July 29, 2020
The Monett R-I School District is pleased to announce our reopening school plans for the fall of 2020, scheduled to begin on August 25, 2020. We know you have been waiting for a plan; our goal was not to be first but to be as accurate as possible, given the fluidity of the situation.
First, I would like to emphasize that many of the protocols we are putting into place are temporary and hopefully will be removed upon guidance from our local health department; however, we depend on information from those in the field of health to help guide us through this process. We will communicate ASAP as things change, are removed or amended as we are continually receiving up to date information.
You will note that our plan allows parents to choose a traditional seated class or all online through our Virtual Instruction program. The seated classes will be designed to promote physical distancing, and several building protocols have also been adjusted to promote distancing. A few examples include rotating lunches, so there are fewer kids in the cafeteria, encouraging more outdoor learning and avoidance of larger groups during dismissal and arrival times. Virtual Instruction will be through SeeSaw in grades K-2 and Google Classroom in grades 3-12. These classes will be taught by a certified Monett R-I teacher and aligned with seated courses. Students will be expected to complete the same assignments and assessments as those in our seated classes and cover the same learning standards. E-Registration will begin next week on August 3rd and allow parents to choose which option is best for your student(s). More information on facility safety protocols and Virtual Instruction are included in our informational plan to parents.
Lastly, and I know this may be somewhat controversial, but it is a requirement that kids in grades 3-12 wear a face covering but ONLY during times in which they cannot safely physically distance from others. This protocol was not taken lightly and is based on recommendations from health officials. Our purpose is certainly not to cause anger or disagreements; we simply are trying to follow as many recommendations as we can to help keep kids and staff as safe as possible. Grades PK-2 will be encouraged to wear a face-covering as well. We will be posting additional guidance on facial coverings and working with staff and students on when it’s OK to remove the mask and when they need to be worn. Special emphasis will be placed on arrival time, passing time, dismissal time, and while riding the bus. The reality is opinions vary significantly on this issue, and I expect not all will agree with the plan. However, we hope you recognize we are trying to keep everyone safe while providing quality education.
Respectfully,
Russ Moreland
Superintendent of Schools
