Columbia Local School District Restart Plan
Frequently Asked Questions
What about band and choir if the online option is chosen, how do the kids do that?
Will enrichment for math/reading be offered in school days for those kids who have qualified for that service?
My children will be in 2 different areas during the day (one at home and one at daycare) for the days of online learning. Will we be allowed 2 chromebooks to accommodate this?
For the Friday of Live classroom teaching, will this be something my 1st grader should be able to do at his daycare center? What does the structure of this day look like or will that be determined by the teacher?
Friday sessions will be held via Google Meet. Times will be determined by the student’s teacher. All sessions will be recorded. Therefore, if a child is unable to attend a Friday Session, the lesson can be viewed at a later date.
What letters of the alphabet will be attending on what days of the week?
It doesn’t clarify as to what letters of the alphabet are in group A or B.
How are we going to do therapy for children with special needs who need more help?
As far as the online learning option … will it be something that is flexible for each student to work on each week at their own pace?
Will teachers be available for instruction if needed via video chat or phone call?
Will students with special educational needs IEP have opportunities to get in person tutoring if needed in person like high school students or is that only for high school students? If so, can my child be exempt from wearing a mask during these sessions or use a face shield instead?
Is a face shield an adequate face covering for any student?
No, a face mask is required. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics “wearing a mask reduces the chances of an infected individual passing the virus onto others, but only if worn properly, covering both one's nose and mouth.”
Do you have a sample schedule for students on a/b schedule while in school and expectations for virtual learning days when at home the other days in elementary?
Copopa will include a sample schedule in their Restart Plan which will be emailed soon.
On Friday, students will have a designated time to meet with his/her teacher and a lesson will be presented.
Are there designated times for online programs with going to school for 2 days?
Can seniors only take the classes that are needed to graduate?
Due to being in school only 2 days and the activities/projects being allowed changing, is there a new/updated school supply list?
On the two days children will have school will they be allowed to play at recess or do any of the normal fun activities they look forward to or will it be solely educational?
When a student is absent will the makeup work be the full days busy work as we've seen in the past, or will there be online content so they can keep up and pass assignments to their teachers via google classroom? This is something that wasn't really possible before everyone got onboard with the google classrooms and that I anticipate more absences than in the past when we forced the kids to go to school even though they said "they felt sick".
Quarantine. It is going to happen that kids are not allowed at school because someone in the classroom was sick. I have multiple kids so in theory if 1 kid gets put on quarantine they all will. I can only imagine the burden on the teachers to do both classroom and online instruction at the same time is too much. How will the kids do 14 days "make up work"? Is the curriculum online anyway since they are only 2 days in school per week? Does the school have the internet bandwidth to stream the instruction for the "quarantined" kids at home who chose hybrid over online?
If your child is sick, please keep him/her home. All teachers are required to keep a Google Classroom updated. Students will be able to see assignments and keep up with assignments if they are home sick. Teachers will be available to answer questions. Quarantined students will not switch to the online platform. They will stay and work through assignments assigned by their CLSD teachers.
We are starting kindergarten in the fall. We are considering the go to school option. When I look at the supply list I do not see hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes. Do you need parents to send some of these supplies to school as well?
What is the thought process about sending half the kids M/W and the other half T/Th instead of splitting them up M-T and W-Th or Th-F so that the opposite groups of kids aren't going to school back to back? Providing additional information about that plan, as well as the daily cleaning plan between each group of kids would be helpful. Also, additional information about how work should be completed on the "online" schooling days will be helpful. As in, will it look like it did in the spring with assignments just being posted/graded via Google classroom, or will any additional instruction be provided to students on these days?
In the survey sent to parents in the spring, parents communicated to us that they felt due dates and more teacher interaction was needed. We didn’t want students attending school back to back days and then not seeing with their teachers until the following week. With this schedule, students will go to school and receive instruction on the in-school day, homework will be sent home for the student to complete on the next home day. Students should be able to complete this work, for the most part, independently. Students will then come back and be able to ask clarifying questions to their teachers the very next day as opposed to waiting numerous days. All assignments will be listed on Google Classroom.
Face to face instruction will be offered on Fridays for all students.
All classrooms will be completely sanitized nightly and heavily sanitized every Friday night.
Can/Do we still apply for free/reduced lunches?
My questions are about online learning… Why are there two different options depending on school grade?
Why are they not being provided with teacher led learning?
Our teachers will be teaching the students who are attending in person. In order to properly socially distance and continue to offer educational services, we needed to use all of our current staff members. Therefore, no teachers are available for the online learning model.
Who is the success manager?
For Grades K-4, the success manager will be Mrs. Milluzzi. For grades 5-8, the success manager will be Mrs. Acker. For the high school, the students will be split amongst all staff members and those have not been assigned as of yet.
I looked at the demo but it does not show what my child's day would look like.

How will they be on the same timeline with their hybrid taught co-students if they will be doing all learning on their own? It seems like online learning is short changing the kids. Please direct me to see that I am wrong. Is there something I am not seeing with the demo?
The success manager will speak to the content area to decipher what standard is being taught. The success manager will then assign the unit to the student that teaches that standard. While students may not be completing the same assignments they will be learning the same standard. If you don’t care for the online only option, the hybrid option is available.
If the hybrid model is chosen I would like to make sure masks are worn at all times, and that they will not be removed if sitting by a plastic barrier. If they are able to be removed who will be monitoring that the masks are not dropped on the floor and that they are taken off and put back on correctly so as to not have an issue with contamination.
Schools will be enforcing the mask policy. If students refuse to wear the mask, they will be instructed to attend online only learning. If they are sitting behind the barrier they are allowed to quickly take off the mask to provide a brief mask break. We have included a video on our plan for parents to talk to their child about masks and how to wear them.
Are the kids changing classes?
K-8 students will not be changing classes. If grade levels are departmentalized, teachers will be moving from room to room High school students will be changing classes, but bells will not be rung. Classes will be dismissed one at a time and hallways will have a one way traffic pattern to ensure all social distancing protocols will be met.
If yes, who is cleaning the desks in-between kids?
How many kids will be in a class?
How many kids will be at a lunch table if eating in the gym or cafeteria and how will that be decided?
At the K-8 building students will no longer be eating at a table. Desks are being placed in our cafeteria. 6 feet apart. Students will be assigned a desk to sit at. Desks will be sanitized between lunch periods. At the high school, students will be sitting at a table facing one way while observing social distancing.
If drop off time is 8:05 how are you managing to keep the kids at 6ft distance?
Is the band still happening?
How does this affect community service hours?
Will there be set times for school when they are online that they need to be on the computer? I know two days in school but I’m worried about set times for computer work.
If the preschool is also doing hybrid schooling, will tuition be reduced?
Will Little Raiders still be 4 days T-F?
Are the First Day School supplies in?
When do we find out class assignments?
What cleaner will be used in the electrostatic misting spray?
Will masks be required during recess (outdoor) and during PE?
My children do not drink out of plastic, will stainless steel water bottles with water be acceptable?
You mention a self screening and answering a list of questions being required before going to school. Is this every day that we will have to fill out some sort of form before school?
If we choose to pick our children up from school, what will that look like? In previous years, students were all brought out at once in a big group. How will you enforce keeping them socially distant from each other, especially for the younger age groups, while they wait for their parents' car?
If my child has a runny nose/congested nose only they are to stay home even if due to allergies?
Is the attendance policy altered as well for these instances? If we need to keep them home but they still do their work are they absent?
CLSD adopted a new board policy at the August 5, 2020 meeting. It states “Students will not be penalized for absences related to contracting COVID-19 or having to quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19 exposure/symptoms, regardless of whether the student is participating in-person, remotely or both.”
Is there any flexibility in regards to what days a child can be at school for kindergarten? Both my husband and I will be working full time away from home. (I am in Healthcare and he’s a teacher whose district is going to class five days a week). I am off Thursdays. With our last name my son will be going Tuesday/Thursdays to school. It would help us out tremendously if he could go Monday/Wednesday’s instead. Just wondering if this is even an option as we all try to navigate scheduling.
In the demo for online learning when I was going through it I didn’t see how or where they would submit a lot of the projects or written assignments to be graded. How will this be done and also I am assuming the parent or whomever is helping with the student would be their learning guide correct. I was not impressed with the online option; it doesn't seem very inviting. I may have to look into other online options on my own.
If the student starts out in the hybrid situation, and a month or so into the fall semester everyone has to go virtual for some reason, and the virtual program doesn't match up to the courses the hybrid student was taking, what happens at that point? Will the students have to start over in those courses another time?
Are CCP classes that are taught through CHS and Honors classes offered in the virtual environment?
Will the grading scale and system be the same for both virtual and hybrid?
Since sports will hopefully take place, and there are no lockers, will students carry throughout the day their sports bag, their school bag, their lunch bag, their winter coats...etc.?
Online option… will we get more info and instruction as time goes on?
Will my child that attends online learning still need the same school supply list?
Are there any books I need to pick up for online learning?
Will attendance be recorded just like a school day for online learning?
For JVS students who will be attending hybrid classes at JVS, will CLSD still be providing transportation to and from JVS?
Also, do we need to respond to the survey just sent for those students who will be at JVS?
What online service will you use for hybrid?
If a child proceeds with remote learning via Apex the first semester and then everything is lifted the second semester and in classes resume, how will that transition look? Children are going to be learning at different levels/speeds since Columbia teachers are not going to be teaching the remote children the first semester. I would be disappointed to see any children come back to an already difficult situation just to find they are behind their peers due to a path their parents chose for them.
On the Apex site they offer individual courses and high school academy. Class offerings are different in both. Which would students be utilizing for course selections?
- Please click this here for the APEX course catalog. Guidance Counselors will work with scheduling our students on the online platforms.
If a student returns in January can they enter a year long class that is not offered on Apex for example French IV?
Please explain to me the reasoning behind utilizing Apex vs. a free online offering?
Please explain to me how the online learning option is any different then what was offered in the Spring after I was assured "it will not be the same moving forward". After speaking with Apex it is exactly the same. There is no teacher lecture, there is no teacher interaction. How are students who are visual learners and require someone to walk them through math lessons for example, expected to learn.
Are class offerings being modified at the high school to accommodate safety protocols and if so what is not being offered.
If a parent does not select Apex for online learning but another online option does the district lose that student's dollars?
Can a student transition from another online learning choice to in school in January?
When will actual class schedules be given? In case our student needs to change class schedules due to overloaded schedules or conflicts?
After the survey is completed, classes will be split into even cohorts. Lists will be emailed out by August 21, 2020 at the latest. Guidance Counselors will work with students to modify schedules with conflict.
Is it too late to enroll my 9th grader into CCP classes? Would like to add one now that choir is not an option.
Will the children who receive free and reduced lunches be given vouchers if they are doing hybrid learning?
Buses will we still have transportation to and from school if they attend twice a week.
When and where will students pick up Chromebooks? Is there any plan to add a busing for the high school? |
If hybrid students will have zoom meetings on Fridays with teachers, then please explain fully why synchronous remote learning was not an option for those choosing to remain at home. |
Are the kids required to use a chrome book or would a windows laptop be ok for the hybrid option? I have a laptop at home we can use but if chromebook is required we will need to borrow one. Thanks. |
When will we know what days our kids will attend the classes? Also, has anything been mentioned about spectators at sporting events? Thank you! |
I have one going into First (Finnegan) and one going into Kindergarten (Bodhi). I would like them to do the in-school option but our last name is Frigic and for me to be able to work I need them to be in school on Tuesday and Thursday. Is there any way for them to attend school on these days and not the Monday and Wednesday? Thanks in advance! |
Does the online coursework flex to my child's strengths and weaknesses to teach them or is it a one time pass/fail? How are electives being offered for the online option? Are electives being seen as non-essential at this time? With online will it be a learn at your own pace or will my kids be required to log a certain amount of hours per day? Per class? If it is a work at their pace, will the coursework be available weekly, per quarter, per semester, or an entire school years worth of work? How will the online vs hybrid option look in terms of my child taking algebra1 or art1 for the high school credit in 8th grade? Are these classes even being offered as an option at this time? If not available for one or both options, since my child has already took and passed pre-algebra, will she then just have to take it again? Will she be exempt from math this semester or year? Is band not being offered at all during this time? Come January if things remain as they are right now, are the kids who chose the online option required to stay online or will they have a choice in coming back for the remainder of the year? What are the transitional plans if/when full in school classes are to resume? |
Will book bags with wheels be permitted? |
Can you guarantee that if in January our child decides to return to school that they will be in the exact same point in the material they are learning? |
Since I plan on doing the virtual with my boys, does that mean I don't go off the Columbia school Calendar for things? IE. orientations, conferences, closing dates for break etc My 5th grader has to select an elective - and selected BAND, how is he going to learn an instrument now - will he be required to go to school for concerts? |
I thought of another question, my boys are in enrichment programs for math and reading too. Now how will they do them if they are online only? |
For students attending m/w will in class room time be made up for holidays observed on Mondays? |
With all students starting at the same time, without having to take an extra route in the morning, can a high schooler ride the bus if they have a younger sibling? |
Why 2 and not 3 days of school? Also why 30.00 for parking pass and not 10.00 for 2 days of school? |
Can you share the recommended technical specs for a chrome book comparable to what the school uses? With multiple children and two working parents, only one chrome book from the school will likely make things more challenging and we may need to look into getting our own.
- HP Chromebook 11A G8 - Education Edition - 11.6" - A4 9120C - 4 GB RAM - 32 is the most recent chromebooks purchased. The specs are below:
- A4 9120C/1.6 GHz
- Chrome OS 64
4 GB RAM 32 GB eMMC eMMC 5.0 11.6" 1366 x 768 (HD) Radeon R4 Wi-Fi Bluetooth
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Why, if your teachers are using Google Meet, would students who choose to stay at home not have access to learn from their teachers? It is simple and inexpensive to point a camera at the teacher and chalkboard/whiteboard sending a live stream utilizing Google Meet. It makes no sense to penalize families and children who don’t want to take the risk of being exposed to the virus. Parents are by no means experts at the many subjects our kids are required to learn which is why they have different teachers for each subject - math, science, civics, etc...so not allowing the students who choose to stay at home access to their teachers is disturbing. This plan doesn’t provide equality and inclusion like we would expect and are disappointed this is the best you could come up with. |
What would my 8th grader do with her high school credit courses Algebra 1, Spanish 1 and Art 1? Would she be dropped off at high school for Spanish and transported to middle school if we chose hybrid? If we chose online will she still be offered these courses? I read if we chose online it goes until Jan.21st and selections may be limited. If a child were to test positive at school and that student rides a bus would every child on the bus have to be quarantined for 14 days? - This will be determined by Lorain County Public Health.
Will the middle school students stay in one classroom all day and the teacher move from class I class or will kids switch classes? |
Are the same teachers that teach on M/W teaching T/H? It sounds like all of the teachers will be in the school M-F. Are the students being grouped simply by alphabet or by academic ability? Will orientation appts. be coordinated for families that have children in the same building? What specifically is being done/used to clean nightly? If a student has/shows symptoms in or out of school after being present among others, who is being isolated for the 14 days? If a student/teacher/staff tests positive, what is being required of the others who have been among him/her? How are breakfasts/lunches being disbursed/prepared? Is all food pre packaged/sealed? (Where) are we able to purchase the masks that were floating around twitter a bit ago with the Columbia logos? Are windows being kept open in all rooms all of the time? Thank you for all of your time, thought, and consideration in bringing our children back to school. Thank you! We are asking that all doors to the classroom be open throughout the day. If there is air conditioning, we do not have to open the windows. However, we are encouraging the staff that has windows to open for air flow.
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My daughter is registered to take Online classes at LCCC. She typically has more study halls in her daily schedule because of this. Is there an idea of what an In-school day would look like for these students if we chose the hybrid option? |
Is there a cost for student to do the Apex online learning? |
Do we still buy the school supplies off of the list we got with our child's report cards?! |
So if my child has the sniffles with a headache from being congested and all the other symptoms that go with the common cold, I have to keep them home and/or get them tested for COVID-19 (or other illness)? |
Will CCP students still be allowed to leave school during periods they do not have a class? |
In reference to online only- my child took a higher level math last year and intended to continue with the next level this year. If we chose the online option, would she still be taking this higher level math or re-doing the standard class? Also, if she is taking the higher level, will there be any instructor or "success manager" that she can utilize for questions that are not specifically "technical issues?" |
Is there any possibility to only commit for only one quarter to the method of education? I very much would like to send my kids back after one quarter. I am going to choose online remote learning at first because I am fearful of the virus exploding in the schools. But I am also concerned for my children's mental well being, as I feel they need to socialize with their peers. That being said, I would like to send them back after the 1st quarter assuming everything goes well. My daughter has a heart rhythm issue, and I've heard people who have recovered from this virus are showing signs of cardiac issues. That's my biggest concern, if she were to get the virus, how will it affect her current cardiac issues. Another issue is my elderly mom has a compromised immune system and is on a mild form of chemo. She will not be able to see my kids if they go to school. I will be keeping them home but with reluctance because I want them to see and socialize with all of you wonderful people and friends, as well as they need a qualified teacher to educate them. I just need to play it safe, and observe what happens. That's why I was wondering if they can come back after 1 quarter. I appreciate everything you all have done for us. I'm sure it wasn't easy to accomplish this plan. Due to this decision being for the entire semester, will my child have the option to switch to hybrid next semester if it's still available? If yes, will my child be behind and need to complete additional work to catch up with what's being done in the hybrid model? One answered FAQ stated that Calvert was for K-5 and Apex was 6-12. The letter seemed to be worded that only high school students would be using Apex. Will my 8th grader technically use the Apex system then? Will there be school fees if we choose online only? Overall, will my child still receive a good quality education with the online model? My concern is that the online model is bare minimum course work and my child will suffer for this in the coming years. If hybrid students are forced to go all online (due to county level change), will they move to the Calvert/Apex online model or will it be similar to last spring where all Columbia teachers will move to online classes with them? My kids have different last names, would they attend school on the same day or different days? Can you tell me what type of masks are required for the days in school? My kids have claustrophobic tendencies. |