In-person or remote learning?
That is the question facing the parents and guardians of Henry County Schools’ students this week.
On July 8, the Henry County Board of Education launched the website for Henry County parents and guardians to choose a learning option for their student(s) for the upcoming school year.
Parents and guardians have until Friday, July 17 to make the decision to send their student(s) back to school for in-person learning or to begin the year with remote learning.
Henry County Schools launched the sign-up form on their website, along with a Return to School Playbook containing “information regarding district safety and preventive measures for on-campus learning and updates to plans for remote learning.”
Regarding the two learning options, Henry County Schools Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis stated in a recent press release that the district has worked “tirelessly” to ensure the students enrolling in either option will receive a “high-quality education.”
“We know that each family’s level of comfort is different and they will use the information available from our district and the public health officials to make the decision that is best for them,” said Davis. “Our district has worked tirelessly to make either option feasible for individual families as well as school district operations. We want families to feel comfortable with either option and understand that they can expect a high-quality education in either setting.”
The school year is set to begin on Monday, August 3 for both in-person and remote learning options, with added safety precautions implemented for those returning to in-person instruction.
Henry County Schools’ back to school plan was developed in a collaboration between district officials and Georgia Department of Public Health District 4 officials. Board Chair Josh Hinton stated that Henry County Schools’ plan “was touted as one of the soundest and most responsible plan according to feedback from public health officials.”
“The amount of time spent by our employees preparing for this year by listening to community members, meeting with government and health officials, and developing a playbook for better understanding of how we will teach students this year is incredible,” said Hinton.
According to the Return to School Playback for students and staff that return to in-person learning, masks are strongly encouraged but are not required.
Hand sanitizing stations will be placed in high traffic areas, with hand washing and sanitizing encouraged regularly during the school day.
The document also reads that “classroom sizes and spaces will be modified as practicable, to promote distancing and support each student’s understanding of his/her role in maintaining a healthy classroom environment.”
The students will be encouraged to keep their distance from others as much as possible throughout the school day.
There will also be an added emphasis on disinfecting and social distancing in high-traffic areas, such as hallways, gyms, cafeterias, and playgrounds.
For those that choose remote learning, it is encouraged for families to remain in the remote learning environment for at least the first nine weeks of the school term.
“We know that the information and data are constantly evolving during this uncertain time, but we are asking families to make at least a nine-week commitment to the option they choose to start the year,” said Davis. “The selection of a learning option, as well as transportation option for families choosing to go back to on-campus learning will help our final preparations for our start on August 3.”
Students participating in remote-learning will be provided with a district-provided student learning device as well as daily instruction from teachers.
To make a decision regarding learning options for the upcoming school year to to take a look at Henry County Schools’ Return to School Playbook, visit https://bit.ly/3fc6Ai9
