Meghana Ramineni, Editor-in-Chief

At 3:30 p.m. on June 29, the Fulton County Board of Education met to discuss reopening plans for the 2020-21 school year

* The connection of the live feed for the beginning of the meeting was inconsistent.

• The FCS Board of Education opened up to public comment, which is not aired, and resumed shortly.

• The board members began with brief comments on current events.

• Superintendent Mike Looney begins by addressing comments regarding COVID management and recent social unrest.

• Looney addresses recent concerns, and reveals the board is not voting today, as it is an administrative function.

• FCS Student Health Services Coordinator, Lynne Meadows, presents statistics and reveals Fulton County is trending down as a county and in terms of hospitalization.

• The board is having a short recess and will return when the livestream is fixed.

• The meeting was delayed due to network issues. They will rebroadcast on their website in full following the meeting.

Photos courtesy of Fulton County Schools

• Chief Operation Officer, Patrick Burke, begins today’s presentation by discussing PPE, or personal protective equipment. All staff are being supplied with two reusable masks and it will be expected of staff to wear them throughout the day.

• Students on the bus as well as in the school environment will be encouraged to wear face coverings. Students are allowed to wear face shields, however are not required to wear masks.

• Superintendent Mike Looney discusses that they cannot force students to wear masks but can build an environment where the importance of masks is taught. He discusses the importance of creating a culture where masks are important and are not shamed. There will be zero tolerance for bullying either way.

• Changes include increased signage in the halls, the installation of hand sanitizing stations throughout the school, and an encouragement of washing/sanitizing throughout the day.

• Physical barriers will be installed as well, such as plastic shields, in areas of high circulation.

• Improved bus safety: PPE (masks are expected), face shields for bus drivers during loading and unloading, students may be assigned to seats to minimize contact among students, bus drivers will be provided cleaning supplies, and buses will be disinfected at the end of the route in the morning and evening. There will be a sanitization station on buses as well.

• Clinic: If students are sick, stay home. All persons who become sick or symptomatic will be sent home. Well students and not well students will be separated. An isolation space for those who are sick will be identified. It will be required to update all clinic guidelines.

• School nutrition: Cash is accepted, however parents are recommended to pay online to minimize contact between students and cashiers. Students may take meals elsewhere, such as classrooms. Students will have meals that are transportable to eat in classroom. In response to virtual options, there will be grab and go options for school kitchens and every school will be slightly different. The USDA approved waivers for requirements for school nutrition which allow meals can be preordered if students are ill.

• Classroom Layouts: There will be challenges for classroom layouts which will require changes, including challenges based on classroom size to accommodate social distances. Students are strongly encouraged to wear masks. Desks will be spaced out and facing the same direction. Class changes will be staggered among other measures to maximize social distancing.

• Outside visitors will be restricted and access will be controlled. Visitors will be required to wear a mask. There will be modifications to safety and security drills.

• Sports and arts will still occur. Regarding fall sports, GHSA has given the green light for fall sports to continue.

• Teachers will need to lead the movement to a cleaner and safer environment.

• There are five protocols. There will be a four-week period of restart.

• The behaviors of respect for those wearing masks will be addressed. There will be measures to ensure learning across the district.

• School will look and feel different. Large assemblies are prohibited.

• Virtual messaging is the norm.

• Arrival and dismissal will be changed based on which transportation.

• For elementary and middle school, there will be a heavy focus on the core subjects.

• There will be a reliance on technology. Grades 3-12 will receive devices and families will receive wifi hotspots. Students will still have specials, connections, etc.

• Fulton schools are offering a virtual option. Grades 9-12 will have the option of full time Fulton virtual. There is no Pre-K or kindergarten virtual option, unless a universal remote decision is made, during which there will still be no virtual option however packets and other materials will be distributed.

• Students in grades 1-8 are enrolled at home school with a virtual teacher, however this teacher is not a teacher that is in the middle school building. They will have a specific curriculum for online achievements.

• Students who want to return to home school after a semester will be automatically registered.

• Registration for virtual option: The registration time period opens tonight at midnight and closes on July 17. There is no cap for registration. Registration process is three steps including going to the Fulton County website and using the infinite campus system. Registration will be reviewed and students will receive a follow up. A counselor or staff member will talk about the schedule as well. Students will receive devices.

• Students in grades 1-5 are expected to log in daily. Parents will be the primary facilitator. There will be packets for assistance. Students will still be able to take accelerated classes. Classlink is a primary resource.

• Middle school: Through Edgenuity. There will be no honors classes but they will have accelerated classes.

• Grades 9-12: Full time FVS access to 100+ classes. GAVS is also an option. There are 24 ap classes offered online.

• Online learning will not be the same as last spring. Attendance will be taken and it is still full time school. They can provide meals for online school.

• Students who take online classes can graduate from their home schools.

• Online will not offer same experience as face to face. Over the next weeks, more details will be provided.

• School specific information will be worked out with the principal. Principals will be supported by zone superintendents. More information can be found on the Fulton County website.

• Superintendent Mike Looney reveals there is no adequate replacement for the in-person interaction between teachers and students. They will do their best with online but it will not be the same as traditional instruction.

• There will be enhanced cleaning. There will be a commitment to a model where students can choose classes. Dual enrollment will still be available.

• The individual remote decision is based on the parents. A universal remote decision is based on whether community standards of health are good.

• Deciding to go virtual should not impact class rank.

• Students may not get same support as they would face to face, and some classes are not available.

• There will be meetings for parents on Microsoft Teams live for virtual briefings, such as help with online school items.

• If a parent does not respond by July 17 for registration, the student will be put in face to face learning as a default.

• There will be a Q&A available on the Fulton County website.

• The new proposed school calendar has been approved. The first day of school will be August 17, 2020. The calendar is attached below.

• The board members have moved to action items on budgeting.

• The board approved of budget items available to see here. (Click Called Board Meeting under June 29, Agenda, Item 4.02-4.05)

• The meeting was adjourned following approvals of action items.

Photos courtesy of Fulton County Schools