During the meeting of the Glasgow School Board on Wednesday, July 22, the board discussed the draft of a 2020-21 Recovery Plan.
According to unofficial minutes from the meeting, school is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, August 26.
The district says “We assure that above all else and with 100-percent certainty, the difficult decisions that will be made in the coming weeks will be addressed with the utmost care, respect and concern for our entire school family.”
In the past few weeks, the district has worked to draft its plan. The plan was created after attending countless meetings, reading a lot of material and seeking guidance from state and local health officials, the Department of Education, the Department of Heath and Senior Services, school board members and the district’s faculty and staff. The plan is a fluid document that will continue to be updated and adjusted as new information and guidance becomes available.
It is the goal of the district to begin in-seat instruction on August 26. The district does not anticipate a move to online instruction until it has been advised by local health officials to move to Red-Phase III (substantial spread of the COVID-19 virus). However, it is likely that a decision will not be made until much closer to August 26. The draft plan includes a three-tier system for returning to school- Green Phase 1- low to no COVID-19 spread in the community) and 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). If the district is advised to move to Red- Phase 3, it 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.
If the district is required to return to school in an online manner, instruction will look very different than it did last spring. If distance learning takes place, students will have a scheduled time to meet with teachers on a regular basis. Scheduling for online instruction is still in the planning phase.
The district recognizes the lack of technology devices and internet access may be an issue for some families. The district has utilized CARES Act funds to help ease the internet access burden and acquired devices for check-out purposes. The district will be surveying families in the coming weeks to determine how it can best assist.
If you have any questions, call Superintendent Sonya Fuemmeler at (660) 338-2012.