Steering Committee

• Guiding query: How can we continue to deliver our mission and the signature Rye Country Day learning experience in the fall, knowing that there are numerous uncertainties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic?
• Charge: Following the guidelines of government and health officials at the local, state, and national levels and the warnings of a potential second wave, this strategic committee will make sure that we are able to deliver our mission in-person as usual, exclusively remotely as during spring 2020, or as a "hybrid-flex" blend of the two, with the ability to pivot nimbly between modes of instruction, if necessary. The Steering Committee will guide the work of the sub-committees and will ultimately create and communicate the School’s reopening plan.
• Members: Scott Nelson (lead), Head of School; Meredith deChabert, Assistant Head of School; Nina Cheigh, Trustee; Barbara Shea, Lower School Principal; Ryan Song, Middle School Principal; Jon Leef, Upper School Principal; Dion Beard, Director of Facilities; Bob Brody, Director of Finance;  Andrew Gillies, Director of Information Technology; Nancy Gordon, Nurse; Dania Abu-Shaheen, Editorial Director; Katie O’Shaughnessey, Director of Academic Technology; Lynette Gioffre, Director of Advancement; Wendy Haft, Director of Athletics.

Medical Committee 

• Guiding query: What staffing, infrastructure, medical supplies, and cleaning supplies are needed to be in place to safely reopen and operate school? What medical and safety policies, practices, and procedures need to be implemented to ensure the health and safety of all RCDS students and employees?
• Charge: Determine the School has what it needs in terms of supplies, equipment, policies, and practices to safely reopen and operate. 
• Members: Barbara Shea (lead), Lower School Principal; Dr. Nina Cheigh, Pharm.D., Trustee; Dr. Cindy Roskind, M.D., Trustee; Nancy Gordon, School Nurse; Priya Singhvi, Director of Health and Wellness; Debra Pager, Director of Student Support Services; Heidi Southard, Head Athletic Trainer; Dr. Jeffrey Geller, M.D., Medical Advisor; Dr. Natalie Neu, M.D., M.P.H., Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist and Consultant.

Facilities Committee

• Guiding query: What physical changes will be necessary to meet the guidelines recommended by New York State for reopening school? What can we do to ensure social distancing and decrease density throughout the campus? What spaces on campus can be repurposed to support the state’s guidelines? 
• Charge: Explore the facilities options and needed changes to meet the state's guidelines.
• Members: Dion Beard (lead), Director of Facilities; Bob Brody, Director of Finance; Nina Cheigh, Trustee; Tom Nichols, Trustee; Jonathan Resnick, Trustee; Division Principals (as needed).

Technology Committee

• Guiding query: What are the best hardware/software and professional development options for seamlessly and simultaneously delivering live and remote teaching and learning?
• Charge: Explore available options and make recommendations for summer 2020 installation; provide professional development for faculty and staff during the summer. 
• Members: Meredith deChabert (lead), Assistant Head of School; Katie O’Shaughnessey, Director of Academic Technology; Bob Brody, Director of Finance; Andrew Gillies; Director of Information Technology.

Legal Committee

• Guiding query: What changes are needed for personnel policies and practices to comply with new employment laws resulting from COVID-19? What policies and practices need to be implemented to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the school community? 
• Charge: Determine the necessary changes to the RCDS Employee Handbook and the Parent-Student Handbook prior to the start of school. 
• Members: Bob Brody (lead), Director of Finance; Sarah Dodds-Brown, Trustee; Leigh Geller, Trustee; Margie DeStaso-Fazulak, Human Resources and Payroll Manager; Ken Lynch, Controller.

Academic/Calendar/Schedule Committee

• Guiding query: Following ten weeks of RCDS@home, what changes and revisions need to be made to the remote learning program with regard to each division of the School? What additional professional development is needed to support faculty? What schedule will best serve the students in each division in the event that the School has to shift to a remote learning program at any point next year? 
• Charge: Carefully review the RCDS@home remote learning program and prepare academically for the possibility that campus could be closed at some point during the 2020-21 school year.
• Members: Division Principals, Assistant Principals, Deans, and Schedulers. 

Communications Committee

• Guiding query: How can we regularly keep families, faculty, and staff informed of the latest New York State guidelines and the School’s responses and plans throughout the summer?
• Charge: Communicate updates and plans to families and employees on a regular basis throughout the summer.
• Members: Scott Nelson (lead), Head of School; Nina Cheigh, Trustee; Dania Abu-Shaheen, Editorial Director; and Vanessa Odenbach, Director of Marketing and Communications.

Finance Committee

• Guiding query: What additional financial resources will be needed to implement the School’s comprehensive plan in response to New York State guidelines for reopening schools?
• Charge: Develop a detailed budget to fund the additional staffing, technology, supplies, and equipment to support the School’s plans in response to state guidelines for reopening school. 
• Members: Bob Brody (lead), Director of Finance; Gregg Felton, Trustee; Ken Lynch, Controller.

Rye Country Day School intends to open in-person in the fall to the fullest extent permitted by authorities. We will follow the national, state, and local health and safety guidelines to provide the safest environment possible.
 
Guiding Principles for Reopening

• Provide the safest possible environment for students and employees.
• Build a culture of partnership and cooperation across the school community to successfully deliver a reimagined and safe return to school.
• Ensure students continue to receive our excellent education and the signature RCDS experience.
• Remain flexible to change our operating model as restraints are imposed or lifted based on the continually evolving situation.
• Communicate regularly and openly with the school community to achieve our safety and education goals.

The following plan is the result of the collaborative work of the Reopening Task Force, comprising the seven school-wide committees with their guiding queries and charges. The committees included administrators, trustees (including current parents and alumni), faculty, and staff representing key areas of the School and various aspects of the student experience. The individuals in the Reopening Task Force Steering Committee comprise responsible parties.

The Reopening Task Force committees began their work by building on the momentum of RCDS@home, Rye Country Day’s full-time remote learning program that was launched in March 2020 during the state-wide school closures. RCDS@home was developed through the collaboration of a leadership team who worked with parent/guardian representatives on the Board of Trustees and the Parents Association to make sure that our standards for education were met and that our focus on community and inclusion continued. Our pledge was to provide a continuation of learning and community for the holistic well-being of our students, and it was fulfilled through an active partnership across constituencies. 

Assessment and communication were integral parts of RCDS@home. Through our weekly family newsletter, e-notes, letters from the Head of School, and divisional messages, our community was regularly updated on the School’s progress in remote learning and our approach to planning for the future. To identify opportunities for improvement, we conducted two community-wide surveys and the feedback from those surveys, along with numerous virtual conversations with parents/guardians and employees, provided the roadmap for the Reopening Task Force and the blueprint for the hybrid-flex learning model proposed in this plan. We extend our deepest gratitude to our students, parents/guardians, teachers, staff, and administrators for their partnership and engagement in this important process.