Germantown presents re-entry plan for 2020-21 school year to school board

GERMANTOWN, Tenn. (WMC) - Germantown Municipal School District shared their re-entry plan for the 2020-21 school year at a virtual board meeting Tuesday. The first day of school for students is Aug. 6, just three weeks away.

“I hope our community understands, this is an evolving process we’re going through, and hopefully understands we’re trying to do something that hasn’t been done before,” said Superintendent Jason Manuel.

The district shared the plan on its website Wednesday.

GMSD spent weeks reviewing feedback from parents and more than 100 staff members.

Depending on your child’s grade, the new school year will look very different.

For those who return to the classroom for in-person instruction, kindergarten through sixth-grade students will attend class five days a week. Seventh- through 12th-graders will have two in-person classroom days and three virtual-learning days per week.

Masks are required during arrival and dismissal times and any time social distancing is difficult, like class transitions.

Masks in the classroom are recommended but not required as each classroom will be set up to allow six feet between students.

Parents are asked to do daily at-home temperature screenings. Schools will perform them as needed. Students or staff with a fever 100.4 or higher will be sent to a designated area until they’re able to leave the school. Flexibility in attendance will be provided.

If someone tests positive for COVID-19, letters will be sent to those exposed. A classroom or entire school building could transition to distance learning if quarantine is required.

Schools will have multiple daily cleanings of common areas and classrooms. The district bought five Clorox Total 360 Cleaning Systems, the kind often used in hospitals to fight germs. All HVAC systems will have MERV-13 filters installed.

Lunch will be served in the classrooms. Schools are developing recess plans. No guests or parents will be allowed on campus.

“I know regardless of what we’re going to experience, we are going to continue to excel,” said Manuel. “We are going to continue to be one of the best school districts in the state.”

The district will use federal CARES Act funding to hire six assistants for each elementary school and tech support for every grade to help teachers with the new virtual learning courses.

All students will be provided devices: iPads for elementary age kids, Chromebooks for middle school students and MacBooks for high schoolers.

Parents who want their child to do 100% virtual learning will be required to fill out an application listing their child’s medical condition.

Individual schools will release more specific scheduling and procedures at a later date.

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