By Debbie HallThe Patrick County School Board has called a special meeting for Tuesday, July 21 at 11 a.m. in the auditorium at Patrick County High School to solicit input on a proposed plan to reopen schools.
Anyone wishing to comment may do so electronically by emailing board@patrick.k12.va.us by 5 p.m. Monday, July 20.
School board members also weighed in on the plan during their meeting Thursday.
The proposed plan offers two options: The first is a blended combination of in-school and remote learning, with students attending classes on a rotating AABB schedule.
Students in one group will attend classes on Mondays and Tuesdays while learning remotely on Wednesdays through Fridays.
The second group of students will attend classes on Thursdays and Fridays, Schools Superintendent Dean Gilbert said. Those students will learn remotely Mondays through Wednesdays, he added.
School buildings will be closed for cleaning and disinfecting on Wednesdays.
Students enrolled in the first option would be transported on school buses that use a modified seating arrangement, Gilbert said.
Buses will be cleaned and sanitized between uses and in accordance with guidelines, Gilbert said.
Generally, buses have enough seating for 65-students, Gilbert said, but the number actually riding the bus at any time varies, depending on the area of the county and the route.
A second option is virtual/remote learning only, with students working remotely Mondays through Fridays. If paper assignments are requested, they must be picked up and returned to the respective school weekly.
Parents/guardians may select the option they are most comfortable with during online registration.
During his presentation Thursday, Gilbert said the plan is not perfect given the current situation, however it “is a starting point.” The ultimate goal is to open the buildings all week for students to attend classes “as soon as it is safe to do so. That is the goal for” all school divisions, he added.
Schools initially were closed on March 13, and eventually directed to use alternative instructional methods while planning to reopen this fall, when the pandemic “was behind us. That has not been the case,” Gilbert said.
The pandemic remains active, according to health officials.
The division relied on a 136-page document that provided guidelines for reopening schools, Gilbert said, adding that problems encountered relating to the 3-to 6-feet social distancing guidelines and limited floor space.
“It’s going to take a lot of logistical thought” to implement the reopening plan, Gilbert said, adding the division surveyed parents in June “to try to come up with the best plan that we could,” all the while knowing that the health situation changes from week to week.
Based on the guidance received from the state and parental input, “I think we’ve come up with a very good plan given the current situation. I think if you ask any educator, we all know the long-term solution is to have students in school five days a week just like it was before March 13,” Gilbert said.
Shannon Harrell, of the Blue Ridge District, said she has heard from parents who have a child with a disability and would like the school to consider having students attend classes at least four days per week to ensure their child receives the services needed.
Gilbert said that currently, there is not an option for students to attend more than two days per week.
Harrell said the parents she spoke to are “adamant that they did not see how their child could receive services on two-days.”
Board members, including Walter Scott, of the Smith River District and Harrell, discussed various aspects of the plan and asked whether the June survey included questions such as whether parents are willing to provide transportation if their youngster attended more days of school each week; whether students could be dropped off early or picked up late if needed.
Gilbert said the division received updated seating guidance that may make it possible for students in the same family to share seats. Social distancing guidelines for other students will be met by alternating window and aisle seating locations.
Harrell said that also among survey results are that teachers and other school staff also are concerned about child care, while some parents have said they are concerned about the quality of instruction their child is receiving because the parent did not attend school “to be a teacher.”
She added that she also has received emails asking ‘why not wait until December’ to reopen. Unfortunately, Harrell said the pandemic “isn’t going away,” Harrell said. “We have to do what’s best for our students. NO matter what we do, it’s a hard decision, and I appreciate all the time and effort in the plan.”
Noting that it was well-thought-out, Harrell said that based on the survey results, she thinks “people want their students in class.”
She added that she appreciates all of the work and the input in what was a “difficult conversation. Thank everyone from the top to the bottom.”
Classes are set to resume on Aug. 11.
In other matters, the board:
*Learned that three county schools were recently recognized with awards: Meadows of Dan Elementary School was among 71 schools recognized by the state as a recipient of the Highest Achievement award; Hardin Reynolds Memorial and Stuart Elementary schools were among the 375 to receive Continuous Improvement awards.
*Learned about work by the Food Services Department. From March until May 27, department employees worked to serve more than 18,000 breakfasts and more than 18,000 lunches. Employees also manned a Summer Feeding Program in June, which provided 1,211 breakfasts and 1,211 lunches.
