SCCPSS planning for full return to in-person learning this fall
SCCPSS planning for full return to in-person learning this fall By Blair Caldwell and Bria Bolden | April 14, 2021 at 6:05 PM EDT - Updated April 14 at 11:37 PM
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Savannah-Chatham County Public School System leaders discussed during a board meeting Wednesday how they plan to return to classrooms this fall.
They say they are cautiously optimistic and planning for a full return to in-person learning, five days a week on Aug. 4, 2021.
Superintendent Dr. Ann Levett says they are seeing positive signs in the community, but there are still unknowns like the impact of summer travel, virus variants and more. While they are planning for five days in-person this fall, they say it will be considered a transition year.
We feel very hopeful, but we also want to make sure that you know all the support is what we re planning for. But if we need to do something different, we ll do that as well, Levett continued.
Levett said returning students will possibly be phased in as school begins. We want to make sure that we are not sending all 36[000] to 37,000 of them in at once, so we will be looking at a phasing process probably just as we ve done in previous years in the district, so that students and staff have an opportunity to get acclimated.
Discussion ensued among the board in answering parents questions about when will they know for sure that school will start in-person on Aug. 4.
This column is by Opinion Editor Adam Van Brimmer.
Savannah’s public school parents begged, pleaded and haggled to get district officials to reopen schoolhouses on a limited basis this academic year.
Based on the current in-person attendance numbers, they might consider lobbying another influential group of stakeholders regarding a full return in the fall.
Each other.
Less than a third of public school students 12,000 out of 37,000 returned once campuses reopened Feb. 22 following the holiday COVID-19 surge. When teachers can count the number of students in their classroom on their fingers, concerns about social distancing and wait lists fade faster than a disinterested student’s test recall.
Superintendent: Savannah public schools planning feverishly for full return to classes this fall
District leaders believe school buildings are absolute best place for students to learn by interacting with teachers and staff and building strong relationships every day
M. Ann Levett
This is an op-ed by Savannah-Chatham Public Schools Superintendent M. Ann Levett.
What have we learned in a year? We have learned how much we need each other. We have learned the true value of technology and how with all its benefits there are still many barriers to overcome. We have gained a greater appreciation for patience and compassion. We have seen so many gain a greater understanding of what educators already know quality learning is about relationships and there is no substitute for the connection between a teacher and their students.