Biloxi students were first back to school on the MS Coast. Here’s what it looked like.
First day outfits with matching masks and children met with excited teachers and hand sanitizer is what Biloxi’s North Bay Elementary first day of school looked like Wednesday.
Students are returning to the classrooms for the first time since late March. The Biloxi School District is the first on the Mississippi Coast to start classes after it was not among the counties listed to push back their start date in Gov. Tate Reeves’ order Tuesday afternoon.
Parents posed with their children outside of the school with signs and masks to mark the first day of the school year.
Students who took the school bus were given hand sanitizer when they unloaded the school buses.
The governor also issued a statewide mask mandate for two weeks to help the process of reopening schools. Masks must be worn in any place open to the public or when at an outdoor public space where social distancing isn’t possible.
Other Coast schools are set to start Thursday, with the exception of George County’s 7-12th graders that was delayed until at least Aug. 17.
The City of Biloxi said in a press release Wednesday evening that there are 5,332 students enrolled, and 1,400 of those students are distance learners. That’s below the 6,200 enrolled at the end of the last school year, but schools spokesperson Jennifer Pyron told the city numbers are expected to pick up in the next week, which is typical each year with late registrants.
This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 5:40 AM.