News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Jackson County Schools will return to class with a phased-in approach for the first week.
Students with the last names A-L will report August 5. Students with the last names M-Z will report August 7. All in-person student will report to class on August 10th.
Director of Schools Kristy Brown said on return, teachers will be required to wear face coverings when social distancing is not possible.
“A slight majority did think that our employees should be required or expected to wear face coverings when they can not observe social distancing sidelines,” Brown said. “I think the decision was made for the safety of our students, and quite frankly, for our staff and faculty too.”
Brown said students have the choice of virtual or in-person learning. Virtual students will be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities and can still receive free meals from the school. Students will have until August 21 to determine if online is the best option.
The school board approved adding the most current state health department guidelines to the plan. Under the new state guidelines, seating charts will be required to help contact trace Covid infections if an outbreak occurred. Brown said if the health department changes its guidelines, the plan will be modified.
“A living document is our reopening plan,” Brown said. “Our board did approve a provision to go by the most up-to-date health department guidelines, so we can do that as we go and not right for an approval.”
In a survey, 72 percent of Jackson County teachers were interested in wearing face shields. Brown said the school system will have enough to supply every teacher if needed.
