With the continuous rise in cases of the novel coronavirus, Cherokee County School Superintendent Mitchell Guice is urging parents and teachers to brace themselves for the possibility that full-time classroom instruction might not return when the school year begins — at least, not right away.
The Cherokee County School Board is expected to announce a finalized, comprehensive plan for sending local students back to school on Thursday, July 30th at 6:00 p.m. at the Cherokee County Career & Tech Center meeting room.
Guice said a successful return to classrooms for 2020-21 would include practicing social distancing at all times.
Guice said he and other local school officials are continually seeking guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Alabama Department of Education for putting various scenarios together.
State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey said last week up to 30% of students statewide have already signed up for online classes. Last week, the Alabama High School Athletics Association announced high school football will not be delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. Organized team practices are commencing this week and games can be held as soon as Thursday, Aug. 20.
As it stands, Cherokee County Schools are still scheduled to start back on August 19th.
There will be a special called meeting of the Cherokee County Board of Education on Thursday, July 30, 2020. The meeting will be held in the Meeting Room at the Cherokee County Career and Technology Center and will be made available to the press and public.
The Board Meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. and items on the agenda include:
A. Adopt Agenda
B. Approve School Reopening Plan
C. Adjourn
The next scheduled meeting of the Cherokee County Board of Education is Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.