Classroom Set-Up and Configuration 

• To ensure proper social distancing, classrooms will use individual desks in lieu of shared work tables as primary seating accommodations for students.
• Space permitting, work tables may still be made available; however, students must be seated on the same side of the work table and must adhere to the six (6) foot social distancing requirement.  Work table surface must be disinfected in between users.
• All desks must be arranged all facing the same direction.
• Classes without desks (e.g. physical education, music, art, etc.) must ensure the six (6) foot social distancing requirement is met in the design of their classroom spaces and seating charts.

Class Size Restrictions

As per DoE reopening schools' guidance, six (6) feet or greater distance is to be maintained between individuals.  The same guidance allows individuals with face coverings to be separated by as little as three (3) feet for social distancing between desks.  Out of an abundance of caution, and based on CDC recommendations, the Brandywine School District will require six (6) feet of distance between student desks.

The square footage of classrooms vary across buildings.  The diagrams below are based on the actual square footage of a 4th grade classroom at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School.  While a student per square footage ratio can be determined, there are also physical features of classrooms that must be factored in such as structural columns, built-in cabinetry, student cubbies (lockers), etc.

Typical Classroom without COVID Restrictions​

Typical Classroom with Social Distancing Restrictions

Impact of Class Size Restrictions on Staffing

As illustrated in the diagrams above, the class size restrictions for social distancing dramatically reduce the number of students assigned to a classroom.  Typically, class sizes for 4th Grade classrooms range on average between 24 and 28 students per class.  If all 28 students in the first illustration above desired to have full in-person instruction, it would require two additional teachers for just this one class.  Sticking with the specific example of using MPE's current 4th Grade student population, there are four 4th Grade teachers and currently 90 students enrolled.  All four 4th Grade Classrooms are generally the same size in terms of square footage.  

• If all 90 students requested in-person instruction, a total of nine (9) teachers would be needed, or five additional teachers.
• If a full remote teacher can accommodate 35 students per class, the chart below shows how many teachers would be needed based on student preference for remote or in-person:​​