District to offer virtual learning option for students with underlying conditions
Carmel Clay Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Beresford has announced preliminary information for students and their families as they prepare to return to school this fall.
Beresford
Beresford said Carmel schools will reopen Tuesday, Aug. 11 and will include in-person classes; however, the district will offer a virtual learning option for students with underlying health issues that would prohibit them from attending in-person classes.
Below is Dr. Beresford’s statement:
Dear CCS Families,
We wanted to share some preliminary information about our planning for opening school in the fall. We have been working on various scenarios with guidance from our medical community, Indiana Department of Education, Center for Disease Control, and Hamilton County Health Department.
Our current plan is to open school on August 11, 2020 and follow our published school calendar for the 2020-2021 school year. School will be held in-person, 5 days a week, following the re-opening recommendations to the highest degree possible.
We know we have students and staff with underlying health issues that will prohibit them from attending in-person and some families who are concerned about their children returning to an in-person school environment. We are planning a virtual learning option for these students.
We have a COVID-19 Planning Group working on the detailed procedures that will be required for in-person school attendance. In addition, our curriculum and instruction team has been evaluating data from the spring to make improvements for this fall’s version of virtual learning.
We plan to send the detailed plan to families in early July and gather data from parents to finalize staffing and complete preparations for the start of school.
Please keep in mind that directives and guidance from state and local authorities can change quickly in this environment. We will continue to share information on any adjustments needed as we move forward.
As always, we thank you for your support and partnership as we work through this pandemic.
All for now,
Michael J. Beresford, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Carmel Clay Schools