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CCS, CEA Reach Agreement on Memorandum of Understanding for Second Quarter Learning Model
October 28, 2020 -- Columbus City Schools and the Columbus Education Association (CEA) reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to finalize the District’s learning plans through the end of the first semester, which concludes on January 15, 2021.
The agreement, which covers the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year, includes provisions for the second quarter learning model for specific student groups:
- Students in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs at Columbus Downtown High School and the Fort Hayes Career Center will begin blended learning on Monday, November 2, as planned.
- Special education students in grades PreK to 12 with specific complex needs will remain in a completely remote learning environment through the end of the semester (January 15, 2021).
"My goal throughout the discussions with our union partners has been and always will be how to best achieve our priority of providing an equitable education to all students within the context of the health and safety concerns of the pandemic," said Superintendent/CEO Dr. Talisa Dixon. "The MOU reached today with the Columbus Education Association does just that. I am grateful for the work of the negotiations teams for collaborating on an agreement that prioritizes the needs of our students."
"The priority for our Union during this pandemic has and will continue to be the health and safety of our school communities," said John Coneglio, President of the Columbus Education Association. "We now turn to implementing the new agreement, which includes a number of critical, enforceable health and safety provisions that will provide confidence to our members so that they can focus on providing the best education during this difficult time."
Students in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs at Columbus Downtown High School (CDHS) and the Fort Hayes Career Center will begin blended learning next week (November 2) as planned. These students will attend their CTE classes in-person two days per week and continue to learn remotely three days a week.
For CTE students, in-person learning is critical to skill attainment which is required for certification. In many cases, this certification can be a deciding factor for students meeting graduation requirements or attaining the appropriate post-secondary credits. This is why it is important for these juniors and seniors to be in their classroom or lab and gain the necessary hands-on experience they need to graduate on time.
More than 1,400 CTE students will be participating in blended learning at CDHS and Fort Hayes beginning next week. These students are split into A/B cohorts with juniors attending on-site for a half-day in the morning and seniors for a half-day in the afternoon on their cohort day.
Families of CTE students have been sent a letter in the mail informing them of their cohort designation, bus stop location, and pickup/dropoff times. If a CTE student has not received this information, they should contact their school principal.
CCS will follow all necessary protocols to protect the health and safety of students who attend in-person classes and the staff who are working with them on-site. The safety procedures include:
- Requiring everyone (staff and students) to wear a mask on the bus and in school
- Hand sanitizer available in every classroom and lab
- Cleaning and sanitizing of high-touch areas including door handles and faucets
- Disposable overlay coats if needed
- Gloves for programs if needed
- Personal bins for students items
- Tool bins for sanitizing between use
- Plexiglass dividers if needed to maintain six feet of social distance
- Labs and classrooms will be cleaned and sanitized daily
- Safety signage on doors, floors, walls, and handwashing stations
For more information on the CCS health and safety guidelines, visit the Blended Learning Hub on the district website.
CCS will continue to monitor the local health data and trends regarding COVID-19, consult with local public health experts, and make adjustments to its blended learning model as necessary.
Students With Specific Complex Needs
Students identified as having specific complex needs will not be starting in-person blended learningnext week. These students will continue in the remote learning environment through the end of the semester (January 15, 2021). Preschool half-day programs will also continue in the remote learning setting.
CCS remains committed to identifying and implementing strategies to meet the specific needs of these students. The District will continue to work in partnership with families, teachers, and its community health partners to determine the optimal time to safely bring these specific students back into the classroom.