MANATEE COUNTY – The Manatee County School Board voted 3-2 to start the school year on Monday, Aug. 17.
The previously discussed reopening plan called for schools to open on Monday, Aug. 10 and that date was changed when the plan was formally approved by the board during a special school board meeting Tuesday evening.
School Board members James Golden, Dr. Scott Hopes and Gina Messenger voted in favor of the amended reopening plan that includes the Aug. 17 opening date. Board members Charlie Kennedy and Dave Miner said they support the plan, but cannot support the Aug. 17 date to reopen schools for in-person learning.
As previously planned, teachers will return to work on Aug. 3 and will now have an extra week to plan, prepare and collaborate in preparation for the students’ return.
For planning purposes, parents have until July 22 to inform their school of their children’s learning option. Parents and children of all grades have three learning options:
Option 1: Attending school in person in a school building five days a week.
Option 2: Full-time online eLearning at home.
Option 3: A hybrid program that includes two days of week of in-school learning and three days a week of at-home eLearning.
The amended and approved reopening plan now allows elementary students to use the hybrid option. The previous reopening plan did not provide the hybrid option to elementary students.
School Superintendent Cynthia Saunders said each teacher will teach one style of learning option. Teachers will not be asked to teach three different styles of learning options.
The plan requires all students, teachers and staff to wear face masks when inside a school building or school bus.
Mask waivers will be granted to those who have a written order from a physician, but those with mask waivers will then be required to wear a plastic face shield instead.
The school board will meet again on July 28 and if needed the reopening date can be re-evaluated based on the COVID-19 conditions in Manatee County at that time.
The board approved plan must be submitted to the Florida Department of Education for approval by July 31.
The reopening plan does not currently call for the school year to be extended, nor does it impact the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks for students, staff and teachers.
Saunders said a COVID-19 outbreak among students and/or teachers could lead to school closures and a temporary return to eLearning for impacted students.
For more information, visit the School District of Manatee County website.
