Back to the classroom: Shelby County Schools prepare to reopen for fall semester
Editor’s Note: As of press time, Shelby County Schools were still set to begin Aug. 13 with both in-person and virtual options. It was unclear whether plans may change due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak in March, Shelby County Schools are scheduled to reopen for the 2020-21 school year Aug. 13.
At the July 7 Shelby County Board of Education meeting, the board unanimously approved the new school year calendar and employee work schedules. The start date was pushed back one week, from Aug. 6 to Aug. 13. The first semester will be 83 days, and the second semester 94 for a total of 177 student days and 187 teacher days. The last day of school will be May 27, 2021.
On July 17, Shelby County Schools sent out its school reopening plan for the 2020-21 school year. The 21-page PDF stated the guidelines were based on recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, current available data and other medical and professional resources. It also specified that it may be subject to change and should be used only as a general reference.
Finally, it stated that students and faculty will be required to wear masks.
Superintendent Lewis Brooks wrote in a letter that there are “still matters related to opening that cannot be answered at this time.” He also said the school district will lean heavily on guidance from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) with decisions related to the virus outbreak, and if health concerns continue to rise prior to the first day of school, Shelby County could start in the second phase of the plan.
REOPENING PHASES
The Shelby County Schools system has developed three phases of the reopening process. Each category has recommendations classified as essential (required), guidance (highly recommended) or consideration (additional best practices).
- Back Together: Welcomes students back to a new school year, and recommendations will be implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
- Cautious Together: Implemented when the community spread of COVID-19 is at a higher risk and enhanced measures will be implemented to mitigate the spread. During this, a modified daily school schedule may be implemented in which only half the students would attend on Monday and Tuesday; all students would stay home for e-learning on Wednesday and the other half would attend school Thursday and Friday. Students would be divided alphabetically if a modified schedule becomes necessary.
- E-learning Together: Would be implemented when schools are closed temporarily based on guidance from the ADPH and or an order is issued by the Gov. Kay Ivey. All students would be on a digital learning platform and schools would reopen when the state order is lifted.
Brooks said that he and his team have been working closely with the Alabama State Department of Education and the ADPH while things are finalized.
“We are committed to providing the safest and most productive learning experience for our children,” Brooks said. “There is no question that the 2020-21 school year will be a journey like any other.”
LEARNING OPTIONS
Shelby County students will have two instructional learning options.
One is traditional, on-campus learning (also includes the possibility of blended e-learning/out of school e-learning); The student reports to the school campus daily. If they have to be out due to a quarantine or if a campus has to close due to COVID-19, they will switch to short term e-learning and return to campus when healthy.
The second option is Out of School e-learning: The student participates in all courses in a virtual format using the ALSDE approved curriculum. Instruction will be administered by SCS teachers during designated school hours, and assignments and tests will be rigorous and graded. Elective and advanced options may be limited.
Remote learning students can still participate in extracurricular activities including band and football. They may attend practice before or after school and should remain off campus during the school day.
Students with Individualized Education Plan IEP plans will receive instructional learning accommodations in either learning environment.
At the end of each nine-week period, students can transition in or out of remote learning.
FOCUS ON HEALTH
While schools will not check temperatures daily, they are encouraging parents to check their students’ temperatures daily and keep them home if they are having COVID-19 symptoms and notify the school if their child is diagnosed.
Children with symptoms will be isolated until someone can check them out of school. The school nurses will continue to develop Individual Health Plans for students with chronic health problems and address specific needs.
If a Shelby County student tests positive for COVID-19, the school will not necessarily close. The public health department will be responsible for contact tracing, and the school’s response will vary depending on several factors, including the extent of exposure and spread, but enhanced cleaning and sanitizing will take place.
Visitors, including parents, will only be allowed to enter the front office of the school for business matters only. Classrooms will be configured for social distancing to the greatest extent possible, and there will be no large group gatherings during school hours.
A NEW NORMAL
Chelsea Park Elementary Principal Jennifer Galloway said she and her faculty and staff are excited about the start of school and look forward to having the students back in the building.
“Our teachers are preparing for a great school year,” Galloway said. “They have been participating virtually in professional development and planning with their grade level. We are making the necessary preparations to carryout our school day with social distancing and safety precautions being put in place. I think the hardest challenge for us will be not hugging our students. We in elementary love to hug!”
During a press conference in June, state Superintendent of Schools Dr. Eric Mackey said, “We cannot predict the year, but schools will be physically open and remain open all year long.”
“This will be the most difficult school year we have ever faced, but are determined to do it, not because it’s easy, but because we have students who are counting on us,” Mackey said. “We have to do it and we will.”
For more information, visit shelbyed.k12.al.us.