Allen Parish School Board Superintendent Kent Reed addressed the public on the school boards intent to have school as normally as possible for the 2020-21 school year or close to one despite the issues involving COVID-19.
The first day for students is August 6. The intent is for school to resume with regular class sizes. Phase two allows for there to be 25 people in each classroom at a time. Reed said the schools are fully staffed and being sanitized in preparation for the new school year. He said they are following all guidelines given for cleanliness and safety for the new school year.
Reed also referenced the parent surveys and thanked parents who took time to respond. He said they had over 1,300 surveys returned and the most popular choice was for one group of students to attend school on Mondays and Thursdays and for the other group to attend school on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Bus transportation will be different this year due to phase two allowing buses to only have 50 percent capacity. Phase three would allow the district to utilize up to 75 percent of the bus seating. Bus drivers are in the process of contacting parents to rearrange routes to ensure all children are taken care of. He did encourage any parents who have the ability to transport kids on their own to do so.
He also said the school board is offering a distance learning program for students whose parents are uneasy about sending their kids to school right at the beginning. He said the schools now have a chromebook for each student in the parish. The student will receive assignments and be held to the same standards as all the other students. They will have access to their certified teachers. They also will continue to provide breakfast and lunch for five days for students whose parents choose to keep them home.
He said the schools will be following all state mandated guidelines for health and safety. It has been recommended that students, third grade and older, wear a face covering to school. The district is unsure if this is going to be a recommendation or a requirement.
Reed said he would continue to update parents and guardians as more information is available.
