Madison City Schools releases re-entry plan

Madison City Schools releases re-entry plan

New information -- madison city schools released its plan to bring some students back to school in-person earlier than expected.

This puts students on a staggered schedule that will have them initially attending classes only two days a week.

Waay 31's casey albritton spoke to the superintendent about why the district abandoned its previous plan to keep students out of classrooms for nine weeks.

The superintendent gave me this re-entry plan--that says the decision was made because the area is in a "low risk" level based on coronavirus case numbers.... but he says the district has personal protection equipment and safety protocols in place to make sure everyone has a safe return.

Ed nichols/ superintendent "no matter how great the virtual platform is, it's hard on them.

It's hard on their parents."

Madison city schools superintendent ed nichols says he is ready for students to come back to in-person school.

Ed nichols/ superintendent "we can't maintain the educational level we expect virtually for the entire year."

He says elementary school students will start back september 8th, middle schools will start back on the 14th and high schools will begin on september 21st.

Students will be divided up by last name into two groups...then each group will go to class in person twice a week...and then within two weeks after, they will be back to school every day.

Nichols says there's precautions in place to ease the transition and protect students.

Ed nichols/ superintendent "face shields, face masks, we are putting desk shields on every desk, cleansing supplies, the custodians have cleaning supplies not only for regular school but also for this virus, and spray guns."

When it comes to a student testing positive for corona virus, that student and whoever comes in contact with them will need to quarantine for fourteen days.

Ed nichols/ superintendent "teachers need to have their seating charts at home with them because you're going to get a call at nine at night that says ed has tested positive and you need to know where he was, you need to know who he has been by."

Nichols says there's an isolation room and nurse available at every school... sara covey/ parent "i know that they are taking a lot of measures."

Parent, sara covey, says she thinks sending her 7th and 8th graders back to traditional school is a good idea.

Sara covey/ parent "more interaction with teachers and with other students and the whole environment i think is better for their learning."

Superintendent says the district will continue to monitor cases in the area and make adjustments to the re-entry plan when needed.

Reporting in madison, casey albritton, waay 31 news.

The students who will be heading back to traditional school were already registered for