Philadelphia schools unveil plan for fall semester

Philadelphia schools unveil plan for fall semester

Posted

Philadelphia public schools will return to class Aug. 5 under a normal schedule, it was announced.

“We are planning on the traditional start to our school year,” said superintendent Dr. Lisa Hull. “We are planning a safe restart to school. We know we will have issues come up. But our No. 1 goal is the health and safety of our staff.”

Hull said the district has plans to keep COVID-19 out of the halls and classrooms. It starts when students come to school, she said.

“If you are a bus rider, you have to have a face mask before you can get on our bus. There will be hand sanitizer on the bus for the student to use,” Dr. Hull said.

“If you come by car, before you are dropped off, you have to put your face mask on and wear that,” Hull said. “We are encouraging our parents to bring their children to school if they can.

“We will be doing temperature checks at some point early in the day, and we are going to go by the Mississippi Health Department recommendations.

“Some of the teachers will be trained to take temperatures,” Hull said. “If your temperature is 100.4 degrees, then we will send you to the nurse for a verification check. If it is over 100,4 degrees, we are going to ask that the student (or staff) goes home.”

Social distancing is a top priority. Hull said principals are measuring in the classrooms, putting tape on the floor where the desk needs to sit.

School will start at 8 a.m. and lasts until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

If it turns out a large number of parents do bring their children to school, Hull said the schools will adjust schedules for drop-offs and pickups.

“We ask that everyone be patient,” Hull said.

Hull said that classes won’t be mingling. Breakfast will be eaten in the classrooms. Lunchtime will see students rotate between eating in the classroom, the cafeteria and outside.

Hull said virtual learning will be available for families that have a valid medical or health reason.

“It can be because of who they live with,” Hull said. “We understand that in some homes, we have grandparents who are taking care of children and we want everybody to be safe.”

However, the district must know that the children are in a place where they can learn. 

“We have two different things going on, and we have to take care of both,” Hull said. “We want to be flexible. We have to make sure our children are safe and whoever they live with is safe. But we have to make sure we provide an education to the children.”

Those students not coming to the school will be taught virtually and will follow a regular classroom schedule.

Hull added that changes in their school plan will probably happen throughout the year.

“Our plan has been approved by the School Board,” Hull said. “But before it reached the School Board, it was changed multiple times because we kept getting different guidelines from the CDC and the health department. That is going to be ongoing.”

Hull said students and staff will be trained on virtual learning starting on the first day in case there are more closures as in the spring due to COVID-19.

“Our students and staff have to know how to function in a virtual setting,” Hull said. “We have to be ready in the event anything like that happens again.”

“I want to urge parents to have a plan. Where will your children go if the schools are closed. Everyone knows how difficult it is to learn the night before that schools will be closed the next day. What are you going to do if your child has to stay home?”

Hull said there will be continued enhanced cleaning of the buildings. Buses will be sanitized after their morning and afternoon routes.  






Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions