Roanoke School Board prepares for school reopening

At last week’s Roanoke School Board meeting, the majority of the meeting time was spent on discussion of the reopening of schools on Aug. 20.

Superintendent Chuck Marcum shared with the board a complete reopening plan, a letter to parents, a best practices reopening plan, a plan for students and a plan for faculty and staff. He said if parents and staff/faculty didn’t receive any of the plans, a copy could be picked up at the superintendent’s office.

The following is the plan for reopening schools for the 2020-2021 school year:

There are two options for parents: On-site instruction or virtual instruction. As of the day of the meeting, the school system had 154 parents who had chose the virtual options. This is approximately 10 percent of the students.

Masks will be required for all students and staff when social distancing can’t be maintained. The school will provide masks. Parents can provide masks for their child it they prefer. All masks must be solid, clear or school logo. Lanyards will be provided

No visitors will be allowed in the academic building (examples, walking kindergarten students to class, eating lunch, visiting classrooms, etc.). If possible please conduct business by phone. If it’s necessary to visit a teacher or administrator, then the visitor will be confined to the office area and must wear a mask.

Students will eat in a classroom or outside.

Knight-Enloe Elementary School will limit movement between classrooms and buildings.

All three schools will have assigned seats, and students will have assigned seats on buses.

Large group gathers will be limited (examples, pep rallies, meetings, etc).

The board has purchased Goldshield disinfectant and hand sanitizer. The buildings have been sprayed with an electrostatic sprayer. Filters will changed once a month. Procedures will be established for cleaning desks and buses during class changes.

Marcum went on to say he did not have any detailed information on athletics. “I don’t know exactly what we are going to do from a game management standpoint. I am waiting for more guidance from ADPH, ALSDE and the governor’s office.”

Other business

Roanoke City Schools was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by the ALSDE for outstanding commitment and dedication in providing meals to Alabama children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Child Nutrition Program director Regina Fulgham’s leadership, 47,688 meals were served to students during this time.

In other business the board:

• Approved a low bid of $33,489.00 from Langley Buick-GMC for a utility truck.
• Approved salary schedules.
• Approved the Code of Conduct handbook.
• Approved coaching assignments and supplements.
• Approved a recommendation for purchases of school buses.