Baldwin County school superintendent Eddie Tyler updated parents on plans for reopening schools this fall.
Masks will be required and must comply with school dress code. No inappropriate language, signs, symbols will be allowed. Superintendent Tyler says we're "not making these statements in the hallways of our schools."
Social distancing, says Tyler, will be nearly impossible with over 31 thousand students systemwide and some schools with over 1,000 students, but it's not practical to space desks 6 feet apart. Tyler says he's asking principals to space students as best they can.
Buildings will be sprayed every night; bathrooms will be cleaned several times a day. The school system has stocked up on cleaning supplies to make sure every school is sanitized.
As for transportation, buses will be crowded. And parents may want to seek alternative transportation if that concerns them. But buses will be sprayed every night and again after the morning route.
Temperature checks: As students enter the building, the IR camera device will check temps (3 per school). Students who register over 100.4 will get a follow-up by the nurse to investigate for COVID-19 symptoms.
Expectations: There will be violations of social distancing, students not wearing masks, etc. There will be challenges ahead and "a lot of reasons that things will not go 100% all the time," says Tyler.
Hand washing. Hand sanitization. Masks to protect students. Social distancing...asking "everybody to do your part." We will do our part in sanitization, says Tyler.
He reminded parents that they have a choice of Virtual School if they're not comfortable with Traditional School.
(Photo credit: Getty Images)