Pali High Board of Trustees Discusses eLearning Grading Policy, Reopening Protocol Plan

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

The latest Palisades Charter High School Board of Trustees meeting was held virtually on Tuesday, October 13, offering a number of updates and a glimpse of what is to come as distance learning continues.

The board discussed a proposed eLearning grading policy that was included in the meeting’s agenda. Policies were submitted by each of the school’s departments, with the hopes of “moving in the direction of having that all together and looking at the board for the next steps,” Principal Dr. Pamela Magee said.

Board members suggested more advisory and direction before posting the formalized grading policy.

“We need to define what is fair, what is consistent, so that way there’s some objective criteria that we’re looking at as we analyze this information,” social science teacher John Rauschuber said.

Teacher Brenda Clarke said she thinks the eLearning environment should be a reflection of the school’s mission statement and Smart Goals that are already in place, “so students are feeling equally or more successful as they ever have.”

The goal at large is to provide fair and equitable grading policies, “particularly in the environment that we’re in now,” Community Chair Leslie Wooley said.

The Memorandum of Understanding states that grading policies must be approved by the BOT with stakeholder input. The Academic Accountability Committee currently has stakeholders who will provide input on the policies.

The board then reviewed a 15-page reopening protocol plan, which was rolled out by Los Angeles County Public Health as of September 7.

“We are still, and have been, in the purple stage, which is the highest level of risk in LA County, and yet we are asked to develop these protocols,” Mary Bush, assistant principal and director of Student Support Services, said.

Currently the only students who have been approved to return to campus are specialized groups, including students with IEPs and  English Language Learners.

The plan requirements state there can be a maximum of 12 students and two adults per cohort that is formed, and cohorts cannot ever mix.

There must also be a School Exposure Management Plan: If somebody on-site seems contagious, there must be a contamination or isolation room available, as well as access to testing. The school is also responsible for developing a Contingency Plan for full or partial closure based on the possibility of an outbreak.

The requirements also call for employee and student screenings. Bush said screenings are already in place—anybody who visits campus is temperature and symptom screened prior to entering. Social distancing and mandatory face coverings are in place as well.

If meals are served, they must be eaten in the classroom or outside with supervision to ensure social distancing is maintained.

Bush explained the school is still looking at employee COVID-19 testing, and the district is encouraging all students and staff to be tested.

Pali High’s next steps include exploring ways to provide equitable access and transportation support to its commuter students.

“Would these students use public transportation?” Bush posed. “Would we set up transportation, school to school? Those are all things that we still need to look at. This is a moving target, but this is where we are now.”

The board’s next meeting is currently scheduled for Tuesday, November 17.