Schools around Indiana are beginning to outline their tentative plans to reopen this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic.
This week, a handful of northeast Indiana school systems revealed those plans to the public.
FORT WAYNE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS:
Fort Wayne Community Schools is planning to provide in-school learning coupled with remote learning to keep students engaged and in school, while staying healthy.
District officials announced the plan during a press conference on July 15.
Superintendent Mark Daniel says the new plan may be adjusted as the district continues to work with community organizations, like the Allen County Department of Health.
“We’ll adjust based on the data that we receive," Daniel said. "We’ll adjust based on the input that we are receiving from our experts, the health department, our teachers, our parents. It’s vital that we listen to that input and we make adjustments.”
The current plan is for elementary students to either attend five days a week with appropriate social distancing and masks or learn remotely. The school is leaving it up to parents to make the best decision for their child.
Middle and high school students will be split into two groups, with one attending Monday and Thursday, and the other attending Tuesday and Friday. Both groups will alternate Wednesdays.
When students aren’t in the classroom they will be expected to learn remotely. Daniel says the district is working to ensure every student has access to the internet and that there will be stricter attendance and engagement expectations than in the spring.
Students, faculty and staff will all also be required to wear provided masks when in buildings or on buses. The school year is set to begin on Aug. 10.
For more information on FWCS plans, visit the district's reopening page.
SOUTHWEST ALLEN COUNTY SCHOOLS:
SACS will be also offering the option to learn either at school in-classroom, or at home remotely.
The plan, according to the district's website, includes social distancing as much as possible; masks required on buses, cafeterias, hallways and, as needed, in the classrooms; and prewrapped served lunches.
Parents will also be required to ensure the daily health of the child.
Busing will require masks, spacing and seating charts, with a one-stop pickup and drop off location. Playgrounds will have rotating zones.
For more information on SACS plans, visit the district's reopening page.
EAST ALLEN COUNTY SCHOOLS:
East Allen County Schools announced a re-entry plan for this fall that takes into account how to protect students and staff from COVID-19.
The plan will offer a choice of in-person learning or e-learning for students returning to school.
For those who choose to return to the classroom, schools will be taking extra measures to keep students and staff healthy.
Everyone in the buildings and on buses will be required to wear masks wherever social distancing isn’t available. Masks can be brought from home or will be provided.
Schools will also be cleaning and sanitizing frequently, water fountains will be turned off with students encouraged to bring their own water bottles, and assigned seating will be used in classrooms, lunchrooms and on buses.
Schools will also be working with parents to assign designated pick-up and drop-off times. Groups of students will be kept small.
The district says, in the event of a confirmed COVID-19 case, seating charts will be used to determine contact and any students at risk will be asked to quarantine at home for two weeks.
For more information on EACS reopening plan, visit the district's reopening page.
