The administration at Glasgow Schools has been working to create its “Path to Recovery Plan” for reentering school for the 2020-21 year.
According to minutes from the school board meeting on Tuesday, June 30, the administration team has worked with guidance from the Howard County Health Department, the Emergency Management Team and the County Health Director Dr. Fraser to create a draft proposal for returning to school in the fall. While still in draft form, the district has already made numerous revisions and expects this fluid document to change and evolve as new information becomes available.
The draft plan includes a three-tiered system for returning to school. The first tier (Green Phase 1- low to no COVID-19 spread in the community) includes all students returning to school with numerous mitigation strategies in place to protect students and staff. Some examples of strategies include: staggered lunch shifts, which limits the number of students in the cafeteria each day; adjusted bus routes to limit the number of students on the school buses; and daily deep-cleaning procedures throughout the school and buses.
Should COVID-19 arrive in the community (minimal to moderate spread) the county health department will advise the district to move to the second tier of its plan (Yellow-Phase 2). Some examples of what is in Phase 2 include: mitigation strategies increase; student movement throughout the building is limited to what is feasibly possible; masks/shields will be required of all students and staff; student meal services will be reevaluated to include the possibility of lunch being served in classrooms; as well as numerous other prevention strategies.
In the event of substantial spread in the community, the district will be advised to move to Red- Phase 3, which will include closing the school and conducting remote learning. Should a closing occur, the district has been advised to plan for a minimum of a 14-day closure.
The district is awaiting continued guidance from the Missouri Department of Education before publishing its “Path to Recovery Plan” in the event more changes need to be made. The district anticipates sharing its plan sometime in mid to late July.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns regarding returning to school, contact Superintendent Sonya Fuemmeler at (660) 338-2012.