List of MS Coast school district reopening plans during the coronavirus pandemic
Leaders of 11 school districts across the Mississippi Coast have updated their back-to-school plans to meet the July 31 deadline set by the state.
Earlier this month, every district planned to bring most students back to campus on Aug. 5 or 6. But in the last week, two districts made big changes: the Bay-Waveland School District pushed its start date to Sept. 8, and Moss Point School District announced it will be all-virtual at least until after Labor Day, and start classes on Aug. 17.
The plans vary in terms of virtual learning options, mask requirements and other details. Individual schools have also been sharing details of virtual learning schedules and safety practices on their websites and Facebook pages, so parents should check those as well.
Gov. Tate Reeves has said that he’ll take the weekend to review district plans before making any decision on statewide mandates, such as requiring masks at schools.
“There is no right answer,” he said at a press conference Thursday.
Here’s what each school district has planned for their fall reopening for the 2020-21 school year:
Bay St. Louis-Waveland
- The start of school has been delayed to Sept. 8. “We believe this gives our students the maximum opportunity to stay in school once we return to school,” the district’s reopening plan states.
- Most students will participate in a “regular” schedule, with modifications for social distancing.
- Distance learning via Google Classroom available for students with compromised immune systems, or “other
circumstances that parents deem is significant enough to preclude the student’s physical attendance at school.”
- Masks are required for students and staff when social distancing is not possible. Where social distancing is possible, masks are encouraged but not required. “Un-masking breaks” will be held to prevent “mask fatigue.”
- Hot breakfast and lunch will be served for all students, free of charge.
- For more, visit school’s website.
Biloxi
- Most students will participate in a traditional classroom setting.
- The first day of school for students is Aug. 5.
- Distance learning will be available to any family uncomfortable with returning to campus. Distance learning will consist of a scheduled school-day, with daily live instruction from a Biloxi Public Schools teacher.
Masks are required for all students and staff and the district will give all staff and students one reusable cloth mask.
Parents will be notified via letter if a student in their child’s classes tests positive for COVID-19.
For more, visit school’s website.
Gulfport
- Schools will re-open for on-campus instruction, and distance learning is available for any family that wants to participate.
- The first day of school is Aug. 6, except for sixth- and ninth-graders, who will start Aug. 5.
- Online instruction will be synchronous at least in part, meaning virtual students will be learning from a teacher in real-time. The district has purchased Swivl devices to allow students at home to interact with their teachers. Asynchronous learning will consist of independent assignments and, at the high school level, recorded video lessons.
- Unlike most other districts, students who choose to learn at home will still be allowed to participate in sports and after-school activities.
- Masks are required for students and staff on campus at all times.
- Athletic events are limited to 25% capacity.
- For more, visit school’s website.
Hancock County
- Schools will reopen “with few changes to school routines and extra-curricular activities.”
- The first day of school is Aug. 6.
- Distance learning is available for students with medical needs or in cases where families feel returning to school is unsafe.
- If the virus worsens, the district may implement a hybrid schedule, in which half of students are on campus at any given time, or an all-distance learning schedule.
- Students without internet access at home will receive assignments on a flash drive. Students without access to a computer will instead receive “other learning opportunities and/or print materials.”
- Students will be required to wear masks in common areas and when directed by a teacher.
- For more, visit school’s website.
Harrison County
- Schools will reopen with modifications for social distancing.
- The first day of school is Aug. 6.
- Students can choose to participate in virtual learning, but must have internet access and their own device to choose this option.
- Virtual learning will require students to participate for the duration of the regular school day.
- Daily temperature checks may be implemented.
- Masks are required except when social distancing is possible, and are mandatory at all times on school buses. .
- For more, visit school’s website.
Jackson County
- Schools will reopen as usual with students “physically present in school in an environment as close to normal as possible.”
- The first day of school is Aug. 6.
- Distance learning is an option for any family that prefers it.
- Distance learners can choose between online learning, for students with WiFi capable of streaming videos, or paper packets for students without internet at home.
- Parents are asked to take their children’s temperature before school each morning.
- Masks are optional for students, pending further notice from the state. They are required for staff when social distancing is impossible.
- For more, visit school’s website.
Long Beach
- To enable social distancing, students who choose traditional learning will be assigned to one of two teams, and teams will attend school on alternate weeks. (For example, the Maroon Team is scheduled to attend class Aug. 10-14, and the White Team will attend Aug. 17-21.)
- The first day of school is Aug. 6 for students on the Maroon Team, and Aug. 7 for the White Team.
- The alternating schedule will be in place until at least Labor Day, following which all students will attend school as normal “pending school board review.”
- Distance learning is provided for any family that chooses it.
- School staff will check students’ temperatures daily.
- Masks must be worn by students and staff wherever social distancing is not possible.
- Fore more, visit school’s website.
Moss Point
- Moss Point has delayed the start of the school year by about 10 days, to Aug. 17, and will offer 100% virtual instruction until at least Sept. 8.
- If the district assesses that all-virtual learning is still necessary after Sept. 8, it will remain in place until Oct. 12.
- The district will deliver breakfast and lunch to students’ homes everyday.
- District families can purchase internet access at home for a discounted rate, and Moss Point plans to use some of its CARES Act funding to buy internet access for other students.
- Chromebooks will be available for checkout from schools Aug. 5-7, and virtual orientations for parents and students will be held Aug. 8-14.
- When schools do re-open or when students and staff come to campus for any reason, masks are required.
- For more, visit school’s website and Facebook page.
Ocean Springs
- Schools will open according to a traditional model.
- The first day of school is Aug. 6.
- Virtual learning is available for families who are concerned about COVID-19.
- Students who choose virtual learning can apply to learn online through the district’s Greyhound Virtual Academy.
- Staff must wear masks and face shields at all times when social distancing is not possible.
- Students must wear masks on buses and during arrival, dismissal and class changes, but not during class.
- For more, visit school’s website.
Pascagoula-Gautier
- Schools will reopen according to a traditional model.
- The district on Friday delayed the first day of school to Aug. 10.
- All students can apply for distance learning instead of returning to school. Distance learning will consist of interactive and independent activities, and students must be online during the time of a typical school day.
- Each student will be issued a Chromebook, but families must have high-speed WiFi at home to participate in distance learning.
- Students’ temperatures will be checked daily, and staff are required to check their temperature when they arrive at work.
- Masks are required for staff and students at all times.
- For more, visit school’s website.
Pass Christian
- Schools will reopen according to a traditional model, with social distancing modifications.
- The first day of school for everyone is Aug. 10. Students will be divided into three groups and assigned one of three orientation days from Aug. 5-7, to help students learn about new safety procedures.
- Any family can choose to enroll their student in virtual learning, through the district’s Pirate Electronic Learning Academy.
- Each student is provided with a Chromebook for virtual learning.
- For students without internet access at home, the district is providing WiFi-enabled Chromebooks.
- Face coverings will be required for students on buses and during transitions at school, and when directed by teachers.
- For more, visit school’s website.
This story was originally published July 19, 2020 at 7:55 AM.
Isabelle Taft
Sun Herald