Two Jackson County districts have announced plans to start the 2020-21 school year on schedule with safety measures in place.
In Facebook posts on Friday, officials with Brownstown Central Community School Corp. and Medora Community School Corp. shared information for students, parents and community members.
Brownstown Superintendent Tim Taylor said the intent is to open a traditional five-days-per-week school year with the first teacher day Aug. 6 and students returning Aug. 7.
“All students and staff will be issued a face shield and cloth mask,” Taylor said. “We highly recommend them being worn, but there will be certain situations, including on a bus and some in-school settings, when wearing a mask will be required for both students and staff.”
There also will be a remote/virtual instruction option for students whose parents are not yet comfortable with them returning to the classroom. That option will most likely utilize Edmentum programming for grades 6 through 12 and a grade level teacher-instructed option for kindergarten through fifth grade, Taylor said.
At the schools, safety measures will include maximizing instructional space for social distancing, employing enhanced cleaning procedures with additional hand sanitizer stations and allowing students to bring water bottles and use fill stations.
“At present, we believe lunch can be served in a traditional manner with social distancing, but student choice will be limited or eliminated,” Taylor said.
The schools also will identify and provide separate space in school clinics to treat symptomatic students, restrict visitors and guests in the buildings and discontinue perfect attendance incentives.
In conjunction with the Jackson County Health Department, Taylor said school officials will develop appropriate protocols to appropriately and safely address health issues that occur both within and outside the schools as they pertain to COVID-19.
Plans will continue to evolve as conditions, guidance and restrictions change, Taylor said.
Friday’s announcement followed recent conversations with Jackson County superintendents, the Brownstown Central Classroom Teachers Association, the corporation technology team and a reopening committee consisting of administrators, directors and a representative of the BCCTA.
Taylor will seek approval of the reopening plan during the next board of trustees meeting, set for 7:30 p.m. July 14 at the central administration office, 608 W. Commerce St., Brownstown. Meetings are open to the public and press.
In Medora’s back-to-school update, few details were given.
The post states school will start as scheduled Aug. 10 with safety measures in place.
“Administration is working diligently on a plan for return,” the post states. “It will be shared in the near future via our Facebook page and school website.”