Flexible Instruction Plan FAQ's

Families will be notified of a Flexible Instructional Day in the same way the Penn Hills School District communicates information about cancellations. The notification will be received by email, phone, robo call & posted on the Penn Hills School District website, as well as social and local media outlets. The message will indicate that a Flexible Instructional Day (FID) will be implemented. Once again, a school closing message will clearly communicate when a Flexible Instructional Day is used. On days NOT deemed as a Flexible Instructional Day (FID), the school closing message will not make mention of a Flexible Instructional Day (FID) being utilized. It will also delineate if staff is to report.

On Flexible Instructional Day(s) (FID), students will not report to school. All students will receive their daily assignments and learning activities for each subject that would have occurred during the regular school day, including all resource and elective classes. For instance, if the Flexible Instructional Day (FID) is implemented on a Tuesday, and an elementary school student typically has music class on Tuesday, the student will complete a music assignment or activity during the Flexible Instructional Day (FID). Students are required to follow schedules and log in to period-by-period Teams Meetings.

Students will log in during their required attendance times in the building schedules below. Teachers will document attendance based upon signing into the Teams Meet for each period. If students cannot log in, they can call the building attendance personnel listed below:

• Elementary K-5 call 412 -793-7000 ext. 7113, ext. 7103, ext. 7102
• Linton 6-8 call 412 -793-7000 ext. 6124, ext. 6110, ext. 6111
• Penn Hills HS call 9-12 412 -793-7000 ext. 5284, ext. 5208, ext. 5209, ext. 5207
• Penn Hills Cyber Academy 6-12 attendance taken as normal.

ALL PHONE LINES listed will be cleared on a rotating basis every 30 minutes. If you have trouble, please contact the building administrators to report full mailboxes. Students unable to call due to power outage parents can follow up with written communication the following school day. Power companies will need to confirm power outage for attendance to count as excused.

Teachers will post adjusted assignments for the Flexible Instructional Day (FID) in the same manner as they currently post in Canvas. These modified assignments will be posted by 10 am on the Flexible Instructional Day (FID) for students to access during the instructional period. Students are required to login to the scheduled class. Teams meet and listen to the teacher for lessons and instructions. If students are unable to access their platform, teachers will direct students to complete assignments in a separate way. Please email the teacher directly with all issues accessing Teams meets, all assignments will need to be returned to the teacher following his/her return to school or email for credit.

A Flexible Instructional Day (FID) hour(s) are 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM for all district students and professional staff. All students and staff will have lunch from 12:00-1:00 PM. Students and staff will follow the above building instructional schedules for the identified Flexible Instructional Day (FID).

Any students with approved Individual Education Plans (IEPs) will be provided with modified or adapted assignments.

• Comcast offers the Internet Essentials Program to families who qualify. Families can sign up for the program at www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376.
• The district has hotspots for family usage. The hotspots are located at our three school buildings and will connect to our guest network. Registration with your name, email, and phone number will be required and all traffic will be filtered through the district firewall. As more information becomes available, the technology department will share information.

In many cases, technology questions can be addressed by your child’s teacher. • The Penn Hills School District Technology Department will be available at 412-793-7000 ext. 1450 to support program password and account assistance or any additional technology issues. These messages will be cleared every 30 minutes.

If your child is struggling and needs support, please contact your child’s teacher directly. Teachers can be contacted via email or voicemail on Flexible Instructional Days (FIDs) between the hours of 10:00 AM- 3:00 PM or during online synchronous engagement opportunities such as Team Meets set up by the teacher. We do not want students working to the point of frustration and your child’s teacher will be available to work with your child remotely.

Yes, the paraprofessionals will follow the daily schedule 10-3 and attend all TEAMS meets for the classes they would normally be a part of, providing support and help to students in need. Teachers will be REQUIRED to invite the paraprofessional to the meet by adding them as copresenters. This will allow breakout sessions to occur to address individuals as needed.

• Students are expected to complete all assignments for the Flexible Instructional Day whether online or with distributed packets. This is assigned by your student(s) teacher. Students may lose full or partial credit for assignments that are not completed.
• Families experiencing extenuating circumstances that prevent a student from completing assignments should contact the teacher or building principal by email or voicemail as soon as possible.
• Every effort will be made by Penn Hills School staff to support students in having a successful remote learning experience from home.

• Counselors will be available during the school day, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM via email for support. They will additionally be available in a live Teams Meet or via phone. They will check and clear messages every 30 minutes.
• The counselors will contact those students who are scheduled to meet with them via email to establish the best method of communication.
• They will also provide all students with recommended learning opportunities that will satisfy Career Education, work standard requirements, and still conduct all regularly scheduled classes remotely.
• Counselors/HSV will also be responsible for assisting teachers with any attendance issues during the FID Day.

Yes, school nurses will be available by email Monday-Friday from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM. When you email them, please leave a call back number and reason for calling. All calls and emails will be returned within 30 minutes.

Forbes Road CTC will work collaboratively to ensure all students who attend Forbes Road East can continue their work remotely.

• Students receiving special education services will continue to receive services with their case manager communicating with students consistently during the FID Day to provide support. Assignments will be designed for students receiving 504 or special education services utilizing their program modifications, specially designed instruction and supplementary aids and services identified in their plans.
• A child’s case manager will be providing students with support during the FID Day by sending a TEAMS invite to the student in collaboration with the student's classroom teachers. Students in grades 9-12 with IEPs will also receive a TEAM'S link to access additional academic and behavioral supports as outlined in the student’s IEP. K-8 case managers will follow their regular pull out/push-in schedule sending their own TEAMS invite to students by period.
• Any related services (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech, etc.) will be provided via TEAMs, email, or phone during the FID Day. These classes will follow their schedule and meet with their students during their regularly assigned class schedule on the FID Day.

Your child’s ESL teacher will follow up with you to discuss activities and options to support your child during the FID Day. They will meet during regularly scheduled period via Teams. Your child’s ESL teacher will collaborate with your child’s team to determine appropriate ESL programming.