There are 272 article(s) tagged Shelby County Schools:
Nothing this week has been more distressing than to glimpse the sprouting seeds of a familiar political battle, this time over school openings. It was awful enough to see mask usage amid a pandemic turned into a test of political fidelity. Please, not this time.
The issues facing schools as they look to reopen with some semblance of normalcy is almost overwhelming. A bit scary. And in some ways heartbreaking.
Even as we announce final decisions and protocols, I cannot assure you that it will not change again, because that is how quickly the virus impacts the information we use to make decisions.
Starting in August, Shelby County Schools plans to offer both online and in-person instruction for students — and parents can choose which option they want.
Groups began lining up both for and against testing after Superintendent Joris Ray, who leads the state’s largest district in Memphis, said he would petition the education commissioner to drop the annual assessment known as TNReady in 2020-21.
Shelby County Schools mostly relies on district-employed school resource officers as security staff. They do not carry guns but have pepper spray, the district said.
As SCS considers plans to help students recoup academic losses because of the coronavirus, teachers will be surveyed before a decision is made by the school board.
Tennessee Department of Education has also warned districts to plan for driver shortages. On social media, some drivers have suggested that returning to their bus jobs may not be worth the hassle.
The school board planned to vote on the purchase of take-home laptops and tablets for students.
Providing take-home devices for students is the focus of a special called meeting of the Shelby County Schools Board on Thursday.
School board chairwoman Miska Clay-Bibbs said with so many questions about electronic devices for students, it's not yet time to vote on the purchase.
SCS board members agree that students need digital devices, but say they want a better plan from the school district.
Starting next Monday free child care will be offered at more community centers for essential workers.
Shelby County Schools' digital plan would provide every student and teacher with a laptop and training on how to use it. The more than 100,000 devices would cost roughly $53 million, half of which would come from federal coronavirus stimulus funds.
Dr. Alisa Haushalter and Dr. Bruce Randolph of the Shelby County Health Department say it's important to wear face coverings and maintain proper distance when interacting with people not from the same household.
As our new normal emerges, we must remember that SCS students are children first, and admonitions of “social distancing” go against the very notion of being a child. Students need authentic opportunities to interact with one another, be seen, and be heard and we commit to making that happen.
Superintendent Joris Ray said a plan to return to school could be a mix of in-person and online instruction. It’s still not clear when the 2020-21 school year will start, but Ray said he expects to present a school re-entry plan in early July.
Shelby County Schools superintendent Joris Ray outlines the district’s long-term strategy for reopening schools.
Should classes resume in school buildings, officials are considering the logistics necessary for social distancing, such as staggered school days where certain grades would go on certain days, splitting classes into half-day sessions and running more bus routes.
Rather than assuming all students are behind when schools reopen, we should begin the school year providing grade-level content and addressing lost-learning challenges as they are identified.
Germantown Board of Zoning Appeals denied a request by SCS that would allow a 22,000 square-foot addition at Germantown Elementary School. Board members cited concerns with potential enrollment increases and traffic concerns.
Teacher association leaders objected to the pause, saying the district was using the pandemic as an “excuse” and that Superintendent Joris Ray’s administration has not explored all options to funnel more money to teacher pay.
Germantown Elementary wants to replace 10 portables with more classrooms in a 22,000-square-foot building. Although the district says it won't increase traffic neighbors have concerns.
The announcement came about a week after the state released graduation ceremony guidelines. School systems nationwide have grappled with how to honor their graduating students while still adhering to public health guidelines to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
The coronavirus has ground most of the economy to a halt and created financial uncertainty for both traditional and charter schools. Last week in Memphis, charter network KIPP announced plans to close two of its schools, partly because of its struggle to secure long-term funding during the pandemic.
Plans for a new high school, possibly in Frayser, could receive initial funds under county Mayor Lee Harris' 2020-21 fiscal year proposal. But other approvals are needed for the project to move forward.
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