In-Person Learning Starts Sept. 8

Barrow County School System will resume in-person learning on a hybrid schedule starting on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Since BCSS made the decision to start school with distance learning back in July, we’ve seen positive shifts in a number of key areas.

• Our community virus spread has decreased and stabilized. We’ve seen a number of days in the yellow or moderate spread level in the past week. By using a hybrid model and filling classrooms at about 50% capacity, students will have the ability to space out more in class.
• We are staffed to welcome students back. Cases and quarantines due to COVID-19 have decreased significantly since July. Last week, we had 26 staff that were quarantined as a confirmed case, suspected case, or close contact. While we hope that all of our staff remain healthy, we can manage this level of absence spread across the district.
• Cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment that were delayed due to supply chain issues have now been received by our district and distributed to schools. This includes cleaning supplies for classrooms, face shields for staff, and numerous other items.
• We have also received our first order of Chromebooks. Technology devices have seen extended delays from order to delivery; we are still waiting on two additional orders. These Chromebooks will be distributed to schools to support in-person learning.

Due to these changes in our local situation, we are excited to welcome students back into our schools for in-person learning starting on Tuesday, Sept. 8. As conditions continue to improve, we will look ahead to when we can resume school full time to five days a week. We do not have a specific date set at this time.

Please remember that masks will be required on buses and in schools. See more precautions.

BCSS households have been divided into two groups – cohort A and cohort B.

• Cohort A will attend school in-person on Monday and Tuesday, and they will participate in distance learning online Wednesday through Friday each week.
• Cohort B will participate in distance learning online Monday through Wednesday. They will attend school in-person on Thursday and Friday.
• Note: Students enrolled in the Distance Learning Program will continue online learning during this time.

Schools will be contacting families to let them know which cohort they will participate in. Parents can also log into Parent Portal to access the information. (Get help accessing Parent Portal or finding cohort information.) If you have additional questions about your assigned cohort, please contact your child’s school.

If your child checked out a Chromebook from school (at any time), students in grades 2-12 should plan to bring the device and charger to school on the days your child attends for in-person learning. Students can take them home again for their distance learning days. Students in grades 2-12 may also bring their personal device to school. Schools checked out most of their Chromebooks to students last spring and this August. To support instruction that utilizes technology at school, it would be helpful for students to bring a device with them.