PRC School District re-opening plan approved

The Pearl River County School Board received, reviewed, and approved the school reopening plan for the district during Thursday night’s meeting the Board of Trustees.

The plan will utilize both a virtual distance learning option and a traditional in the classroom option allowing parents and guardians to decide which option is best for their children in returning to school.

The school district will reopen on Thursday-August 6 and Friday-August 7 utilizing distance learning. Assignments for those two days will be required to be turned in on the first day the schools will open on Monday-August 10.

L-R: Superintendent Alan Lumpkin, administrative assistant Sherri Quarterman, board members Jeff Jones and Elaine Voss.

Students utilizing the distance learning approach can obtain their assignments via the internet or a packet will be available for pickup at the schools.

In presenting the plan, Superintendent Alan Lumpkin reminds all parents/guardians and employees this is a fluid situation and subject to change due to any changes announced or implemented by Governor Tate Reeves or the Mississippi Department of Education.

The virtual option, if chosen, requires a student to commit that approach for the first semester. Unlike the distance learning option from this past spring, the completion of assignments is a required and the work will be graded in accordance to PRC School District policies. Students will be administered state tests required by the Mississippi Department of Education.

Students choosing the virtual distance learning will be able to pick up their student meals between 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. each day in the Carriere cafeteria parking lot.

Traditional students will see changes as they return to classes at their respective campuses and classrooms. Bus schedules will include two staggered fleets with the intent to be able to practice social distancing on the buses. The secondary school bus schedule will from 6:00 a.m until 7:30 a.m. for pickup and 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. for the afternoon return and drop off. The elementary pickup will be from 7:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. while the afternoon drop off will be from 2:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Parents/guardians, when possible, are encouraged to personally transport their children to and from school if possible. Buses will be cleaned and disinfected after the the completion of morning and afternoon routes. All students will be screened for fever using 100 degrees as the temperature of delineation as to whether students should remain home.

During the board meeting on Thursday, the board approved the purchase of handsfree non-contact forehead body infrared thermometers. The units will be position on buses and school entrances to allow temperature scans without the need of personnel administering the scan and will also keep historical information on the scans.

Student meals for traditional students will be eaten in the classroom.

Student assemblies, field trips, school dances, and all similar activities are suspended until further notice. All extracurricular activities (sports, band, cheerleading) will follow the recommendations of the Mississippi High School Acitivities (MHSAA).

Students are encouraged to wear personal protective equipment (PPP), but it is not required. Teachers and employees are required to wear PPP when a safe distance of 6 feet cannot be achieved when coming in contact with another person.

Campus visitors will be screened for temperature using the same 100 degree threshold. Visitors are required to wear a mask and must remain in the front office lobby areas unless authorized to be able to go to another area by the principal of the school they are visiting.

The district will follow a 14 day quarantine for those students and employees who are determined to be infected with COVID-19 and they must have a physician’s recommendation to return to school. The district will perform and adhere to strict and thorough disinfecting of the school facilities.

The plan is included below: