JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — As the 2019-2020 school year comes to an historic end, Colorado districts are already discussing what will happen when classes resume in August. On Friday, JeffCo Public Schools will release a draft of its reopening plan to the public. It will include a plan for in-person learning, but also some continuation of remote learning.
"We know we will have families who are afraid, or they have medical conditions, or a student is medically fragile or someone in-home has a medical condition — so we're going to have to create remote learning options for them," said Jason Glass, superintendent of JeffCo Public Schools.
READ IT THERE: JeffCo releases draft plan for reopening in the fall
Glass said remote learning will also remain an option in case schools has to shut down again.
As for the plan to get students back in the classroom, Glass said it will include screenings, hygiene procedures, and changes to the structure of the school day and scheduling to allow for increased social distancing. Parents, students, teachers, and administrators will be able to review the plan and provide feedback. The plan could also change throughout the summer as conditions with the novel coronavirus pandemic change.
"We have to expect things to be different in the fall. We have to be adaptable to that," said Glass.
This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its guidance for reopening schools. Recommendations include requiring face coverings for everyone over the age of 2, separating desks by at least six feet, requiring students to bring their own food and eat in classrooms, and setting up single-direction hallways to maintain social distance during passing periods.
Glass said that releasing a plan for a dramatically different school year could cause the community some stress and anxiety, but it will also give everyone a chance to prepare.
"It's going to be difficult, challenging, lots of tension, (but) we will get through it and we will have school this fall," he said.
