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The Simpson County School Board met Monday, July 20, 2020 for a special called meeting to discuss the process of reopening the district’s schools.
At the meeting, board members discussed their opinions about the lack of a clear and easy answer, expressing the belief there is no “right” answer for reopening the schools and the fact that their main concern for the Simpson County School District is the education of the children and their safety.
A district task force team was put in place by the Simpson County School District with the job of developing a plan for restarting school. The plan they developed was presented as a proposal to the Simpson County School Board for review and approval. The board will vote on the plan Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
“It is the job of the task force and administration to develop the plan for reopening the schools,” said Board President Danny Cowart. “It is the board’s job to decide whether to approve that plan.”
The proposed plan comprises a hybrid return to school.
Proposed Hybrid School Plan
Students will be assigned an “A Day” or “B Day.” Students whose last names begin with A-L will be assigned to attend “A Day.” Students whose last names begin with M-Z will be assigned to attend “B Day.” Students who are assigned to “A Day” will attend school in person on Monday and Wednesday. Students who are assigned to “B Day” will attend school in person on Tuesday and Thursday. Siblings will attend school on the same days.
On the days students are not in the classroom, they will be required to complete assignments through Google Classroom, as well as packets for grading. Fridays will be designated for intervention and remedial, offering tutoring to students who are struggling in a specific subject area and remedial assistance for the lowest performing 25% of students.
The plan proposes that hybrid school will be in place for the first nine weeks of school before transitioning back to traditional school. School will begin August 10, 2020. The first nine weeks (hybrid period) will run August 10 through October 9, 2020. Traditional style school will resume on October 12, 2020.
Google Classroom will be used by all grades for both face-to-face days and virtual.
Parents will have the option for students to participate virtual only. If a parent chooses the virtual route for their child, the student will forfeit their opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities.
Sufficient internet is required, and an application must be completed by July 31, 2020 with the district office. The virtual option will be taken very seriously. Students will be required to complete assignments in a timely manner and will have mandatory screen time each day.
New Procedures: Students’ temperatures will be taken each day as they enter school. Any child with a temperature of 100.4 will not be allowed to attend school. Any student sent home for a fever will not be allowed reentry for 72 hours. Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the school, buses, and classrooms.
All busses will be sanitized after each morning and afternoon route. Students riding buses will be seated to the back first and unload from the front, allowing students not to cross in front of each other and minimizing contact with other students.
Masks will be required in all common areas by students and teachers. Bus drivers will be required to wear masks. Any student riding the bus will also be required to wear a mask. Parents are encouraged, if possible, to transport students.
Students will not be allowed to use water fountains due to health risks. Students are encouraged to bring water bottles to school. Students will not be allowed to share water with each other. Each student must provide his or her own water bottle.
All meals will be grab and go. Students will eat lunch in their classrooms. Students will be allowed to bring lunches from home to school, but lunches must not require heating. Breakfasts and lunches will be provided to students to take home for their off days.
All communications will be done through the school district’s website, media, Facebook pages, and school messenger.
Each school has plans and protocols that will be implemented if a teacher or student develops the virus.
Simpson County School District will follow MHSAA recommendations for events, activities, and competitions.
When the Simpson County School Board approves the final plan for reopening, all parents will be notified when and how students are returning to school. The district has developed a question and answer sheet that will be provided after board approval of the Hybrid plan.
Remember, if you want your child to participate virtually, your application must be complete by July 31, 2020.
Again, the following plan has not been voted on by the board. The vote will take place Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. at a special called board meeting.
MageeNews.com is an online news website covering Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi.
Where are you guys mask???? Don’t you think as administrators you should want to protect you health as well as the health of teachers and students??? And you wonder why parents and teachers are in an uproar about returning to school…..looking at this picture I see why.
The picture was actually made pre-COVID
Thank you so much for covering important information for our area! Please continue to keep the public informed!
Friday morning 2 10 (July 24th), I will be interviewing Dr. Robert Sanders from the Simpson County District Office who will answer questions and share additional information.
If the students riding the bus do not have their temperature taken before boarding the bus and get to school and then learn they have a temperature, they have exposed everyone on the bus.