PICTURED: On Monday morning, Collierville Schools principals and district administrators explored social distancing and classroom setup options for the coming school year with Safe Schools Supervisor Dr. Nancy Kelley.
As uncertainty looms large during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, officials with Collierville Schools continue to tweak the district’s official “Reopening and Recovery Plan.”
Last Thursday, the district announced, “We are putting the final touches on the Collierville Schools 2020-2021 Reopening and Recovery Plan and intend to publish it next week. We understand that there are many questions, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we attempt to address all concerns in our comprehensive plan.”
Late last month, the district released a restart plan overview for the 2020-21 school year.
The district is “planning for multiple scenarios to provide safe and appropriate educational opportunities for all students.”
The completed reopening plan, which was not released as of deadline, will be comprised of four different phases and guided by the Shelby County Health Department.
District officials said they are “hopeful that schools may open on time in August.”
The first phase began in March and deals with the closing of all schools and the implementation of remote learning.
The second phase states that “schools may open with strict safety measures and limited capacities, using a blended model for instruction.”
The third phase expands expectations and states that schools will accommodate “larger capacities.” The final phase sees schools functioning at “full capacity with compliance procedures to prevent, identify and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”
The initial reopening plan identifies four areas of concern, including; limiting contact with others, learning opportunity options, safety preventative measures and student, staff and family support.
An 11-member Essential Function Team was formed to address each of these concerns, which includes matters like social distancing, facility cleaning, distance learning, etc.
Local parents also chimed in and completed a survey to air their concerns.
Nearly 90 percent of the parents said that they plan to send their children back to school in August “if health partners believe it is safe.”
Around 82 percent of parents preferred a “blended model of instruction rather than just remote learning.”
More than 60 percent of those who participated in the survey believe that the early school closures had an “impact on their children’s social and emotional well being.” Look for more information on the reopening plan at ColliervilleH-I.com.
In related news:
The Collierville Schools July Board meetings will be held as follows: Tuesday, July 21 Work Session at 4 p.m. in the Community Room at the High School. Business Meeting will be on Tuesday, July 28 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at the High School. Social distancing will be in place.
