Dear Salisbury Community:
With winter approaching, we want to share an update on Flexible Instructional Days (FIDs). The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) approved the use of FIDs as an alternate form of instruction in place of a day that was formerly a school closure due to inclement weather or emergency. In essence, approved Districts can replace an inclement weather day with a FID day and not have to alter the school calendar. Salisbury has been approved to use a maximum of five (5) FID for the 2020/2021 school year.
This school year, in what might have formerly been an inclement weather or emergency school closure, we may use the option of a remote instructional day instead of using an inclement weather day in the school calendar. In the event we use a FID day, the District will issue a notification of the FID in the same manner inclement weather days have been communicated in the past, through Apptegy. The FID will be an official school day and attendance will be taken. Regardless of instructional model at the time the FID is implemented, students will follow our remote learning schedule.
FAQ’s
How will students find the learning activities and assignments for the FID?
Students will complete all learning assignments provided by the teacher at home on the FID day as they do on a fully remote day. All assignments will be posted in Clever, SeeSaw or Google Classroom. There may be instances when we have more notice of a possible FID. In these cases, teachers may send home hard copies of materials and/or provide advance notice of assignments.
Will there be live instruction?
At this time, we anticipate students will participate in live instruction in the same way students participate in live instruction during remote learning days. This will be dependent on weather conditions and will be clearly communicated when a FID is announced. There may be days in which high winds or ice could affect reliable internet access.
What if a student does not have access to their district device or internet on an FID?
At this time, we anticipate all students will be taking their devices home daily. We need to do this in the event of a sudden shift to the fully remote instructional model as a result of a closure for COVID-19. If a household does not have Internet access due to inclement weather conditions, please contact the student’s building principal.
What if a student scheduled a pre-approved absence for the FID day?
The student would be expected to make up the learning activities and assignments within three days of returning to school just as if it were any other absence from school.
Will there still be make-up dates built into the district calendar?
Yes, make-up dates will continue to be built into the Salisbury Township School District calendar in the event we exhaust five allowable FID days and/or utilize all inclement weather days as we have in the past.
Does this mean there will be no more inclement weather days?
No. It is still possible the District will have inclement weather days this winter.