On Monday (July 20), Jefferson County public school officials announced their plans for the start of the 2020-2021 school year, which include in-person and online learning options. School officials stress that all plans are contingent on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and government and health agency directives for social distancing and other preventive measures when the school year is set to start.
“The plans can change,” said De Soto Superintendent Josh Isaacson, president of the Jefferson County Superintendent Association. The first day of classes for De Soto is Aug. 26.
Isaacson said the county school district collaborated on their plans, which will have some similarities, like in-person or online learning options for students. However, each district has its own implementation plan, so there could be differences, too.
“Since March, the members of the Jefferson County Superintendents Association have been meeting weekly,” he said. “We’ve met with St. Louis County schools. Everyone’s plan has various options.”
De Soto
De Soto students may opt to attend classes in person at school buildings or take online courses. For students in kindergarten through fifth grade, those who opt for virtual learning will take part in the Missouri Launch online program taught through the Springfield Public School District. Those using Launch will be required to stay in it for at least one quarter at a time, at which point the student may remain in the Launch program or change to in-person learning on campus, the district reported.
For De Soto students in grades six through 12, they may opt for virtual learning, but the courses provided by Launch will be taught by De Soto School District teachers. There will be a limited number of online courses available and those who choose virtual learning in grades six through 12 must stay in it for at least a semester at a time. After that, they may continue with virtual learning or switch to in person for the next semester, the district reported.
Online registration for all students must be completed by July 28 in order to give district officials time to allocate resources and prepare for the school year, Isaacson said. Among the decisions will be which teachers will teach in-person and which teachers will handle the online instruction.
“That will be determined,” he said.
Fox
The Fox C-6 School District is requiring online registration for all students by July 26 for similar reasons. Its first day of school is Aug. 26.
Superintendent Nisha Patel said her district, one of the largest in the state, is asking parents to choose one of two options: 1) Flexible Learning, in which district officials decide how to provide classes based on COVID-19 numbers in the community at a given time; or 2) Fox C-6 Virtual Academy, in which students will only take classes online.
Option 2 requires a one-semester commitment.
She said under the Flexible Learning option, district officials will decide, based on COVID-19 numbers, whether students: 1) attend classes in-person full-time (five days a week); 2) a hybrid of in-person learning two days a week, with three days of virtual classes from home; or 3) attend virtual classes full-time (five days a week) in the case of a school closure.
Patel said she realizes the plan is complex, but hopes to bring the school community up to speed by the start of school.
“We’ll do our absolute best to make sure our families are prepared for the first day of school,” she said.
Northwest
The Northwest R-1 School District plans to open school Aug. 26 with both in-person and online classes, according to a letter Superintendent Desi Kirchhofer set to families on Monday.
“In-person classes will be available for students whose families are comfortable sending their children back to our buildings,” he said in the letter. “Online classes will be available for students whose families are not comfortable sending their children back to our buildings.”
An online registration form will go live this week and also will be sent to parents by mail. They will need to let the district know which path they are choosing for their children by July 31.
Kirchhofer said the plan takes into account the importance of in-person learning for student’s education and their social-emotional well-being.
The district also will continue to offer transportation, food service and before- and after-school care, according to a presentation given at the July 16 Northwest Board of Education meeting.
Parents who send their children to school will be asked to screen them each morning for symptoms of COVID-19. Staff will also conduct a self-health screening. At school, students and staff will practice social distancing and face coverings will be highly encouraged for middle school and high school students. The district will work closely with the Jefferson County Health Department to establish protocols to keep students safe and healthy, Kirchhofer said.
Festus
Festus R-6 is scheduled to begin its new school year Aug. 24, and it, too, will offer in-person and online options.
District spokesman Kevin Pope said Festus officials are asking parents to notify the district of their decisions as soon as possible, although no deadline has been set.
He said highlights of the Festus plan include:
• Chromebooks will be available to every student in grades one through 12 (grades seven to 12 take them home, grades first to sixth will take them home in the event of a full closure).
• Face coverings will be "required as directed for the safety, health, and well-being of our students and staff.”
• Hand sanitizer will be made available in every classroom.
• There will be assigned seating on school buses.
• Only essential visitors will be allowed inside schools.
St. Pius X High School, a private Catholic school in Crystal City, starts classes Aug. 14 for freshman and for all other students on Aug. 17.
“As of this second we are starting in person,” Principal Karen Decosty said Monday. “When (all schools shut down during the pandemic lockdown) in the spring, we continued our curriculum online. We still have that plan in place.”
Tracey Bruce provided some information for the story.
