Union Public Schools - COVID-19 Updates

PLEASE NOTE: The details in this section are subject to change as directives from governing authorities and health officials respond to new information and developing environmental conditions.

Return to School / Reentry Plan for Students, Parents & Teachers

Download Plan in English or Spanish for reference. See FAQ / Spanish FAQ

View/Download Daily Running Totals for COVID-19 Cases for Union Public Schools.

Kids 10 & Older Must Also Wear Masks in City of Tulsa

The Tulsa City Council unanimously approved an addendum to the mask ordinance, lowering the age requirement to 10 years of age and older. Additionally, the mask ordinance expiration date is extended to January 31, 2021.

Tulsa County Map Tracks COVID-19 Cases by Zip Code

Tulsa Health Department is committed to transparency. We are constantly improving how we present the data related to COVID-19 in an easy-to-understand format, so all Tulsa County residents can easily see how prevalent the virus is within their own community. See Dashboard

City of Tulsa Discussing Lowering of Age Requirement for Wearing Masks

Visit this Page for Updates about Union's Covid-19 Response

Union Officials Explain How Distance Learning Works

Union Public Schools officials explain how distance learning will be used in elementary and secondary schools in 2020-2021. In the event there is an interruption of in-person learning, Union will fall back on distance learning.

See How Operations is Keeping Student Safe

FAQ for Parents of In-Person Band Class Learning

How will my student safely participate in band class every day? And other questions.

Event Guidelines for Sporting Events

Message from the Superintendent: Keep Pressing On

Dear Union Parents:

Dr. Kirt Hartzler In the last eight months, we have all had to deal with an unprecedented level of change. First, I would like to thank you for your patience. I know it has not been easy for students, parents and teachers as we have made major adjustments this year in response to the pandemic. (Indeed, many of these have been life-changing).

I am extremely proud of the way that students, families, teachers and staff have adapted quickly to virtual or in-person learning. When we started back to school in the fall, 35 percent of students opted for virtual learning, which required our staff to be flexible and embrace learning in ways that we would never have thought possible. I am grateful to the Union community for the outpouring of support and for offering grace in a time when things have not been perfect.

By strictly adhering to health and safety guidelines, we have been able to continue school largely uninterrupted in Fall 2020. By masking up and physically distancing as much as possible and being diligent in our contact tracing efforts, we have been able to limit the impact of Covid-19 infections among students and staff. (For daily case counts of reported Covid-19 among students and staff, visit www.unionps.org/casecounts. As we make preparations for Spring 2021, we will be asking parents to choose between one of two learning environments for each of their children for the second semester: either 1) In-Person Learning or 2) Virtual Learning. Parents need to make their choice for each child by 10 p.m. on October 30, 2020. They will receive an email from the district with the Student ID number of each student and a link to the electronic form. A form needs to be completed for each student in the household by Oct. 30. (For details, see Page 5 on the plan).. Please direct any questions to your school principal.

Please know that the health and safety of our students and staff continues to be our #1 priority. Union Public Schools will continue to follow the guidance and expertise of state and local officials in order to protect our students and staff. This document provides detail on the safety measures in place; however, I want you to be prepared for changes, as the situation will continue to be fluid. We encourage you to check our website weekly for updates, as this is where you will always find the latest information at www.unionps.org/coronavirus.

I deeply appreciate your support as we move forward to ensure our students get the education they deserve in the safest way possible.

Sincerely,

Kirt Hartzler, Ed.D., Superintendent
October 2020

Introduction and Challenges
. . . COVID-19 will happen!

As we plan for the upcoming school year, we are faced with uncertainty unmatched in recent years. District policies and practices will need to remain flexible and nimble as we respond to
new information and work through the many issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we develop our initial plan to return our students to a safe learning environment.

Since you will be faced with a decision regarding the learning pathway for your child, we feel it is essential for us to communicate to you the expectations for our students and our staff as they return to school. We also want to share what precautions will be taken by the district to minimize the exposure and possible spread of COVID-19 so you can determine the learning pathway you prefer for your child.

This will be a challenging year for all of us as we try to keep our students and staff healthy and continue to provide face-to-face learning. With that in mind, it is going to require support from
families in helping our students realize the importance of wearing masks and utilizing proper handwashing and sanitizing procedures. If all families can help us reinforce at home the importance of following the recommended safety guidelines, we may be able to minimize the potential spread and keep our schools open.

Given the nature of this virus, it is not a matter of “if,” but when our schools will experience an event . . .

This document is intended to be a fluid, working document which will change as needed based on the current COVID-19 status and recommendations of health professionals. It is not intended to be a complete plan, but an initial outline of strategies and protocols based on the current community health threat to our students and staff. Information will be updated on a weekly basis as recommended by the Reentry Task Force members. We recommend checking the Union website frequently at www.unionps.org/Coronavirus for updates.

Reentry Task Force and Input

Union’s Reentry Task Force, formed in May 2020, has been working to create and present a plan for the return to school in the fall of 2020. The information presented is part of an overall plan to safely return students and staff to an In-Person Learning Environment when school begins in the 2020-21 School Year. The committee consists of 29 members and includes two board members, two parents, two teachers, two support employees, two elementary principals, two secondary principals, the lead school nurse, the head athletic trainer, and fifteen other district administrators. We thank them for their service. See members.

Union’s Learning Options – (Spring 2021) 2 CHOICES

Parents need to choose one of two learning environments for each of their children for second semester by 10 p.m. on October 30, 2020.
As we continue to partner with you to serve your child, Union will once again offer families a choice in learning environments. Our tasks to schedule classes and teachers requires us to receive your choice by October 30. Please read the information below regarding virtual and in-person learning; then respond with your choice by using the link provided below.

*Note: Both Virtual and In-Person Learning will have similar expectations around coursework and grading.

Option 1:
IN-PERSON LEARNING

Learning at school grades PreK-5

Teachers will provide face-to-face instruction
Students will attend class in-person five days a week
Schools will be open during regular instructional hours
In the event school is cancelled for any period of time, students will be provided instruction through our distance learning plan
Specific safety measures are described on P. 8 of this document.

Learning at school grades 6-12

Teachers will provide face-to-face instruction.
Students will attend class in-person five days a week
•Schools will be opened during regular instructional hours.
In the event school is cancelled for any period of time, students will be provided instruction through our distance learning plan.
In-person includes the blended class options; Union Career Connect; and Service-Learning opportunities students chose during spring enrollment.
Specific safety measures are described beginning on P. 8 of this document.

*Note: Both Virtual and In-Person Learning will have similar expectations around coursework and grading.

Option 2:
VIRTUAL LEARNING

Elementary Students (Grades PK-5)

Learning at home
A Union teacher will deliver all instruction remotely and provide support utilizing the Seesaw Learning Management system
A Union teacher will use Union curricular materials and Oklahoma Academic Standards while maintaining the continuity of learning
Virtual learning is a minimum of a one-semester commitment (i.e., there is no “flipping” back and forth between models within a semester)
Students will check out the following at each grade level:
- Pre-K – a device will be provided
- Kindergarten – 2nd grade – iPad
- 3rd – 5th grade – laptop
Elementary virtual learning information can be found here: English / Spanish

Secondary Students (Grades 6-12)

Learning at home
Students will receive instruction and coursework through one of our contracted virtual programming and curriculum offerings supported by Union teachers
This program will ensure a student has the credits they need for graduation;however, some class choices may be limited
In-person participation in extracurricular activities (fine arts and athletics) may be available by request. Transportation will not be provided for extracurricular
activities.
Virtual learning is a minimum of a one-semester commitment
The virtual program does not meet NCAA clearinghouse requirements
Students will check out a laptop
Virtual class options can be found here: English / Spanish

Instructions for Selecting In-Person or Virtual Learning

You will need your child’s six digit Student ID/Lunch Number

(Providing the wrong or incomplete number may cause errors)

Student Name: Mickey Mouse Student ID: 054612

Please follow this link to complete the requst form using the Student ID above: Choose 2^nd Semester Learning Environment Form

We value each of our students and families and appreciate the trust you have placed in our school system. Thank you for your continued patience and support as we work together to serve your children.