Alachua County Schools Updated Reopening Plan
Yesterday the State of Florida approved the Alachua County Public Schools ‘innovative’ optional plan to offer a Digital Academy to families in the fall. That option is a critical element of the district’s overall return to school plan.
With that approval in hand, the district has posted its updated reopening plan. As you may recall, the district posted its original draft plan in early July. However, the requirements included in the state’s emergency order of July 6, subsequent School Board decisions (such as a mandatory mask policy), new guidelines and protocols from our Scientific Medical Advisory Council and the Health Department, updated guidance from the CDC, and ongoing negotiations with the employees union regarding such issues as sick leave and temperature screenings required significant revisions to that original plan. And of course, we have to recognize that even this plan may have to be revised based on circumstances.
One thing expected to be added in the next couple of days is the protocols that are being finalized by the SMAC and the Health Department regarding the metrics to be used to determine if classrooms or schools need to be closed due to COVID. Florida’s surgeon general is working on such guidelines…at least based on a copy of a letter received by the school board yesterday from the Florida Department of Education that was directed to the state.
The updated plan is posted below.
https://fl02219191.schoolwires.net/cms/lib/FL02219191/Centricity/Domain/9790/8-10-20 Alachua K-12 Continuity of Operations-DRAFT-.pdf