plan.

District and Building Implementation Plan:

All strongly recommended protocols will be incorporated into Phase 5 where allowable. The two items
within all Strongly Recommended items listed in Phase 5 that will need further review and clarification
are the following:
● Testing Protocols Section:​ The ​Return to School Roadmap​ highly recommends, “Staff who
develop fever or become ill with symptoms of COVID-19 at school should wear a mask and
should be transported for off-site testing.” ​A school district may not have the legal authority
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 to unilaterally transport a staff member to off-site testing​ and may, therefore, not be able to
be able to follow this recommendation. In the event this recommendation cannot be fully
implemented, the district will follow the health department guidance on campus exclusion and
re-entry protocols (including required proof of testing results where appropriate).

● Food Service, Gathering, and Extracurricular Activities: ​The second bullet under this
section (p. 42) strongly recommends that “Students, teachers, and cafeteria staff wash hands
before and after every meal.” We will continue our hygiene protocols that include frequent
hand washing and sanitizing throughout the day and around meal times. We will continue to
be vigilant that our students and staff do not congregate in large areas around bathrooms and
other hand washing stations at the same time, thus using a ​combination of hand washing and
hand sanitizing strategies​ to keep students and staff safe.

D. After considering all the protocols that are highly recommended in the ​Return to School Roadmap,​
please indicate if a school plans to exclude protocols that are highly recommended for any of the
categories above in ​Phase 4.

District and Building Implementation Plan:

● Spacing, Movement and Access Section:​ We are complying with the spacing, movement and
access strongly recommended protocols within the ​Return to School Roadmap,​ Phase 4, to the
extent feasible in all instances. Please note that there will be circumstances in which desks
and/or workspaces are not six feet apart in classrooms. The district has instituted several safety
protocols to mitigate COVID-19 exposure as noted within this plan. In addition, in planning
our in-person re-entry models at all grade levels, we have applied smaller group cohorting
where possible and have implemented a 50/50 hybrid at both the middle and high school levels,
to provide for greater physical distancing than would otherwise be possible.

● Testing Protocols Section:​ The ​Return to School Roadmap​ highly recommends, “Staff who
develop fever or become ill with symptoms of COVID-19 at school should wear a mask and
should be transported for off-site testing.” A school district may not have the legal authority to
unilaterally transport a staff member to off-site testing and may, therefore, not be able to be
able to follow this recommendation. In the event this recommendation cannot be fully
implemented, the district will follow the health department guidance on campus exclusion and
re-entry protocols (including required proof of testing results where appropriate).

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Final Steps for Submission
Each district shall submit a single completed Assurance Document and Preparedness Plan
to its Board of Education (in the case of a PSA, the Academy Board of Directors; in the
case of a nonpublic school, the chief or designated school administrator ) in time for
approval by August 15 or seven days before the first day of school, whichever comes first​.

Date of Approval by the District Board of Education, PSA Board of Directors, or

nonpublic school chief/designated school administrator: ​August 11, 2020

Link to the Board Meeting Minutes or Signature of Board President, or signature of

nonpublic school chief/designated school administrator:

8/11/20 Board of Education Meeting MInutes

Roland Hwang, President, Board of Education
Link to the approved Plan posted on the District/PSA/nonpublic school website:

Northville Public Schools COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan

The Preparedness Plan will be collected by the Intermediate School District for public
school districts, the authorizing body for public school academies, or the chief/designated
school administrator for nonpublic schools for transmission to the State Superintendent of
Public Instruction and State Treasurer by August 17, 2020. Additionally, this Preparedness
Plan must be posted on the district’s/PSA’s, or nonpublic school’s public website home
page no later than August 17, 2020.

Name of District/PSA/Nonpublic Leader Submitting Plan: ​Mary Kay Gallagher,

Superintendent

Date Received by the ISD/Authorizing Body/Chief or designated School

Administrator: 8/12/20

Date Submitted to State Superintendent and State Treasurer:

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 NPS Continuity of Learning Plan (COVID-19)
2020-2021
August 11, 2020

If Delivering Instruction During Phases 1, 2, or 3 of the ​Michigan Safe Start Plan ​and in accordance
with Executive Order 2020-142 our Preparedness and Response Plan includes the following:

A.1. ​Describe how the district will offer alternative modes of instruction other than in-person instruction
and a summary of materials each student and the student’s parents or guardians will need to meaningfully
access the alternative modes of instruction included in the Preparedness Plan. If the Preparedness Plan
relies on electronic instruction, the Preparedness Plan must consider how the district will aid students who
lack access to computers or to the internet.

DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNANCE

Northville Public Schools convened the NPS School Re-entry Task Force beginning in May, 2020 that
consisted of over 130 community stakeholders, including parents, teachers, administrators and students.
The NPS School Re-entry Task Force was assembled to research, develop and provide recommendations
to the Board of Education for a range of potential school re-entry scenarios, based on CDC and MDHHS
guidelines to mitigate COVID-19 risks and protect the safety and wellbeing of students, families and staff
members while maximizing opportunities for student learning. All recommendations for learning during
Phases 1 through 6 follow the guidelines outlined in the​ MI Safe Schools: Michigan’s 2020-2021 Return to
School Roadmap.
Embedded within our larger task force is the NPS Distance Learning Team. This specialized workgroup is
made up of over 40 teachers, principals, parents, and central office administrators, whose work consisted of
designing, developing and supporting the delivery of quality digital content in a fully online environment.
This team has been serving as the ​Return to Instruction and Learning Working Group,​ referred to in the
Return to School Roadmap​, and will continue to review feedback from our parents about their experience
with virtual learning in the spring and into the fall of 2020 as a full online option is available for students.
This team has identified a consistent learning platform, created content for every classroom, planned
professional development around virtual learning, and created parent resources for learning what is needed
for student success in the fall for those selecting full virtual learning and for all students if we are in phases
1-3. This team will continue to support developing and improving a quality virtual learning environment as
we move into the 2020-2021 school year.
REMOTE INSTRUCTION:
Including Technology, Access to Instruction, and Monitoring
Northville Public Schools plans to use a single sign on option to streamline the access to all digital
resources for parents in the fall. Included in this single sign on platform is our new Learning Management
System, Schoology, which will be used exclusively in every K-26 classroom for remote learning to provide
consistency. For those students who have internet access, but don't have a device, devices will be made
available. If students have a device, but do not have internet, guidance for setting up free internet service
will be provided. Unique needs identified by individual stakeholders will be addressed and supported
through each building principal, with support, guidance and resources from the district’s technology
department. All students will have access to grade-level/course instructional materials and text as needed
to complete their work.
In addition to the alternative mode of instruction described above, our district will include, where appropriate
and needed, the following alternative modes of instruction to best meet the needs of all students during the
time when in-person instruction is not an option:
 ● Utilize telephone communications including tools such as, Q Communications, and district remote
telephone services. These tools will be used to share pertinent instructional information with
students and families
● Utilize MISTAR-Q, Q Communication, district Gmail and communication via Schoology, to share
pertinent instructional information with students and families
● Whenever appropriate, teachers will share instructional packets with students who may not
otherwise have access. The process for requesting and receiving printed information is
communicated through teachers and principals.
● Instruction and/or materials provided by community college and university partnerships will continue
for all dual enrolled students through our partner colleges and universities as well as through
Michigan Virtual. The district will continue to pay for these courses and resources for students who
have elected these options through the course scheduling process.

Our teachers will utilize the modes of learning that will work best for their students with considerations given
to the age and/or developmental level of the students and their overall familiarity with the tools needed to
actively engage in the learning.

Across our PreK-26 spectrum, families can expect the following:

● Students and/or families will receive regular synchronous instruction, which will include a ​student
schedule ​indicating when each grade or content level classroom, small group, or individual
‘face-to-face’ live interactions are available.
○ The blocks of time are reserved for synchronous interactions by grade or course in order to
avoid overlaps, and to provide for scheduling of support services.
○ Length of each face-to-face session will be communicated directly by teachers, and varies
based on developmental appropriateness, and the purpose of the session.
○ Synchronous lessons may include:
■ Whole Group Instruction: ​The teacher brings the classroom together as one large
group. It's a time that you might introduce a new concept or encourage a large-scale
discussion.
■ Small Group Instruction:​ May precede or follow whole group instruction to reinforce
or re-teach specific skills and concepts and provides a reduced student-teacher ratio.
■ One-on-One Help:​ Allows teachers to work directly with one student to focus on a
specific need.
■ Collaborative Learning: ​This is the educational approach of using groups to
enhance learning through working together. Groups of two or more learners work
together to solve problems, complete tasks, or learn new concepts.
■ Live Feedback from the Teacher: ​Teachers are able to interact with students and
provide real time feedback and clarification in learning.
○ Synchronous learning will provide opportunities for students to ask questions and connect
with their peers.
● Students/families will also receive regular asynchronous lessons via Schoology that may include
learning links, pre-recorded lessons, resources and assignments​ for learning from their
classroom teachers that students can access at any time.
○ This support is structured such that parents/students can participate within their individual
family scheduling needs.
○ Parents/Students can plan individually when and how they will engage in asynchronous
instruction
○ Asynchronous instruction may include:
■ Teacher Recorded Video Lessons: ​Teacher pre-records lessons that are connected
to an assignment that might include a constructed response, series of activities, or
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 other learning outcomes.
■ Individual Assignments: ​ Students may be completing work that was assigned as a
means for the teacher to see what they have learned, so they can develop relevant
live instruction.
■ Collaborative Assignments:​ Groups of 2 or more students may connect through
Schoology to work together on a collaborative project, presentation, or learning
activity.
■ On-line Discussions: ​ Students may engage with a discussion board to add their
thoughts, challenge others thinking, or respond to a prompt. This is also able to be
completed in Schoology.
■ Completing a Task Already Modeled by the Teacher: ​ Students may be using what
they learned in a live meeting to practice their skills, test their thinking, or become
better at the skill in question.
● Teachers will be available for ​individual parent/student support ​at designated times​ ​during the
week and/or at a mutually agreed upon time.
● Families are asked to ​communicate unique family needs with teachers and building principals
to support and develop possible alternatives to meet unique needs.
● Teachers will monitor and track students’ online attendance on a daily basis via Schoology and our
student information system.
● Students will take an initial benchmark assessment in the beginning of the school year to help
determine where students are academically and to inform instructional decisions.
● Students can expect to submit assignments, take assessments, receive teacher feedback, and
receive grades and course credit where applicable.

STUDENTS WITH ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL AND SUPPORT NEEDS

As part of a grant funded opportunity, at the end of the 2019-2020 school year, K-3 students identified with
academic deficiencies in math or reading engaged in extended summer learning. Students were assessed
at the end of summer, 2020, and that data will be used to begin planning for instructional needs for the
beginning of 2020-2021.

The District will provide alternative modes of instruction for students with Individualized Educational Plans
(IEPs) that work toward their IEP goals. Weekly learning plans will be developed for and with students with
IEP’s, including Cooke Center program students, based on a developmentally appropriate general
education schedules modified to their individual needs, with multiple opportunities for students to receive
direct teacher support. Cooke Center Program teachers (as well as all other self contained special
education teachers) and ancillary professionals will utilize Schoology to match with families’ needs, send
packets to families to provide foundational visuals, make videos to provide visual modeling for families,
and/or provide online links to access learning opportunities.

Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) will be reviewed to determine how best to provide support, giving
consideration to the following service modes: visual consultation and instruction (including what assistive
technology might be needed, whether an adult needs to be present in the home to assist with physical
maneuvering or redirection); telephone consultation and instruction; take-home packet instruction; and
consideration of virtual instruction and consultation support for Occupational and/or Physical Therapy
services that are almost always done in a face-to-face, in person context. Speech and Language services,
Behavior Services, and Transition Services are reviewing service delivery through virtual, pre-recorded or
telephone consultation, pre-made visual, considering what materials may be necessary to provide (i.e.
augmentative communication); specialized instruction, and considering “hands on” options for remote
learning (i.e. non-digital resources for work, incorporating life skills essentials for students with IEPs,
encouraging journaling from students and/or adult as needed, utilizing virtual tours and video
demonstrations. If in the process of reviewing the IEP, teams determine that the FAPE (Free and
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Appropriate Public Education) can’t be met as currently written, the team will work with families to amend
the IEP effective during the Face-to-Face closure time.

The District will also deploy paraeducators and paraprofessionals to support delivery of instruction and
provision of services in collaboration with teachers and other educators to meet the needs of our youngest
learners, at risk learners, and students with disabilities.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
The Distance Learning Team has been actively engaged in identifying, building and participating in
professional development specific to the virtual learning that will occur during the 2020-21 school year. The
Distance Learning Team identified key areas of need for all teachers and acquired appropriate virtual
self-paced learning experiences for teachers to meet these needs. Teachers are able to complete this
training prior to the school year starting. The areas that teachers will receive additional training in included:

● ClassLink Single Sign On to provide access to a broader range of materials and resources.
● Schoology, our Learning Management System, to provide a consistent and robust online learning
classroom environment.
● Social and Emotional training and support addressing the needs of both staff and students.
● Online Pedagogy and Best Practices in virtual learning environments including building digital
content, synchronous learning and asynchronous content development.

Families will receive multiple communications and training opportunities for all digital tools to be used in the
virtual learning environment. This includes ClassLink, Schoology, and strategies for success in an online
learning environment. These resources will be housed in a Parent Portal, specifically addressing the needs
of parents who are accessing learning in an online environment.

MENTAL & SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL HEALTH

We are committed to providing ongoing mental health support to pupils affected by COVID-19. We provide
several modes of support to all students, embedded into the weekly schedules identified at each level. Staff
and parents will be provided a variety of resources that can be used with students to help explain our
current reality, while easing fear and anxiety where possible.
Other means of supporting students will include, but will not be limited to, the following:

● Social and Emotional/Wellness Hotline – managed by district mental health specialists.

● Regular check-ins with students (telephone calls/virtual conferences by teachers, social workers,
counselors, administrators, etc.)
● Social Emotional Learning and support units incorporated into weekly teacher interactions with
students with referrals to district mental health professionals where needed.
● Deployment of Psychological First Aid for Schools protocol to support students and families during
and after traumatic events.
● Host groups with students (virtual circles with opportunities for students to have voice with a trained
professional and/or facilitator weekly).
● Staff will continue to receive professional development on a variety of topics, including:
social-emotional learning, trauma-informed best practices, identification of students at risk, and
proper referral protocols.
● The District has and is trained on a crisis management plan that leverages available internal and
external community-based resources, which can be activated efficiently as needed.
● The District is in the process of enhancing grief support processes with the support of New Hope
Center for Grief Support, a local non-profit organization and recipient of grant funds allocated to

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support school staff in responding to students, families and staff who have experienced grief and
loss.