New Albany back-to-school plan includes in-person classes, no masks

New Albany school students are expecting to return to classes Aug. 5 much as they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learning will all be in person and teachers will be better able to deal with any learning loss as a result of virtual classes.

A particular issue is that of mask requirements.

The back-to-school plan does not require mask use.

This could change because the Centers for Disease Controls Tuesday recommended that all students and staff wear masks due to the Delta variant COVID outbreak.

The state education department apparently had not issued any subsequent restrictions after the CDC statement Wednesday, while health officials have recommended mask use.

Gov. Tate Reeves Wednesday essentially issued a statement saying he was not issuing a statement, putting the responsibility for possible contagion back on the individual school districts.

Any change in local policy will, of course, be announced.

For now, masks for students and/or adults while being transported and on campus are not required. If adults or students feel more protected wearing masks while being transported and/or on campus, this practice is acceptable by NASD.

If the schools are forced to switch back to virtual learning, they are at least well-prepared. Each student has an iPad for normal classes and can pick up remote learning almost seamlessly.

There will be some holdover practices from the past year, however.

Students will arrive at and leave from multiple school entrances to avoid crowding. Assigned bus seating will continue with families grouped and spacing used when feasible. Buses will be sanitized at least daily.

Breakfast and lunch will again be eaten in the cafeteria rather than classrooms. Students may bring their lunches, but under USDA regulations the school meals will be free to all students.

Students may have water bottles throughout the day, because drinking fountains will be covered to prevent disease transmission. Snacks can be brought in for special occasions such as birthdays and class parties with certain restrictions.

School officials will communicate with families on a regular basis concerning health issues as well as academic news. They will observe confidentiality and only include confirmed health-related information.

School officials will continue to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and be aware of the mental and emotional effects of the pandemic. Resources will be available to help.

Parents are urged to screen children before sending them to school and the back-to-school plan available on the school district website lists evaluation questions.

Any quarantining or contact tracing that may be required will continue to follow CDC and Mississippi State Department of Health guidelines.

Temperature checks are not planned, because medical officials determined they don’t provide sufficient screening information.

Selected significant school dates

August 5 – First Day of School

September 6 – Labor Day

October 11 – Columbus Day/Fall Break

November 22-26 – Thanksgiving Holidays

December 18-January 2 – Christmas Holidays

January 3, 4 – Professional Development

January 5 – Classes Resume/Students Return

January 17 – King Holiday (No School)

February 21 – Presidents’ Day (No School)

March 7-11 – Spring Break

April 15 – Good Friday (No School)

May 20 – Last Day Students/60 Percent Day/Graduation