ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
The following information was issued by Elmore County School Superintendent Dr. Richard Dennis, and a call out has been made to parents/guardians of school aged children in Elmore County.
FROM ELMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPT. Dr. RICHARD DENNIS
State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey has a task force working on the Alabama state plan to open schools, Planning a Safe, Efficient, and Equitable Return to School in Alabama. The guidance and recommendations from the ALSDE are expected to be released soon. Elmore County Public Schools administrative teams are preparing for various possibilities at all grade levels so students are able to start school as scheduled in August.
Elmore County students will have the option to participate in the regular school program or through a virtual program at each of the base schools. The virtual option will allow those students that are uncomfortable during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue in attendance at their respective schools. All Elmore County students will be issued a Chromebook at the beginning of the school year for use in class and at home. Students attending regular school will use Chromebooks and the grade level appropriate virtual platform which will be integrated into the daily curriculum. A new attendance policy and procedures will provide students the opportunity to be counted e-Present if they are at home sick by allowing them to continue course work on their Chromebooks using the virtual platform. Guidelines will be outlined in the Elmore County Student Handbook that will be posted on each school’s and the Board of Education websites. Elmore County’s virtual school, The EDGE – Elmore County’s Gateway to a Diverse Education – is a school of its own and is completely virtual. Students attending EDGE live throughout Central Alabama and operate under the guidelines specific to the Elmore County Virtual School program.
Each Elmore County School will be conducting a survey of parents and students to determine the number of students that intend to pursue a virtual-only curriculum and to identify any health concerns. This information will allow schools to better prepare for the coming school year.
Elmore County Public Schools are scheduled to open to students on August 10, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, there are changes to policies and procedures occurring weekly. If changes to the school start date are determined to be necessary, you will be notified as soon as possible. Regardless of the health level that Elmore County is under at the start of school, we will be able to begin instruction and meet the required recommendations and regulations. Notifications will be made as further directives are received from the ADPH and the ALSDE. Please continue to watch for notifications from Elmore County Public Schools as we navigate the “new normal” of the COVID-19 world.
