Prevention and/or Mitigation Strategies--

Funds are allocated to Chromebooks which are individually assigned to students.  These are needed in the event of a pivot to virtual learning, but... because one student is assigned to each device... this strategy decreases the number of hands touching the tech during a face-to face day. 

School nurses' salaries and benefits are partially funded.  HCS currently has one nurse assigned to each school and a nurse who oversees all at the district level.  These nurses are able to address high COVID traffic through the healthroom, contact possible or confirmed close contacts.  All is in order to mitigate or prevent the spread of COVID. Nurses can also be certain that students who have chronic health issues that are not COVID related can be seen and treated appropriately.

Funds are allocated for the purchase of RestorAir portable machines which effectively deodorize spaces and also prevent the Norovirus, allergens, mold spores, and other air and surface contaminants within 60 minutes.

Prior funds were used to purchase additional cleaning supplies and equipment, to purchase additional healthroom supplies and to upgrade healthrooms, to create entry barriers and "walk up" thermometer devices, and more.

Hartselle City Schools never had to close its doors in 2020-2021, and students never had to stop learning.  We hope to continue along that path.

Academic Impact of Lost Instructional Time Addressed--

Academic Needs-  In the Spring of 2020, HCS closed its doors for one week during which classes were scheduled and one additional week that was already scheduled for Spring Break.  After that, all students were offered some form of virtual instruction to close out the school year.  Students who did not have access to tech were offered loaned tech or alternative assignments.  Though this was not ideal, it did allow students and teachers to continue communication and to continue to review core content.

HCS was one of the few school districts in Alabama that did not close its doors in the 2020-2021 school year, so the students who missed the most in-person instruction were those who were quarantined once or more than once.  

Students who were quarantined but not ill received virtual instruction during their quarantine period, and most participated.  Teachers who were quarantined but not ill conducted virtual learning from their homes with a substitute teacher in the classroom to supervise the students.  After school tutoring and Saturday School sessions offered over the course of the school year helped to bring those students' skills in line with those of their classmates.  When indicated, summer learning was also offered.  In short, HCS has made ongoing efforts to continue to educate its students in the face of this pandemic.  These continue in the 2021-2022 school year.

Most of the students who did not consistently participate in remote instruction returned to the face-to-face classroom over the course of the school year.  They/ their families were regularly contacted and prompted by the classroom teacher and by a building level administrator, and a few were visited by the School Resource Officer for a wellness check.  Saturday School sessions offered over the course of the school year helped to bring these students' skills in line with those of their classmates.  When indicated, summer learning was also offered.  In short, HCS has made ongoing efforts to continue to educate its students in the face of this pandemic.

Social and Emotional Needs-  HCS continues to develop its character education programs with one school having received National School of Character recognition.  HCS has allocated funds for Covey Leader in Me training at the school level.  HCS is also reworking the Student Code of Conduct and Board Policy to allow for Restorative Discipline practices.  The primary goal of this reworking is student education and empowerment.

Mental Health Needs-  HCS continues to devote resources to students' mental health and currently participates in a Mental Health Collaborative endorsed by the ALSDE, employees a Mental Health Coordinator employed under a State grant, has trained all Guidance Counselors in the ALSDE-endorsed Mental Health First Aid program, and is using the Rithm assessment of mental health to ensure that students are able to communicate stress or worries appropriately.  HCS is bridging these mental health offerings with services for its disabled students with the employment of a new Behavior Therapist.  This therapist works with students whose behaviors can serve as a barrier to the receipt of an education.

Those Impacted Disproportionately-  HCS believes face-to-face instruction is preferable to virtual instruction for numerous academic reasons, and the numerous strategies outlined in this plan are designed to keep the schoolhouse doors open.  Beyond the academic, face to face learning also creates stronger lines of communication with students who might be hesitant to come forward with a hardship.  HCS wants all students to participate in extracurricular activities no matter their ability to pay activity extras.  HCS wants to assist families when they are struggling financially or with other family worries that find their way into the school day.  HCS wants to connect students and families with community resources.  HCS wants its employees to be mandated reporters should students' words, deeds, or appearances warrant such.  HCS wants all families to engage.  HCS wants all students to develop friendships.  The more we have eyes and ears on our students, the more we can encourage and help.

In using federal funds to provide a general education to ALL and to remove barriers should they exist, Hartselle City Schools will:

Ensure that allocated funds reach numerous programs and impact the educational opportunities provided to all students and/or impact general health and wellness strategies, whether physical or mental, in order to enable all students to attend school face to face or receive equivalent academic services virtually should such be needed.

1.  HCS is providing tech and tech access to students thereby removing this potential socioeconomic barrier.

2.  HCS is providing free breakfasts and lunches to all students thereby removing this potential socioeconomic barrier.

3.  HCS is providing school nurses and a district nurse who can assist families with no regular medical care.

4.  HCS continues to devote resources to students' mental health and currently participates in a Mental Health Collaborative endorsed by the ALSDE, employees a Mental Health Coordinator employed under a State grant, has trained all Guidance Counselors in the ALSDE-endorsed Mental Health First Aid program, and is using the Rithm assessment of mental health to ensure that students are able to communicate stress or worries appropriately.

5.  HCS is bridging these mental health offerings with services for its disabled students with the employment of a new Behavior Therapist.  This therapist works with students whose behaviors can serve as a barrier to the receipt of an education.

6.  HCS continues to offer complete services to students whose disabilities call for an IEP or a 504 Plan.

7.  HCS is Title IX compliant and has a protocol for receiving and appropriately responding to harassment allegations that may include an impact on the access to or participation in school programs.

8.  HCS is providing regular parent trainings designed to assist parents in assisting their children or finding assistance for their children in order to facilitate access and participation.

9.  HCS has protocols in place for addressing the needs of homeless, foster, and EL students and educates its employees on those protocols and the contact people/ coordinators  associated with the assistance.

10.  HCS strives in all practices to remove barriers to enrollment, access, and/or engagement.

Under the CSFO, HCS has in place numerous protocols to monitor the management of local, state, and federal funds.

These include a regular and detailed reporting to the Superintendent and Board, regular and detailed reporting to the community via Board Meetings, and regular internal and external audits.

In addition to the measures already in place, the HCS financial department has written its budgets in alignment with federal guidelines, communicated those guidelines to Principals and their school teams so that requests are appropriate, and communicated those budgets to the Superintendent and Board.

Federal funds aimed at COVID recovery are tracked in separate spreadsheets, and all purchases must be approved by the Federal Programs Director who, together with the CSFO and his team, indicate clearly out of which budget purchased items should come.

This same team will report needed information to the community and will collect and manage data elements required to be reported.

Engagement with families and with the community is at the foundation of the HCS Strategic Plan, and so it is an expectation regardless of federal funding.

1.  HCS will continue to align its practices with those required by Title I and will incorporate into those public meetings its relief fund spending.  These protocols also call for parents to be surveyed and call for outreach on the part of the schools.

2.  Should COVID conditions permit, HCS will continue to host events designed to increase parent engagement and bring parents into the classrooms and on the campuses.

3.  When needed and appropriate, HCS will continue to invite families in to counseling as part of their Mental Health Collaborative.

4.  HCS will continue to reach out to families and share school happenings with families using various social media platforms.

5.  And new in the 2021-2022 school year, HCS will hold parent education meetings regarding mattters related to student mental health.  EX:  What can I do to help my teenager manage stress?