Greenley details COVID rules during Belpre City Schools virtual town hall
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BELPRE -- Belpre City Schools Superintendent Jeff Greenley Tuesday night hosted a virtual town hall giving important information and dates for the upcoming school year.
Under Greenley's recommendations, facial coverings will be optional for students and staff inside school buildings except during bus rides to and from school, as well as athletes who are on rides to and from athletic contests under CDC guidance, Greenley said. His recommendations are pending approval by the Board of Education at its next meeting.
Some changes remain as students should be within 3 feet between other students in a classroom if possible. Students should wash their hands before and after meals and at recess. Greenley also said additional hand sanitizing stations will be added throughout the buildings.
If sick, students should stay home and will be sent home if they show two or more symptoms. No attendance incentives will be in place and the school will be flexible in the student's absence if they are sick.
"We still are suggesting and strongly urging that if your student is sick, they should stay home. We won't have attendance incentives this year. So there won't be competitions for perfect attendance or awards for being here every day. Students may be sent home if they show symptoms," Greenley said. "There will be flexibility on absences. We understand that if we want students to stay home, there needs to be flexibility on attendance guidelines across the district."
Volunteers will again be permitted in the building with permission. Outside groups are permitted to utilize facilities through the normal process. Athletic events will return at normal crowd levels, with facial coverings optional.
Belpre City Schools will again use a staggered start to make the official first day easier for both students and faculty to receive supplies and know where their classes are on Aug. 25.
"This will allow us to have an opportunity to have our students on campus to ease them in. To make sure Chromebooks are issued, to make sure that everything's where it needs to be, orderly so that on Wednesday. We can bring everybody together and have a smooth start," Greenley said.
On Aug. 23, elementary students in group A and students in the 7th and 8th grades will go to their respective schools. While students in group B and 8th and 10 graders will enter on Aug. 24.
Students in groups A and B and homerooms will be posted 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9.
Greenley also announced orientation dates for all grades.
Fourth grade will be from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Aug. 17 in the elementary school library, first grade from 6-7 p.m. Aug. 17 in the elementary school cafeteria, fifth grade from 5-6 p.m. Aug. 17 in the elementary library and sixth grade from 7-8 p.m. Aug. 17 in the school library.
Ninth through 12th grades will meet from 5-7 p.m. Aug. 18 at the high school and seventh and eighth grades will meet from 5-7 p.m. Aug. 19 at the high school.
Dates for kindergarten, second and third grade will be announced later.
Students in grades 4-12 will be distributed a Samsung Chromebook for in-home and in-school use. Students will be issued a Chromebook, charging power cord, adapter and carrying case.
Students should keep the Chromebook in the carrying case when transporting the device.
Chromebooks will be issued to students during orientation. Parents will need to be present to sign for the equipment and an optional $20 insurance fee is offered as well.
The USDA also extended the waiver allowing for all students, regardless of income level, to receive a free breakfast and lunch this school year.