Students in DC public schools also
start back this coming Monday,
and they'll be in person five days a week.
So to talk more about the school year
ahead or being joined by a DCPS chancellor,
doctor Lewis Ferebee this morning.
Thanks so much for joining us.
Good morning excited this morning.
Yes, I know there's a lot of excitement.
There's also some anxiety as
this new school year gets closer.
What are some goals that the
district has for this year?
Well, first and foremost,
health and safety is top of mind
for us we know is top of mind for
our families and ensure that we
continue our layered approach and
there's three pillars to that is,
including our process for informing families.
If there's a positive case on campus,
ensuring that we continue our
prevention strategies and then also
our screening protocols as well.
OK, so do you? Can you talk more about
whether there's a quarantine for you? Know,
virtual classes in the contingency plan?
Is there a backup for that, just in case?
Yes there is. So if there is a need
for a student or staff member to
quarantine for a period of time,
there will be a contingency plans which
includes the ability for students to
learn from home and also the ability
from teachers to teach at home as well.
Also said that the city is committed
to in person learning this year,
but the DC Education Board recently
is calling for more flexibility,
including expanding options for
more students to learn from home.
So what's your response to this? We know
the best place for our students
to learn in the classroom.
Many of our young people haven't
been in a classroom to learn
in person for over 18 months,
and we know that not only the academic
needs we can be more responsive to,
but also socially and emotionally.
We need students back in our
schools and we understand that
there may be some concerns,
but it's clear the best place for
our students in the classroom.
And I would say to families and
anyone with concerns is that we've
done this before we've done it
last school year successfully.
We've done it over the summer.
We know what to do with our health and
safety protocols on our layered approach,
which includes universal masking.
Also updates to our HVAC systems
with ensuring that their water
stations students are outside
for lunch as much as possible.
So we've seen what works
and what doesn't work,
and we also have a very rigid protocol
for social distancing as well,
and there is really nothing like
that face to face interaction.
You've also been very public recently,
about being vaccinated for COVID-19.
There's actually a video
on your Twitter page.
Of you getting your shot,
and so you've been encouraging your
students to get vaccinated as well,
along with some incentives.
Can you talk more about those incentives?
Yeah, so the one the science is
clear that the most important thing
we can do to protect ourselves
and the people that we love and
care about and to have school
is to get everyone vaccinated.
Who's eligible?
We take an approach of incentivizing
the young people in our schools.
They can earn a gift card along with
their parent or guardian for $51.
In addition to that,
young people also can receive air
pods and other incentives.
And there's a lottery for
a scholarship for $25,000.
As well, and before we let you go,
I know it's been a challenging
year for many families.
For administrative staff.
Any message that you would like
your students and teachers to know.
We're going
to meet you where you are.
We know that the experience has been
different for students and families
over the last year and a half,
and we will be responsive to that.
We also understand that there's
a need to reconnect and ensure
that our relationships are strong
between students and adults and
in between our adults and adults,
and more importantly beyond that.
We will continue our health and safety
protocols which includes the prevention
strategies I mentioned earlier.
Our screening protocols.
And then considering that we communicate
with our families and they get all
the information that they need,
all right. Doctor Lewis Ferebee
thanks so much for taking
the time out to speak to us.
We of course wishing you a successful
and safe school year and Monday
we will be there to see all the
students going back to class.
Thanks so much. Thank you.