Back to School: Safely

Emy Tice, CFP® NAU Financial Planning Program Coordinator

The fall semester started Aug. 12 with remote learning only through NAUFlex, NAU’s hybrid education model. In-person instruction, coupled with ongoing NAUFlex delivery, has been delayed until Aug. 31. The learning plan includes many different ways to learn including fully virtual; in person classroom learning with sizes of classes reduced drastically and student attendance staggered;collaborative models where small groups of 4 -10 students can learn virtually together or in the classroom; and more. All classes are live streamed and being recorded in case someone has to miss a session and will be able to do a make up. NAU has a comprehensive health and safety plan that includes education, prevention strategies, monitoring local and regional health trends, testing, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine. The protocols mentioned are being instituted campus wide in addition to hand sanitizing at the bus stops, within the classrooms and numerous locations on campus; sanitation of classrooms every day. Upon returning to campus every student has been issued a welcome packet including two face masks, hand sanitizers and other sanitation supplies. Students are strongly encouraged to be tested for COVID-19 prior to arrival, and each was asked to self-quarantine for two weeks before returning to campus for residency and in person learning. All students living on-campus are required to to have daily health screenings and temperature checks. NAU is working closely with our community college partners and local officials regarding statewide campus operations.

Dietrich Sauer Executive Director of Human Resources

CCC is primarily Zoom based for instruction this Fall semester, closed on weekends, and reducing class size to 10 per session in person. CCC; maintained its learning calendar and officially starts on August 24th. The goal is to provide a consistent schedule for students that isn't subject to multiple changes. For the classes that require in-person learning such as Nursing, Construction Trades, Fire Science, CCC is taking extra safety protocols to protect students and staff by encouraging social distancing, wearing masks, increasing the janitorial staff and sanitation of all areas every two hours, breaking up classes into smaller groups, and more. For our workforce, we encourage employees to work from home and if they do come into the office we ask them to stagger shifts to limit the number of staff in any department at any one time. We do have our campuses open for students to access computer labs, registration services, and financial aid services. We've increased our cleaning protocols, require employees to wear masks, hold all meetings via zoom, and have removed the automatic air hand dryers from our restrooms. Lastly, we are working with our employees to adjust their schedules in support of the increased need to be home to help their children with online learning in the K-12 space.

Mary K. Walton, M.Ed Assistant Superintendent, C & I

The Flagstaff Unified School District Governing Board unanimously voted to start school online on August 17th and lasting until October 9th. FUSD is prepared to welcome students back, in-person, to all its elementary, middle, and high schools in the 2020-2021 school year when community health conditions allow. The District has provided every student with an iPad, has purchased 500 hot spots for families who need one and has Wi-Fi available for students that pull into the parking lot of any school. Even though remote learning is the main opening model, FUSD has also established six locations called Safe Learning Centers where up to 265 students can learn throughout the day with one adult supervising every ten students. FUSD students who qualify for free lunch will be served at Cromer, Kinsey, Killip, Sinagua, and Flag High and Leupp. Every site will follow preventive measures to prioritize student and staff safety. FUSD has developed plans for three instructional and operational models which prioritize quality learning experiences: In-Person Learning, Flexible Remote Learning, and FUSD Distance Learning with Northern Arizona Distance Learning (NADL).

Once permitted by state and federal leaders, both NPA and FALA will offer hybrid models for in-person learning, which would split their student body in half, with the first group meeting on Monday and Tuesday and the other meeting on Thursday and Friday. This two-day breakdown allows enough time for extended cleaning and sanitation measures on Wednesdays and weekends, between student groups. On the days they are not scheduled for in-person learning, students will complete their coursework online. The schools intend to have family members in the same group. Both campuses will be open for teachers and staff during the first quarter of online learning when social distancing practices are possible. Beyond extensive cleaning protocols as outlined by health officials, Flagstaff’s public charters will each be taking similar but individualized approaches to online and later in-person learning options. When school begins Aug. 17, FALA will be offering a Learning Lab for students who need a space to complete their online work for both the first quarter and when in-person classes resume, during the days they are not scheduled to be on campus. It has about 100 Chromebooks available for students to check out. The school’s performance-based classes, such as art, dance, music and theater, have proven a particular challenge in planning for the year. Cohen said teachers are seeking advice from others in the industry, like Arizona School for the Arts, about how they are adapting to COVID-19. FALA teachers are currently considering collaborations between classes like music and dance or theater and creative writing to prevent “online fatigue.” These online classes could be held simultaneously to reduce the amount of time students have to be in front of a computer while still allowing them to practice the two subjects and work on creative projects.