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School Board Approves Return to School Options for 20-21 School Year

July 8, 2020


The Martin County School Board approved Superintendent Laurie J. Gaylord's recommended school reopening options during this evening's Special Meeting. The following options for learning will be available to Martin County families beginning in August:

Option 1: Traditional (In School) Learning

Students return to school full-time, five days a week in the traditional face-to-face classroom setting with increased health and safety measures in place, including:

  • Use of Masks - Students, employees and visitors will be required to wear masks any time social distancing is not possible (including on school buses and during transitions from classrooms/front office to other areas of campus). The District will provide masks for students and staff who do not wish to bring these items from home.

  • Temperature Checks and Screenings - Students, employees and visitors should expect to have their temperature taken upon arrival to school district property. All visitors and staff will be screened with COVID-19 questions approved by the Florida Department of Health in Martin County (DOH Martin). School staff will be trained on COVID-19 symptoms to assist them in visibly monitoring students' health.

  • Cleaning/ Disinfecting - Staff will perform frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces using EPA-registered disinfectant products. Campuses and school buses will also undergo routine deep cleaning.

  • Hand Sanitizer - In addition to the availability of sinks for frequent handwashing with soap and water, alcohol-based hand sanitizer will be available for student and employee use. Students and employees may also bring their own hand sanitizer for personal use.

  • Hygiene Education and Professional Development - Comprehensive student and staff lessons in healthy habits, including handwashing, cough etiquette, use of masks/face coverings, social distancing and staying home when sick.

  • Social Distancing and Modified Layouts - Increased social distancing wherever possible, to include desks in classrooms being placed a minimum of 6 feet apart wherever possible. One-way hallways and stairwells will be used with appropriate signage.

  • Gatherings, Visitors and Field Trips - In an effort to mitigate the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to students and staff, access to school district property will remain limited until further notice. Schools will refrain from holding field trips and assemblies, and nonessential visitors/volunteers' access to campuses will be limited.

  • Protections for High-Risk Populations - The District will evaluate options for students and staff who are considered to be "high risk" for severe illness associated with COVID-19 on a case-by-case basis through the offices of Exceptional Student Education and Human Resources.

Option 2: Remote Learning

Remote learning will allow students to attend school from home, receiving direct instruction from their classroom teachers via livestream each day. Important features of this learning environment include:

  • Students maintain their enrollment status at their assigned schools.

  • Attendance will be taken each period.

  • Students and teachers will follow the same curriculum sequence as their peers in school, allowing for a smooth transition back to the traditional school setting if desired.

  • Student support services will be provided for mental health, counseling and interventions.

  • 1:1 device access - the District will provide a Chromebook device to all students who do not currently have one issued to them.

  • Parents must provide adult supervision and support for young children to help them navigate the remote learning environment. This learning option will not be available for Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) or Pre-Kindergarten students.

Additional details about learning options and health/safety procedures will be shared with families via the school district's website - www.martinschools.org - in the coming days.

To streamline the choice process, parents/guardians who would like to enroll their children in Option 1: Traditional (In School) Learning will not need to take any action. Parents/guardians who would prefer to have their child(ren) participate in remote learning will have the opportunity to complete a commitment form beginning Friday, July 10, 2020, with responses being accepted until 11:59 PM on Sunday, July 19th. The form will be available in English and Spanish on the school district's website. Any parent/guardian needing assistance or more information about school reopening may contact their child's school directly or email MCSDReopening@martinschools.org.