Common use of Impacts of COVID Clause in Contracts

Impacts of COVID. 19 on your LEA: Please describe the areas that have been most impacted by the coronavirus on your LEA. What has been done to determine the strategies that are needed to mitigate the effects of the pandemic? Please provide any baseline data and stakeholder feedback collected to show the impacts of COVID-19. Merit has been affected by the coronavirus in a variety of significant ways. It has become necessary to provide online instruction to our students. Even students who attend classes in-person have needed online support when they have become sick or required to quarantine. Many students have missed classroom time due to illness and quarantine requirements. It has been challenging to keep the school sanitized and up to CDC and local health department recommendations. Transportation has also been affected, as it has been difficult to keep students socially distanced. Finally, Covid-19 has been a significant emotional and mental strain on students and staff alike. We have had many discussions with board members, staff, parents, and the local health department to consider how best to approach these challenges. We have reviewed guidelines and requirements from USBE, the CDC, and the local health department. Merit had 89 students taking online courses last school year. These students made up 20% of our student population this past school year. We had never previously offered online courses to students, and this has been a major challenge for our students and staff to adapt to. After conversations with our custodial team, we determined that a big challenge in keeping the school clean and sanitized was our school’s carpets. Presently, all of the hallways and most classrooms are carpeted. They are old carpets and they are difficult to clean. This has made it difficult for us to keep the school sanitized, and it has become a health hazard for our staff and students. The school board has repeatedly voiced concerns to the school administration regarding technology supported learning and providing sufficient support to staff and students. After consulting with H-Wire, a third party IT group, we have come up with potential solutions to address online learning. Merit will be purchasing new computers, Chromebooks to achieve a 1:1 student to Chromebook ratio, and Audio Enhancement technology to communicate with classrooms to enhance social distancing practices. With many students online and many students missing classes, we have also identified a need to purchase a better Student Information System to track attendance, behavior, and student progress. This system will also help us ensure that students are not missing instruction and that they receive additional support when they are unable to attend due to effects of the coronavirus. This system will also better collect and analyze student data to help drive decision making by the school administration going forward. The school transportation team recommended purchasing an additional bus to be able to adequately address the transportation needs of our students. We have a growing school population and an increased demand for buses. By purchasing an additional bus, we will be able to maintain school operations and more adequately distance our students while riding the buses.

Impacts of COVID. 19 on your LEA: Please describe the areas that have been most impacted by the coronavirus on your LEA. What has been done to determine the strategies that are needed to mitigate the effects of the pandemic? Please provide any baseline data and stakeholder feedback collected to show the impacts of COVID-19. Merit Beehive Academy has been affected by analyzed the coronavirus in data and reports it has to identify the gaps and the needs of its students right from the beginning of the pandemic. The needs and the impact areas are vast but we will continue to focus on the most important ones that we can improve. The technology infrastructure and connectivity was an issue since the devices and wifi technologies were not up to date. The overall technology upgrades, new device and tools needs and renewals present main technology challenges. The hybrid model of instruction has helped our students to be on a variety schedule and structured instruction however not all students were at the place where they should be since some of significant waysthem needed more intense support, coaching and mentoring. It has become necessary Especially, students who are from underserved communities, students who have disabilities, students who are English learners and students who are at the risk of failure were impacted the most. Their academic needs and services should be a priority. All students had some gaps of academic learning and the plans should include all while giving more emphasis and priorities to provide online instruction to our the more vulnerable groups of the students. Even students who attend classes in-person have needed online support when they have become sick or required to quarantine. Many students have missed classroom time due to illness Students and quarantine requirements. It has been challenging to keep the school sanitized and up to CDC and local health department recommendations. Transportation has also been affectedstaff members all had difficult times that impacted their social, as it has been difficult to keep students socially distanced. Finally, Covid-19 has been a significant emotional and mental strain on students health. Most people are going through the travma of some sort and staff alikethey all need social, emotional and behavioral support. We More mental health services will be needed to support them. The facility, infrastructure and sanitary measures should be reevaluated and the needs should be included in the plan. Beehive Academy sends the regular surveys to its students, parents and teachers to identify the needs and trends while planning for its plans and programs. All the stakeholders survey results were analyzed and the results were shared with all the stakeholders. Several Stakeholders meetings were held to have had many discussions with board membersinputs, staff, parentsdiscussions, and develop the local health department to consider how best to approach these challenges. We have reviewed guidelines and requirements from USBE, the CDC, and the local health department. Merit had 89 students taking online courses last school year. These students made up 20% of our student population this past school year. We had never previously offered online courses to students, and this has been a major challenge for our students and staff to adapt to. After conversations with our custodial team, we determined draft plans that a big challenge in keeping the school clean and sanitized was our school’s carpets. Presently, all of the hallways and most classrooms are carpeted. They are old carpets and they are difficult to clean. This has made it difficult for us to keep the school sanitized, and it has become a health hazard for our staff and students. The school board has repeatedly voiced concerns to the school administration regarding technology supported learning and providing sufficient support to staff and students. After consulting with H-Wire, a third party IT group, we have come up with potential solutions to address online learning. Merit will can be purchasing new computers, Chromebooks to achieve a 1:1 student to Chromebook ratio, and Audio Enhancement technology to communicate with classrooms to enhance social distancing practices. With many students online and many students missing classes, we have also identified a need to purchase a better Student Information System to track attendance, behavior, and student progress. This system will also help us ensure that students are not missing instruction and that they receive additional support when they are unable to attend due to effects of the coronavirus. This system will also better collect and analyze student data to help drive decision making approved by the school administration going forwardboard. The school transportation team recommended purchasing an additional bus plans were communicated with all and they all had a chance to be able to adequately address contribute and the transportation needs of our studentsplans were developed by the collective mind. We have a growing school population All existing data, reports and an increased demand for buses. By purchasing an additional bus, we will be able to maintain school operations other inputs were analyzed and more adequately distance our students while riding the busesshared as well.

Impacts of COVID. 19 on your LEA: Please describe the areas that have been most impacted by the coronavirus on your LEA. What has been done to determine the strategies that are needed to mitigate the effects of the pandemic? Please provide any baseline data and stakeholder feedback collected to show the impacts of COVID-19. Merit has been affected by Even though we were able to hold school through the coronavirus in a variety entire 20-21 school year, there were noticeable losses. Student absenteeism was extremely high because of significant waysquarantines and encouraged absence for other illnesses. It has become necessary Though we were able to provide online instruction for all students whose situations necessitated it, many students struggled. Failing grades skyrocketed and we implemented several measures to assist these students with XXXXX II funds. Remediation during and after the school day through the final quarter of 20-21, extended and expanded summer school, and additional planning time for teachers have all had a positive impact on student outcomes. As we initiated discussions for XXXXX III funds, these rose to the top of the list of measures that have made a difference for student outcomes. Using these we were able to raise several hundred grades to a passing level. With the planning time, teachers were tasked with evaluating student data for their 20-21 students as well as their 21-22 students. They then were able to meet with the students’ former or future teachers to prepare a plan for their instruction in the current year. We have also used these funds to provide professional development into effective collaboration to better assist our students. Even Again, the feedback was to use these tools as we move forward, and they are listed as priorities. Social Emotional health of students who attend classes in-person have needed online support when they have become sick or required continues to quarantinebe a major focus. Many students have missed classroom time due to illness and quarantine requirements. It has been challenging to keep the school sanitized and up to CDC and local health department recommendations. Transportation has also been affected, as it has been difficult to keep students socially distanced. Finally, Covid-19 has been a significant emotional and mental strain on students and staff alike. We have had many discussions with board members, staffOur administrators, parents, and board have seen the local health department need to consider how best to approach these challengesassist families and students through this difficult time and beyond. We have reviewed guidelines and requirements from USBEprioritized social workers/mental health monitors with a portion of the funds to work with students, the CDCstaff, and families who have been adversely affected by the local health departmentpandemic. Merit had 89 students taking online courses last school yearTechnology is an ongoing concern. These students made up 20% The pandemic has taken a toll on our devices and it has been readily apparent to our education community that we need an ongoing supply of devices coming into our student population system. Chromebooks and protective cases are the result of this past school yearneed. We had never previously offered online courses to have struggled with quality of instruction for at-home students, and this has been with the requirements of social spacing in the schools and classrooms. Contact tracing is also a major challenge concern for our schools and the wellness of our students and staff staff. We are upgrading two technology systems that will help with tracing, with lesson delivery to adapt to. After conversations with our custodial team, we determined that a big challenge in keeping the school clean and sanitized was our school’s carpets. Presently, all of the hallways and most classrooms are carpeted. They are old carpets and they are difficult to clean. This has made it difficult for us to keep the school sanitizedon-line students, and it has become a health hazard with communication to students in our socially distanced and often masked classrooms. Cameras on our schools and grounds with tracing capabilities, cameras and sound systems in our classrooms that will aid in lesson delivery for in-class and on-line instruction came out of our staff discussions and studentsare on our priorities. The school board has repeatedly voiced concerns to the school administration regarding technology supported learning and providing sufficient support to staff and students. After consulting with H-Wire, a third party IT groupFinally, we have determined to purchase touchless bottle refilling stations so students do not have to come up in contact with potential solutions a fountain. These items have come through school level discussions in the spring with faculty, student and parent groups, they moved to address online learning. Merit will be purchasing new computersour board meetings with public comment opportunities given on possible priorities, Chromebooks they were reported in our local newspapers with an invitation to achieve a 1:1 student to Chromebook ratiomake suggestions and comments, and Audio Enhancement technology to communicate with classrooms to enhance social distancing practices. With many students online have been reviewed by administrators and many students missing classes, we have also identified a need to purchase a better Student Information System to track attendance, behavior, and student progress. This system will also help us ensure that students are not missing instruction and that they receive additional support when they are unable to attend due to effects of the coronavirus. This system will also better collect and analyze student data to help drive decision making by the school administration going forward. The school transportation team recommended purchasing an additional bus to be able to adequately address the transportation needs of our students. We have a growing school population and an increased demand board members for buses. By purchasing an additional bus, we will be able to maintain school operations and more adequately distance our students while riding the busesprioritization.

Impacts of COVID. 19 on your LEA: Please describe the areas that have been most impacted by the coronavirus on your LEA. What has been done to determine the strategies that are needed to mitigate the effects of the pandemic? Please provide any baseline data and stakeholder feedback collected to show the impacts of COVID-19. Merit has been affected In light of the monumental task that teachers had with the obstacles to learning that students faced during the past couple of years with COVID-19, it is no surprise that there are deficits in learning that we are working to correct. This is evidenced by a reduction in proficiency in most grade levels in math from the coronavirus previous year to the 2020-2021 school year. For example, the change in proficiency based on our EOY benchmarks (MyMath K-5, Glencoe Math 6-8) from the 2019-2020 school year to the 2020-2021 school year shows a shift from an average of 66% proficiency to 58% proficiency. In the area of literacy, while we saw some growth in most grades, our XXX to EOY data comparison from both school years showed that we need to refocus on foundational skills in a variety way that we teach critical skills in the correct order (for example: Accuracy before Fluency) to strengthen our emerging readers in a way that they are ready to handle more difficult text. The reading gets more complex beginning in 2nd grade so providing as solid a foundation as early as possible (K-1 grades) is critical. Many of significant ways. It has become necessary to provide online instruction to our students. Even students who attend classes in-person are currently K-1, have needed online support when they have become sick or required minimal “usual” experience in a school setting and are therefore in need of better targeted exposure to quarantinereading. Many students have missed classroom time due Our current efforts to illness mitigate the academic impacts of the pandemic are centered around our staff becoming experts at differentiation so that teachers are able to quickly identify discrepancies and quarantine requirements. It has been challenging know how best to keep meet the school sanitized and up to CDC and local health department recommendations. Transportation has also been affected, as it has been difficult to keep students socially distanced. Finally, Covid-19 has been a significant emotional and mental strain on students and staff alikeneeds of each individual student. We have had many discussions with board members, staff, parents, and the local health department will continue to consider how best to approach these challenges. We have reviewed guidelines host professional development opportunities and requirements from USBE, the CDC, and the local health department. Merit had 89 students taking online courses last school year. These students made up 20% of our student population this past school year. We had never previously offered online courses to students, and this has been a major challenge provide outlets for our students and staff to adapt to. After conversations with our custodial team, we determined that a big challenge in keeping the school clean and sanitized was our school’s carpets. Presently, all of the hallways and most classrooms are carpeted. They are old carpets and they are difficult to clean. This has made it difficult for us to keep the school sanitized, and it has become a health hazard collaboration for our staff so they have what they need to become expert at this. We are mindful that the impacts of our work to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and studentskeep kids in school is worth every effort. The We will continue to put our best efforts toward creating a school board has repeatedly voiced concerns where our students feel safe, are able to the school administration regarding technology supported learning thrive socially and providing sufficient support to staff and students. After consulting with H-Wire, a third party IT group, we have come up with potential solutions to address online learning. Merit will be purchasing new computers, Chromebooks to achieve a 1:1 student to Chromebook ratioemotionally, and Audio Enhancement technology to communicate with classrooms to enhance social distancing practices. With many students online and many students missing classes, we have also identified a need to purchase a better Student Information System to track attendance, behavior, and student progress. This system will also help us ensure that students are not missing instruction and that they receive additional support when they are unable to attend due to effects of the coronavirus. This system will also better collect and analyze student data to help drive decision making by the school administration going forward. The school transportation team recommended purchasing an additional bus every opportunity to be able to adequately address the transportation needs of our students. We have a growing school population and an increased demand for buses. By purchasing an additional bus, we will be able to maintain school operations and more adequately distance our students while riding the busesacademically successful.

Impacts of COVID. 19 on your LEA: Please describe the areas that have been most impacted by the coronavirus on your LEA. What has been done to determine the strategies that are needed to mitigate the effects of the pandemic? Please provide any baseline data and stakeholder feedback collected to show the impacts of COVID-19. Merit Freedom Preparatory Academy has found that students have been affected impacted academically by the coronavirus as they have been pushed back and forth between on-site and virtual learning. Students have not received the math and literacy support they have needed, which has been evidenced by obvious gaps in state assessment results. Further impact has been seen in the students’ emotional well-being, as the number of additional counseling check-ins has increased. This is evidence that there was a variety of significant ways. It has become necessary to provide online instruction to huge social/emotional need not being met for our students. Even This impact will continue as long as students who attend classes in-person have needed online support when they have become sick or required feel unsettled and insecure as far as their physical health, academic learning, and connectedness to quarantineother students and teachers are affected. Many students have missed classroom time due to illness The inconsistency caused by the coronavirus has increased anxiety and quarantine requirementsdepression. It has been challenging to keep the school sanitized and up to CDC and local health department recommendations. Transportation has also been affected, as The inconsistency it has been difficult to keep students socially distancedcaused has taken an obvious toll on the mental health of our students. Finally, Covid-19 the physical safety of our students has been impacted by the coronavirus. The students are constantly concerned about what is safe, clean, etc. Some students have felt a significant emotional physical threat, wondering whether or not it is even safe for them to be in the building, which needs to be addressed. Freedom Preparatory Academy has reviewed and mental strain on students and staff alike. We have had many discussions with board membersanalyzed its state assessment data, staffincluding the WIDA, parentsAcadience, RISE, and ACT, to determine the local health department to consider how best to approach these challengesacademic areas most impacted by COVID-19 at our LEA. We have reviewed guidelines Social Emotional Learning (SEL) data from our school social workers to know what SEL needs have increased over the past year. The health and requirements from USBEsafety of our school’s physical facilities have been considered and reviewed by our school’s maintenance and administrative teams. Stakeholder feedback was received through a virtual meeting on Aug. 3, the CDC2021, and the local health departmentschool’s public community was provided an opportunity to offer suggestions and insights via a survey sent by email and at our fall general board meeting on August 19, 2021. Merit had 89 All suggested strategies to mitigate the effects of the pandemic were reviewed under the lens of evidence and research-based approaches to determine which strategies were most needed and warranted. Significant Baseline Data for 2021-2022 School Year SEL Baseline Data: • One of FPA’s initial responses to COVID-19 was to hire two social workers and an additional counselor to help meet student needs. During the past school year (2020-2021), students taking online courses last received a significant increase in services from the new FPA employees compared to previous years. For a baseline there were 1,037 check-ins, 351 parent communications, and 240 individual students served in the 2020-2021 school year. These students made up 20% State Assessment Baseline Data from 2020-2021: • Acadience – 54 percent of our student population this past school year. first-grade students were below benchmark in BOY Reading, and 39 percent of our first-grade students were below benchmark in EOY Reading • RISE – 61 percent of our third through eighth grade students were below proficiency in both Language Arts & Math • Utah ACT Aspire Plus – 57 percent of our ninth and tenth graders were below proficiency in Reading • Utah ACT Aspire Plus – 73 percent of our ninth and tenth graders were below proficiency for Math • ACT – We had never previously offered online courses a 19.67 average composite score for 2021 with the lowest area being English with an 18.77 average score. Physical Facilities Baseline information: • The capital expenditure approval process has been completed for all requested capital expenses. Please review there for baseline data information. Additionally, our HVAC system does not adequately provide clean air. Stakeholder Feedback (Aug. 3rd Meeting) on greatest COVID-19 impacts on students. • Parents – In our stakeholder meeting, some parents suggested having additional classroom aides and more summer programs. They also wanted to have additional mental health check-in options and additional mental health resources available for students, including in-person counseling, relevant literature, workshops, and this has a virtual check-in option. One parent mentioned UV lights could be used to reduce bacteria in the school. Another parent noted that the supplemental resources provided so far have been unbalanced and have been more for math than reading/literacy. The parent requested more resources for helping with literacy gaps. • Teachers – The teachers in attendance thought group therapy, counseling, and resources to improve mental health for students would be a major challenge good use of funds. This could include before or after school counseling options. Encouraging quarterly wellness goals for our students the teachers and staff was also brought up to adapt tokeep our teachers healthy. After conversations with our custodial team, we determined Another teacher felt there is a need for funding for after school tutoring and additional aides that a big challenge could be kept consistently in keeping the school clean classrooms to help meet student learning needs. One teacher suggested adding additional handwriting tools and sanitized was our school’s carpets. Presently, all of the hallways and most classrooms are carpeted. They are old carpets and they are difficult to clean. This has made it difficult for us more headsets to keep the school sanitizedsharing of supplies to a minimum. • Administration – Members of the administration mentioned additional cleaners and help with additional communication needs. There was also a suggestion for programs for improving digital citizenship and keeping students safe online. Other ideas included help to reduce teacher stress caused by added responsibilities during Covid-19. Suggested ideas for reducing stress included: a massage chair, a teachers lounge treadmill, and a running path. Having additional technology (laptops) to check out to teachers when they must quarantine and work from home was mentioned. Additional digital add-ons to help teachers monitor student devices was suggested, along with additional teacher coaches to support interventions to help fill in gaps. A final administrator suggestion was to improve the school’s ventilation system. • Students – During the 2020-2021 school year, food choices for lunch were very limited. Students want more choices for this if it has become a health hazard for our staff can be done safely. Also, because some of the students were required to eat lunch in the gymnasium and studentsdid not go through the normal lunch line to receive their food, the food was cold, and students were limited in what sides and condiments they could get. The school board has repeatedly voiced concerns to the school administration regarding technology supported learning and providing sufficient support to staff and students. After consulting with H-Wire, a third party IT group, we have come up with potential solutions to address online learning. Merit will be purchasing new computers, Chromebooks to achieve a 1:1 student to Chromebook ratio, and Audio Enhancement technology to communicate with classrooms to enhance social distancing practices. With many students online and many students missing classes, we have also identified a need to purchase a better Student Information System to track attendance, behavior, and student progress. This system will also help us ensure that students are not missing instruction and that they receive additional support when they are unable to attend variety of food was greatly decreased last year due to effects of Covid-19 restrictions implemented in the coronavirus. This system will also better collect and analyze student data to help drive decision making by the school administration going forward. The school transportation team recommended purchasing an additional bus to be able to adequately address the transportation needs of our students. We have a growing school population and an increased demand for buses. By purchasing an additional bus, we will be able to maintain school operations and more adequately distance our students while riding the busesschool.