MOTLEY COUNTY

MCISD Back-to-School Plan

The staff at MCISD feels that students learn best in a face-to-face environment. We are excited that we can open the school year on campus!

Although there will be some challenges to meet the executive orders and directives from both the federal government and the state government, we feel that we are up to the challenge – with the help of the students and their families, of course. If you have been by the school this summer, you have probably noticed a number of vehicles there on any given day.

We feel like our two primary goals are the education of our students and the safety of our students. The school board has purchased a UV system that has been installed in the air ducts. This system is designed to greatly reduce viruses and bacteria in the air and on surfaces in the building. The school board has also purchased lap tops for every student. These lap tops vary by grade based on the needs of the students in a given grade. The Schoology Learning Management System has been installed with various additional programs based on teacher and class needs.

The staff has worked tirelessly to develop plans that will enable each child to receive the best possible education while maintaining the safety of the child. We would like to share some of the information with you.

1. Once a week, staff and students alike will complete the COVID-19 questionnaire.

2. Teachers and staff will insure students maintain social distancing protocols to the extent possible.

3. Students and staff will have their temperatures taken every morning. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4^o F or higher will not be admitted into the building.

• Parents, if your child has a temperature of 100.4^o F or higher or if your child has any COVID-19 symptoms, please do not send them to school.
• The symptoms of COVID-19 are: feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100^o F, loss of taste or smell, cough, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, chills, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, shaking or exaggerated shivering, significant muscle pain or ache, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting.
• If case of an individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to school when all three of the following criteria are met:

• At least one day (24 hours) has passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications)
• The individual has improvement in symptoms
• At least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared

4. On the first day only, parents can walk their elementary students to class, if they choose to do so, as long as they complete the COVID-19 questionnaire, wear a mask, and have their temperature taken.

5. After the first day, no one other than staff and students can enter the building beyond the entrance way, unless they have a meeting scheduled with someone in the building. The person will be required to complete the COVID-19 questionnaire, have their temperature taken, and wear a face mask.

6. Breakfast will be served from 7:20 until 7:40 with the following provisions:

1. Pre-K through 2^nd will eat breakfast in the cafeteria.
2. All other students will have a grab-and-go breakfast that they will eat in their first period classroom. The grab-and-go breakfasts will probably be delivered to them in the classroom. There is still some discussion on the most feasible way to do this.
3. All teachers with a first period class will be in their respective classrooms by 7:20 each morning.
4. Students must have finished breakfast by 7:45 as classes begin at that time.
5. We know that not every student eats breakfast at school and that is perfectly fine, but every student in grades 3 -12 will report to their first period classroom when they arrive at school.

7. Elementary lunch time adjustments have been made to insure that the number of students in the cafeteria at any one time does not exceed the allowed maximum. The secondary lunch time will begin at 12:22 as scheduled.

8. Other than lunches being brought by the student for lunch time, the following guidelines apply.

1. Elementary – only prepackaged snacks for snack time and only water.
2. Secondary – only water in a clear bottle.

9. At this time face masks are not mandated. However, secondary students are asked to seriously consider wearing a face mask during the passing periods, which are 3 minutes long. Once they enter the classroom, they may remove the face mask.

1. If a student wishes to wear a face mask all the time, they may certainly do so.
2. If at any time the number of COVID-19 cases in the county reaches 20 or more, the option is taken from us. The Governor’s Executive Order decrees that in counties with 20 or more cases face masks are mandatory for everyone except children under 10 years of age.

10. Locker and cubby assignments have been changed somewhat in an effort to limit unnecessary exposure.

11. Any child who chooses to do remote learning in ineligible for extracurricular activities, class officers, or organizational officers.

12. Any student who wishes to participate in remote learning must still enroll in school and must register for classes.

• The student must be online for the amount of time per lesson as designated by the teacher.
• The grades for the class will adhere to normal grading standards.
• The online classes will be following the same lesson plans as the regular classroom. The Learning Management System allows the teacher to track the amount of time the student spends on the class as well as view and grade the student’s work.
• Students are counted present for attendance purposes as long as they submit completed assignments by the dates specified by each teacher.

13. Custodians will sanitize public parts of the building after every passing period while students are in their classrooms. Deep cleaning and sanitizing will also be done.

14. If a student is absent for any reason, they can be counted present for the day if they complete the online assignment and submit the assignment by the due date as posted by the teacher. The school will receive funding for the student for that day. State funding is what allows the school to remain open.

15. Unfortunately, the governmental guidelines prohibit us from allowing gatherings in the gym at this time.

16. If a COVID case should force the closure of the school building, all students will use the Learning Management System for their classes until the school is allowed to reopen.

Conferences and consultations continue on a daily basis and will continue after the beginning of the school year. Every effort is being made by the administration, the staff, and the school board to have the latest information and to incorporate that information in order to insure your child is safe and is receiving a good education.

We are excited and ready to see the students again!!