Serena CUSD No. 2

ARP-ESSER III

Return to In-Person Learning 2021-2022

This document serves as the Serena Community Unit School District # 2 plan for the return to full in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year including the proposed utilization of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding. This plan focuses on four areas to ensure the safety of our students and staff, as well as addresses unfinished learning that may have occurred during the COVID-19 global pandemic. The four areas of focus are Academic and Digital Learning Supports, Social/Emotional Supports for Students and Staff, Health/Safety Resources, and Capital Improvements. 

Academic and Digital Learning Supports: Research is clear, there is no substitute for a high-quality, in-person teaching experience to ensure student academic success. The global pandemic interrupted our instructional model and forced schools to provide instruction in a variety of ways (i.e. remote, hybrid, asynchronous, etc.). As we return to full-time in-person instruction, we will:  

• Use NWEA MAP assessments to identify learning gaps  

• Use research-based curricular programs  

• Redefine the District MTSS resources and intervention structure

• Implement in-school reading and math intervention groups

• Implement activities and services related to summer learning  

• Implement after-school academic support programs  

• Address the needs of children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English Learners, marginalized groups, students experiencing homelessness, and foster care youth  

• Provide family engagement opportunities for assisting parents and families on how they can effectively support students   

• Provide staff professional development opportunities  

Our plan recognizes that no less than 20% of all ESSER III funds must be used to address unfinished learning. The cost of the interventions listed above comprise more than 20% of the funds granted. 

Social/Emotional Supports for Students and Staff: We recognize that living through a global pandemic has taken an emotional toll on our students and our staff. Schools will play a vital role in helping students process their experiences and deal with any trauma the pandemic may have caused. As we return to full-time in-person instruction, we will:  

• Implement evidence-based SEL programs (Second Step)

• Provide social/emotional/behavioral support to students by way of a social worker within each school  

• Administer social/emotional screening tools to identify which students need support (Review 360 screener)

• Provide parent learning opportunities about trauma and ways to support students during a pandemic  

• Provide professional development for teachers in the area of social/emotional learning and trauma 

The District’s plan to address the social/emotional needs of our students will follow a universal design model and be individualized for students with more severe needs within a tier 2 and/or tier 3 setting. The District will utilize a screening process to identify students who have deficiencies in their social/emotional competence. Students who are identified as needing additional support will be provided with opportunities to strengthen those SEL skills in small group and individual settings dependent on needs.

Health and Safety Resources: The health and safety of our students and staff is always our top priority. The COVID-19 global pandemic has taught us important lessons on how to ensure the safety of our students and staff. These include, but are not limited to, cleaning protocols, hand sanitizing, physical distancing, and virus suppression. While the vaccine provides some level of protection, we will continue to require additional safety measures for the 2021-22 school year. As we return to full-time in-person instruction, we will:  

• Utilize EPA/OSHA approved cleansers for frequently touched surfaces and materials  

• Ensure mask wearing protocols when required or necessary  

• Provide training and professional development on cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing and reduction of virus transmission  

• Continue to utilize equipment to sanitize and clean facilities routinely

• Plan for long-term closures, including providing meals to eligible students/families 

• Continue to contact trace in conjunction with the local health department

• Students/Staff will self certify at home each day prior to reporting to school.

Schools play a major role in keeping communities safe. To that end, we will continue to follow both best practices and science when it comes to the health and safety of our students and staff. Many of the health and safety protocols put in place during the 2020-21 school year will continue into the 2021-22 school year.

Capital Improvements: The ESSER III funds provide districts with the opportunity to address structural issues that may need to be addressed within their schools. These capital improvements may help bridge the digital divide, improve the learning environment, or make schools safer for students and staff. As we return to full-time in-person instruction, we will:  

• Improve air quality. This will be accomplished by upgrading, installing, and routine maintenance checks of HVAC systems. 

We have learned a great deal from the global pandemic. The focus of our improvements will be on ways we can provide a safer environment by improving the air quality at the High School in order to suppress the spread of COVID as well as additional viruses.