Good Evening Titan Families,

Last week, Mr. Blatnica and I presented to the Board of Education and to the community our plans for the Titans Virtual Learning Academy (TVLA). At that time, we had committed to ensuring that our youngest learners, grades PK-5, would have a dedicated BCSD teacher who would deliver daily synchronous learning. This plan has NOT changed; we are still committed to this. This communication is to specifically address the grade 6-12 TVLA format.  

We know we have to listen, be flexible, and be able to adjust what we are doing in the best interest of kids. Families have shared concerns about how we would deliver instruction for our students in grades 6-12 in TVLA. Families want OUR BCSD teachers; not a third party vendor.  Families want their children to remain with their current teachers. Families want their children to have the same opportunities virtually that they would have if they returned in-person.  

We have spent a great deal of time discussing what format to use, debating differences between grade levels, synchronous vs. asynchronous, reshuffling rosters of students and debating the impact of changing teachers in the middle of the year.   

As a result, working very closely with our BCSD teachers, we have made an adjustment to our 6-12 TVLA plan. Students in grades 6-12 who wish to be in the Titans Virtual Learning Academy and not attend school in-person will do so by remaining with their current teachers in their current schedules. Students will follow the regular school schedule and will be asked to attend class daily. Our teachers will be doing a variety of synchronous and asynchronous instruction for students. This may consist of livestreaming a lesson or instruction, providing a video recording of a lesson, or giving an assignment. How instruction is delivered virtually on any given day will truly depend on the teacher and the best method for that topic.  

Please review our Return to In-Person/TVLA Quick Guide for more detailed information including the Titans Virtual Learning Academy Commitment Form.  

We believe that this provides for us the best possible outcome of providing some synchronous learning for all of our students. It keeps our students with our BCSD teachers and it virtually eliminates the need for third party providers. It is the most seamless and least obtrusive model for us to move to at this time. 

We are the first to admit that this has been a difficult time and there is no one size fits all solution. We are continually working to try to make the best decisions with information that is continually changing to meet our goal — To provide the BEST possible education during the COVID-19 global pandemic to ALL students in grades PK-12 without sacrificing the HEALTH and SAFETY of our STUDENTS and STAFF.

Titan Virtual Academy (TVLA) Commitment Form
Please complete the following form if you want your child to participate in the Titans Virtual Learning Academy. If you are choosing for your child to return to school if/when we return to in-person instruction there is nothing additional you will need to do.

Grades K-5 deadline has passed.
Grades 6-12 deadline - Friday, September 18th.
TVLA Commitment Form

If you have further questions regarding TVLA, please contact our TVLA coordinator, Mr. Steve Blatnica at sblatnica@bereaschools.org or 216-898-8300 ext. 6218.

Sincerely,

Tracy L. Wheeler
Superintendent

Parents/Guardians,

Today is the deadline to commit to the Titans Virtual Learning Academy for grades K-5. We are extending the deadline to Friday, September 18th for grades 6-12. Additional details and information regarding TVLA for grades 6-12 will be emailed to families tomorrow.

TVLA COMMITMENT FORM

Steve Blatnica, TVLA Coordinator
sblatnica@bereaschools.org
216-898-8300 x 6218

To our Titan Families and Staff,

I want to begin by thanking you for your patience during the brief Blackboard outage as we began remote learning. Blackboard was having issues across the country. We have been told that they will perform an update later today and hope to have no issues tomorrow. No students will be marked absent or penalized due to these issues that were out of our control. Our teachers are working very hard and appreciate all of your patience and understanding as we begin this new way of learning. There will be more unexpected hurdles, but TOGETHER, we will get through this.

RESPONSIBLE REOPENING PLAN:
During last evening’s Berea Board of Education meeting, I announced I am making an adjustment to the District’s learning model in conjunction with county risk levels. If Cuyahoga County remains at Level 2 (orange) based on the September news conferences at 2 p.m., we will begin to phase-in the return of our students to school in the Hybrid Format beginning in October.  

Cuyahoga County has seen a significant decline in positivity rates and the positive cases within the past month and we have been working with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health with more specific data related to our three communities, all of which make us believe we can bring students back in a hybrid format. We have never wavered from our goal during this pandemic — To provide the best possible education to our students without sacrificing the health and safety of our staff and students. We intend to continue to monitor the data over the next 3 to 4 weeks and if things remain consistent or improve, we will be targeting the beginning of October to implement our Hybrid and TVLA plans.

Families need to have a plan at all times. We ask that you be prepared and plan ahead for childcare in the event the District plans would change with short notice regardless of the County risk level or color. The color-coded system may or may not work for us from a county perspective. That's why it is important to continually re-evaluate the information that we have to make informed decisions. Data that will be closely monitored will include:

• District or school closure due to an outbreak(s)
• Teacher(s) who test positive and the inability to find subs or replace
• Student(s) who test positive and create an outbreak
  
  

TITANS VIRTUAL LEARNING ACADEMY:

This evening, the Titans Virtual Learning Academy (TVLA) Coordinator, Mr. Steve Blatnica, will be presenting what TVLA will look like this school year for BCSD. TVLA will be an at-home school option for any student in grades PreK-12 who wishes to remain learning from home and not attend in person for any amount of days. 

Wednesday, September 9th TVLA Information Presentations
5:00 p.m. Grade PreK-5 Information
6:00 p.m. Grade 6-12 Information
These live presentations can be viewed on YouTube and will also be recorded.
Questions can be submitted during the presentation using this form.

Once you have reviewed all information provided in the presentations and Quick Guide and you have determined that your child will commit to TVLA, please complete the COMMITMENT FORM by Friday, September 11, 2020. This is necessary for the District to begin the planning of student schedules and staff who will become the TVLA instructors.  

ATTENDANCE AND COVID REPORTING FOR PARENTS:
When a student is unable to login to Blackboard on any given day due to an “absence”, parents MUST call the school building attendance line to report the absence. BCSD daily attendance will be taken through Blackboard. An attendance report will be generated the next day and if an absence has not been reported, a call home will be made to check on the student. In addition, it is encouraged that parents notify the school to report a positive case of COVID. This can be done by calling the school attendance line.  

As we have done all summer, we continue to adapt our plans and adjust our models as necessary. We understand this may be frustrating to some. I hope that our parents and community take solace in the fact that we are continually monitoring what is going on and making the appropriate adjustments as needed. 

The District will continue to adjust our plans based on available data, experience, and health professionals’ recommendations. Stay safe, stay positive, keep wearing masks, and be kind to one another!

Tracy L. Wheeler
Superintendent

Dear Families and Staff,

In an email sent to all families and staff on August 20, 2020, the following was communicated: 

We will continue to monitor the factors that determine the risk levels of the virus, which includes guidance from our local and state health experts. Once we determine it is safe to return to the classroom, based on that guidance, Berea City Schools will follow the procedures and policies of our Responsible Reopening: In-Person and Titans Virtual Learning Academy document. The transition of students who choose to go back into the classroom will include a hybrid “phase-in” period briefly outlined in the document. In addition, there will be a 100% virtual learning option for families who prefer a virtual education when in-person instruction is available. 

As the District prepares to move toward a possible return to in-person instruction, we are now asking families who prefer to remain in a virtual learning environment (TVLA) to now make a commitment and opt-in. In addition to our TVLA Information Presentations listed below, we have created a Return to In-Person/TVLA Quick Guide to assist you in your decision-making process. 

TVLA Information Presentations
Wednesday, September 9
5:00 p.m. Grade PreK-5 Information
6:00 p.m. Grade 6-12 Information
These live presentations can be viewed on YouTube and will also be recorded.

Once you have reviewed all information provided in the presentations and Quick Guide and you have determined that your child will commit to TVLA, please complete the COMMITMENT FORM by Friday, September 11, 2020.

It is important to emphasize that ALL students will remain in Remote Learning with their current teacher(s) until the switch is made for ALL students to either return to in-person instruction or TVLA. 

Please continue to be patient with us and provide grace as we prepare for remote learning and a possible return to in-person instruction.

Stay safe and healthy and be kind!

Tracy L. Wheeler
Superintendent

 

Dear Families and Staff,

Earlier this month, we announced the decision that Berea City Schools would conduct all PreK-12 academic programs remotely for the first nine (9) weeks of school. As we will state once again, our plans for this school year have been constantly evolving based on the latest information regarding the pandemic. Throughout our planning our goal has always been to provide the BEST possible education during the COVID-19 global pandemic to ALL students in grades PK-12 without sacrificing the HEALTH and SAFETY of our STUDENTS and STAFF.

Last evening, we shared our Responsible Reopening: Remote Learning 2.0 plan with the community. The presentation was recorded for those unable to view it live - https://youtu.be/7qqVij08flA. 

Topics by minute mark:
3:33 District Goal and Guiding Principles
5:55 BCSD Learning Model Options in Conjunction with Risk Level
8:45 Overview of Start to the School Year: First Day, Supply Lists, Chromebooks/Materials Pick Up, Open Houses/Meet and Greet, Orientation
13:50 Remote Learning WILL Look Different
20:09 Q&A: Testing During Remote Learning
21:10 Why All Students are in Remote Learning
23:25 Daily Schedules/Fridays
26:20 Preschool Schedule
29:07 Q&A: Flexibility for Working Parents
30:50 Overview of Elementary Schedules
33:20 Overview of Middle School Schedules
34:44 Overview of High School Schedules
35:25 Q&A: Schedules/Teacher Assignments
36:10 Q&A: Attending Elementary In-Person Open House
36:47 Q&A: District Issued Chromebooks
37:54 Q&A: Length of Remote Learning + Transition Time
39:12 Parent Expectations
42:30 At Home Technology: Chromebooks, Hotspots, Blackboard Learn
44:00 Blackboard Learn Ultra Brief Demo
47:40 Student Expectations
49:27 Grading & Feedback
51:25 Attendance & Course Completion
54:32 Students with Disabilities/IEP/504
58:05 Q&A: Live Session Attendance
58:20 Q&A: Modes of Communication with Teachers
1:00:10 Social and Emotional Needs
1:03:12 Grab and Go Meals
1:04:44 Next Steps
1:07:00 Annual Update

We will continue to monitor the factors that determine the risk levels of the virus, which includes guidance from our local and state health experts. Once we determine it is safe to return to the classroom, based on that guidance, Berea City Schools will follow the procedures and policies of our Responsible Reopening: In-Person and Titans Virtual Learning Academy document. The transition of students who choose to go back into the classroom will include a hybrid phase-in period briefly outlined in the document.

Thank you for your patience as we work to compile and answer our running list of Frequently Asked Questions. Please remember the answers are based on the information we have currently and could change.

Social and Emotional Needs
We know children may experience a combination of stress, fear, and anxiety as the school year approaches, and easing these feelings and building supportive learning environments will be critical to their success this coming school year. To help us best prepare, PreK-12 students and families are asked to complete social emotional needs assessment surveys.

The surveys ask students and families about their stress levels and concerns. The middle/high school level survey asks students if they have experienced the loss of a loved one during the pandemic and if their basic needs are being met. Parents/guardians may help students who need assistance in completing the survey.

Please complete the forms below to help Berea City School District provide social emotional support and resources to students and families during the COVID-19 pandemic and return to school. If you answer that you need help or support, a district staff member will reach out to you.

• BCSD Family Well-Being Survey
• BCSD Well-Being Survey for Prek-Elementary Students
• BCSD Well-Being Survey for Middle and High School Students
  
  

Nutrition Services/Grab and Go Meals
More information regarding Grab and Go Meal pick up during the nine (9) week remote learning period is forthcoming. 

Some families may qualify for free/reduced-priced meals. Families must re-apply every year. Applications will be available beginning tomorrow, August 21st.

Infinite Campus Annual Update

The Infinite Campus Annual Update window has been opened for the 2020/2021 school year. It is REQUIRED that parents or guardians complete the Annual Update as soon as possible Or PRIOR TO schedule pickup and the posting of the class lists at the elementary level. 

To access the Online Registration and Update link, login through the Parent Portal. Once logged in, Click on More and Choose the Online Registration and Update link. Help links and How-To videos are included in the Announcements area. 

I feel confident in knowing that TOGETHER, we will get through this and make the most out of these unprecedented times.  Please know that there will be better days ahead of us. We cannot wait until the day that we are able to have all of our students and staff back safely in our buildings.  In the meantime, be kind to each other and always #BeATitanTOGETHER. 

Tracy L. Wheeler
Superintendent