School Options Are Outlined
Jasper County Schools will begin the 2020-2021 academic year without changes to the calendar. All faculty and staff will report to school on Tuesday, Aug. 4, and students will return on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
Students will have the option in Kindergarten-12th grades to participate in virtual learning as an alternative to traditional school. Families will need to submit an application, located on the Jasper County Charter System website, by no later than July 31, if they decide to participate in virtual learning. Online learning, unless already enrolled in Jasper County Virtual Academy (JCVA), must be done off campus. Students choosing online learning must have connectivity with the ability to stream video.
Students in grades kindergarten through fifth will have the opportunity to learn virtually for the first nine weeks or to attend classes. Those in sixth through twelfth grades will make the decision now for the entire first semester.
Therefore, parents and students need to go on the Jasper County Charter System site before July 31, and choose an option so teachers can prepare accordingly. Supt. Kenny Garland said the numbers will determine the exact approach for virtual and in person classes, so everyone needs to sign up.
The school developed its opening plan with guidance from the Georgia Department of Health, the Georgia Department of Education and the Centers for Disease Control. The schools recognize that the plan for reopening schools, although based on the health guidance and recommendations from these agencies, it is not intended to eliminate the risk of transmission of COVID-19. It is an effort to significantly reduce the levels of transmission in the schools.
Measures such as social distancing, hand washing and screening for symptoms, and the appropriate use of face coverings can help reduce the risk of disease transmission and are most effective when used consistently and in combination. Dr. Shannon Barton, who serves on the Jasper County School Board, commented that the hand washing and social distancing cannot be stressed enough.
Parents are encouraged to transport their children when possible, as the greatest challenge to social distancing will be on school buses. Students riding buses will be required to wear facial coverings during the commute to and from school. Bus drivers and monitors will also wear face coverings during transporting students to and from school.
Temperatures will be taken of students when they get on the buses if there is a monitor on the bus. Otherwise, temperatures will be taken upon arrival at school. Anyone who has a temperature higher than 99.5 degrees will wear a face covering and go to a specific area for further evaluation.
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Students are strongly recommended to wear face coverings during class changes when large numbers of students will be transitioning and while riding the bus. Facial coverings will be provided to all staff and students during opening day. Students and staff will receive two cloth facial coverings. Also the district is purchasing clear facial shields for all instructional staff.
Students should have a facial covering available for daily use at all times and are recommended to wear it if a situation arises where close contact is necessary such as small group instruction in an area where social distancing is not feasible. All facial coverings will follow the guidelines set forth by the UCCS dress code policy.
Water fountains from which individuals drink directly will be turned off, while water fountains designed for filling of water bottles will be available. Students are encouraged to take a water bottle with them to fill up. The system has outlined sanitation procedures that will help ensure safety.
At this time, no visitors or parent volunteers will be allowed in buildings, and no field trip will be allowed until further notice. There are extended guidelines for bus riding, class changing, lunches, and other activities.
Jasper County Pre-Kindergarten, Jasper County Primary School, and Washington Park Elementary School will have an open house for parents and students on August 10. Jasper County High School will have an open house for ninth grade students and parents as well as newly registered students/parents on Monday, Aug. 10. Jasper County Primary School will have Kinder Camp on August 6 and 7 (see ad on page 6 of today’s paper).
Jasper County Middle School will have sixth grade orientation on Friday, Aug. 7, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Jasper County High School will have ninth grade orientation on Friday, Aug. 7, at 6:30 p.m. Only the students and parent or guardian will be allowed to visit each child’s teacher for the current grade level.
Parent/guardian nor children will be allowed to visit last year’s teacher.
For the open house/student orientations, student will attend at the time slotted for their last name. Those with last names beginning with A-E will visit from 9 to 10 a.m.; F-M visit 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., N-T visit from 1 to 2 p.m., and U-Z will attend the open house from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Those who are not able to attend at their allotted time, then they school ill be open to meet the principal and pick up back to school packets from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the same day.
Other changes include parents will not be allowed to walk their child to the classroom on the first day of school. Parents will not be able to visit classrooms or eat with their children during school meal times until further notice. Parents and guardians will not be allowed to bring in food that is purchased or homemade for special events (for example: birthdays).
The Jasper County Board of Education approved the school re-opening plan at its meeting Tuesday evening. Also at the meeting, the board handled numerous items including a bus purchase agreement that will get the system seven new buses in addition to the one the state pays for so the fleet will grow by eight, which are badly needed, according to Transportation Director Jerry Williams.
They also reviewed the monthly financials and the expenses for the Jasper County High School athletic complex. They approved the 2020 amended budget. Board members will meet again August 11 in a work session. They also agreed to purchase more Chromebooks, so there will be enough for every student in the system.
They also approved several personnel changes including:
New Hire
Iesha Nix, custodian, Jasper County Primary School (JCPS)
Sherry Collins, paraprofessional, JCPS
Andrew Rewis, ISS teacher (49%), Jasper County High School (JCHS)
Garrison Williams, paraprofessional PEC, Washington Park Elementary School (WPES)
Brynisha Clements-Perez, paraprofessional, WPES.
Cherie Satterly, nurse, WPES
Tiffany Baker, substitute custodian, Jasper County Board of Education
Resignation
Kaitlyn Mize, paraprofessional, WPES
Transfer
Ellis Ammons Jr., custodian, Jasper County Middle School (JCMS) transfer from full time custodian at JCMS to a substitute custodian at Jasper County Board of Education
Tanaka Thurman, custodian, Jasper County Pre-K, transfer from custodian at Pre-K to custodian at JCMS to custodian at JCMS
Rachelle Stanionis, custodian, JCMS, transfer from custodian at JCMS to custodian at Pre-K
Donald Hardwick, custodian, WPES, transfer from lead custodian at WPES to lead custodian at JCMS.
