LOUISVILLE, Ky. — School in southern Indiana will look a little different in the fall. Below are the three options being provided to students and parents within Greater Clark County Schools for next year, with details about each, from the board.
GCCS Traditional School:
Students enrolled in the GCCS Traditional school model will return to campus and classrooms with the traditional school schedule and in-person instruction. Enhanced health and safety precautions will be in place.
- Masks will be recommended for all students and staff.
- Desks will be spaced apart and social distancing will be encouraged.
- More time will be made for thorough and frequent handwashing.
- Field trips are canceled for the 2020-2021 school year.
- All fundraisers must be online sales only.
- Large community events will not occur until further notice.
- Sharing materials will be discouraged.
GCCS mySchool Online:
Students enrolled in the GCCS mySchool Online will receive daily virtual interactions and lessons with teachers during the regularly scheduled school day. These students will maintain a connection with their enrolled school campus and will still be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities.
GCCS Virtual Academy:
Students enrolled in the GCCS Virutal Academy will experience online learning with flexible scheduling supported by GCCS teachers, and opportunities for acceleration and enrichment. Year-long enrollment is required for this program. These students will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities.
"This is for families who just aren't ready ya know there's a good chunk of that data that said until the pandemic is over I'm just not ready," said Karen Wesley, who is on the Greater Clark County Schools Board.
They also provided some details on their reopening plans and how they plan to keep students safe. Below is the language they provided on each of these topics.
Cleaning and Sanitizing:
- Keeping surfaces clean will be a team effort in GCCS
- Maintenance workers and school custodians will clean frequently touched surfaces throughout the day and conduct overall cleanings at the conclusion of every day.
- All other staff members will be expected to do their part keeping surfaces clean, and will be provided spray bottles and microfiber cloths for additional cleaning.
- Teachers will have access to cleaning supplies for their classroom
- Electrostatic sprayers will be used for custodial staff for sanitation
Screening Process:
GCCS is working with the Clark County Health Department to finalize our official screening checklist. Temperature screenings will occur before admittance on school transportation. Parents will be asked to check their child's temperature before school. Visitors will be screened and temperature checked as well. More details will be released with our official screening checklist.
Personal Protection Equipment:
- Piexiglass barriers installed in front offices. Masks are recommended for both staff and students at times when they are unable to practice social distancing.
- All GCCS employees will be given a grey cloth mask with the GCCS logo. If they do not wear a mask, it is not a discipline issue. Staff are not required to wear masks while teaching because they can be socially distanced from them.
The board also voted on a new calendar, which adds multiple e-learning days to the schedule, changes fall break to two weeks of e-learning, and has students leaving the school building right before thanksgiving and not returning until the new year.
"If there's going to be a second wave, it'll probably come towards the end of November or December. That's why universities went to this type of calendar and why I'm presenting this to you," said Mark Laughner, the superintendent of GCCS.
Below is a copy of the new calendar. You can also expect to see more details about extracurricular activities, frequently asked questions and your options on their website.
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