By Katelin Carroll,

Staff Reporter

Lewis County School officials have spent their summer break planning for scenarios for a reopening of schools. A plan was submitted by school officials this week. While subject to change depending on mandates determined by the State of Tennessee and the pandemic, a plan is, as follows.

"As a district, we are taking steps to ensure the health and safety of every child and every employee during these unique times. Each school has a plan that contains the following protocols but meets their individual needs."

Health and Safety Measures:

Please, do not to send students to school who are experiencing a fever. Students should be fever free for 24 hours without the use of any type of fever-reducing medication before coming to school.

Also, please give us updated and accurate contact information upon enrollment and notify the school if that information changes during the school year.

Masks/face coverings will be optional for everyone.

Buses will be sanitized after each route. Assigned seating will be at the driver's discretion.

Each school will have a limited number of entrances and exits which will be monitored by school personnel. Drop-off and/or pick-up locations may be altered in order to minimize congestion.

Temperature checks will be required for all persons entering the buildings. Each school will have a body scan temperature station as well as hand-held devices. Students and staff with elevated temperatures will be masked, taken to a safe location and rechecked after a brief time. Those with elevated temperatures after the second check will be asked to leave.

Non-essential visitors will be limited.

Increased cleaning and sanitation routines for all areas (classrooms, restrooms, door knobs, hand rails, common areas, etc.)

Additional custodial staff will be employed at each school during the school day.

Regular water fountains will be closed. Additional water filling stations will be added to each school as they become available.

Student movement throughout the day will be minimized as much as possible to include potential changes to lunch schedules, breaks, recess and special classes.

Individuals who develop a fever during the school day will be isolated in a safe area, masked and required to leave. **It is very important that each school have accurate contact information for every student. **

Students and staff who have potential exposure will have increased temperature and wellness checks throughout the school day.

Academic Plans:

We will continue with our traditional educational plan for students who choose to attend.

We will also offer a virtual learning option for any student interested.

Our virtual learning option has in place many accountability guidelines to help ensure that we are meeting the needs of all students. Each school has developed a plan to meet their specific needs, but all plans contain requirements for mandatory participation, mandatory attendance and mandatory student progress. All students are required to take all benchmark assessments, universal screeners and state assessments prescribed for their school. Each virtual student and/or parent/guardian will be required to be trained on the use of our virtual technology and each student and/or parent/guardian will sign a contract outlining the virtual requirements and expectations of their school.

In the event of more restrictive guidelines put forth by our state and federal leaders, each school will familiarize all students and faculty with our virtual platform and incorporate virtual learning components into their regular curriculum and procedures.

A survey asked Lewis County parents to consider the possibility of reopening school during the pandemic, to which 562 responded resulting in 864 students. When asked if they would send their children back to school, 59.6% said yes, 8.7% said no, and 31.7% were unsure. When asked if parents could provide transportation other than the bus, 74% said yes and 26% said no.

Although there are mixed emotions about schools reopening, one thing will remain certain; Lewis County cares about its kids, and as such, its leaders need the support and patience of the whole community.

If you'd like to know more about this topic, stay tuned for next week's issue.