The Columbia and Marion County school districts are making plans about how and when to reopen schools this fall.
Both districts intend to survey parents as a way to get feedback.
Columbia Superintendent Jason Harris said in a letter to parents this week that the city district is forming a community committee to examine different ways to reopen schools. Harris said in the letter that he told the school board at last week’s meeting that the administration’s goal is to open the school year as normally as possible on the planned date of Aug. 3.
That’s less than two months away and would be nearly five months from when schools throughout Mississippi shut down in mid-March because of the coronavirus.
In the letter, Harris said the community committee would look at areas like academic programming if a short-term shutdown occurs, operations, transportation, food service, communications and protocols for entering and leaving schools.
He advised a survey will be sent to the parents to determine how many students will be riding the school buses to and from school in an effort to know the best way to handle transportation for the upcoming year.
Regarding students wearing masks, Harris said in his letter that "facial coverings will be suggested to be worn as part of the protocol and will continue until the (Centers for Disease Control) and (Mississippi State Department of Health) guidelines recommend change."
With the CDC not encouraging large gatherings, meal time is something else that is being adjusted. At the school board meeting June 4, it was discussed about students receiving sack lunches in their classrooms until the CDC allows for large gatherings again.
The state Department of Education released guidelines for schools to consider on May 20. Mentioned in the guidelines include things such as class size and how mobile the students should be during the day. An example would be how to handle switching classes or teachers.
Harris said about the virus and reopening, “I want to assure you that it is on the mind of every administrator in the Columbia School District. We realize a lot of questions remain and information changes daily. Please know what we are focused on providing the safest possible learning environment for all students."
At the county school board meeting Monday night, County Superintendent Wendy Bracey announced she was meeting on Tuesday with other superintendents to discuss the reopening of the schools under the recommendation of the State Department of Education.
Bracey said State Superintendent Carey Wright has distributed information on recommendations for schools reopening. Bracey said Thursday the superintendents across the state will be meeting with Wright in at least two webinars to discuss the upcoming school year.
Surveys will be sent out to the parents and teachers of the students in the county schools as well, Bracey said. Bracey also said she is working closely with Harris to make sure they are in sync with the plans to reopen.
