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At the Board of Education Work Session on Tuesday, June 16, Superintendent McMichael presented tentative options for how the Barrow County School System plans to return to school this fall. Dr. McMichael acknowledged that “we are eager to return to school, but we are conscious of the concerns and uncertainties that remain ahead of us.” (Watch the work session presentation on our YouTube channel.)
Based on "Georgia's Path to Recovery for K-12 Schools," each option is based on the level of COVID-19 virus spread specifically identified for Barrow County, as determined by the Department of Public Health.
If virus spread continues to remain low in Barrow County, then BCSS plans to welcome students on August 4, 2020 for the first day of school as originally planned. This is the preferred choice for the school system to enable students to resume in-person learning.
Additional cleaning and preventative measures will be taken in schools and on buses to help mitigate the spread of the virus. We are finalizing those plans with the goal to share them with you on July 6. The guidelines will address questions about cleaning, meals, and other important steps that will be taken in the interest of keeping our staff and students healthy.
After our guidelines are shared, families will have the choice for how their child(ren) will attend BCSS starting on August 4. Students and families that still wish to shelter in place may also have the option to enroll in remote learning with BCSS. More details will be shared regarding remote learning on July 6 as well.
We know that situations can change at a moment’s notice, as we’ve seen over the past few months. If the Department of Public Health issues new warnings or updates for Barrow County, then the school system has contingency plans and are ready to pivot as needed.
Below you can see options that are ready to be implemented based on the virus spread in our area. We acknowledge that alternative learning options are not ideal. However, it is our responsibility as an academic institution to provide a reliable and effective learning experience for our students while balancing the implications of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.
More information and guidance will be shared on July 6 via the district website and email. Open House information will be shared soon as well.
Download Return to School Tentative Plan PDF
Tentative Options to Return to School 2020-21
