Fannin County students who ride school buses will be required to wear masks as schools re-open for the 2020-2021 school year Friday, August 7.
“That is a requirement, not an encouragement or suggestion,” Assistant Superintendent of Governance & Achievement Sarah Rigdon said. “We’re also going to work on maintaining appropriate distance between people on the bus whenever possible, such as providing assigned seating any time we can.”
Disposable masks will be available on the bus for those who do not plan to bring their own mask to school. Hand sanitizer will also be available, and all bus riders should apply sanitizer on their hands as they board and exit the bus.
Following Governor Brian Kemp’s call to citizens to do “four things for weeks” to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the system is “highly encouraging” mask use by students.
“One was for us to wear a mask out in public or when we could not keep distance inside buildings,” Rigdon said. “Another thing he asked citizens to do was to practice physical distancing, six feet from those you don’t live with. He also asked that we make sure we wash our hands for 20 seconds several times throughout the day with soap and water, and also that we please follow his current executive order and any guidance that was provided by public health officials.”
A donation of cloth masks has been received by the system, and a mask will be offered to every student.
All visitors, including parents and guardians, must wear a mask or face covering and have a symptom check before entering any of the school buildings.
According to Rigdon, employees will participate in training related to COVID-19 when they return to work. The information used for training will be reviewed by the Department of Public Health, and the employees will receive guidance regarding best practices and instances where face coverings will be required.
Each school is still developing their school specific “safe re-entry plans.” Faculty and staff will receive this information by the time they return to work, and parents will receive school pals prior to the student’s first day “to the maximum extent possible.”
Modified open house plans will be shared as soon as possible.
According to Rigdon, 462 students have been enrolled in online learning. The parents of those students were sent emails welcoming them to the online learning experience.
Students are still able to withdraw from online learning or add their names to the wait list. At the time of the Board of Education called meeting Thursday, July 23, three students were on the system’s wait list to join online learning.
“I do anticipate that we will be able to accommodate those students, because the rate of students withdrawing is higher than the kids who want in,” Rigdon said.