Cobb school superintendent Chris Ragsdale said Thursday that the 2020-21 school year will start on time, on Aug. 3, on an in-person basis.
But those parents who don’t feel comfortable sending their children to school will be allowed to choose a remote instructional option.
At a Cobb Board of Education work session Thursday, Ragsdale said while plans to return to school are still in the works and are always subject to change, “currently there is no calendar modification.”
He said there would be no “hybrid schedule,” where students would come to class for a week, do remote learning at home for a week, and then return to school after that.
“It’s not going to be the same as the last six to eight weeks” of the recently completed school year, referring to when the district began distance learning in March.
The remote option, which Ragsdale said would be detailed and released soon, will require a registration. That option also will have grades, tests and schedules.
Also, Ragsdale said, parents choosing a remote option will be required to commit to that plan for at least one semester.
Ragsdale said that “there are a lot of changes that could potentially be coming” to alter plans in progress to begin the school year, including extracurricular activities.
He said that for now, students will not be eating lunch in their classrooms. Wearing face masks will be “encouraged,” but not required.
Public health guidance “can change in the blink of an eye,” Ragsdale said.
“At the same time, we’ve got to have school.”
Here’s the Cobb schools calendar for 20-21.
What follows below is a message the district sent out Thursday to the “Cobb Schools Family:”
After months of planning and understanding how student and staff needs have changed as a result of COVID-19 closures, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced that Cobb Schools will open for face-to-face instruction with parents being able to choose a traditional classroom or a remote learning classroom.
This format represents the best solution which balances our two most important priorities: the health and safety of our students and staff and flexibility for each student and family.
In preparation for our “face-to-face plus choice” model, we will be asking you to choose the classroom environment which is best for you and your family. If your student is new to the District for the upcoming school year, they must first be registered as a CCSD student, which can be completed here. Once the school approves your registration, your ParentVUE account will automatically be activated. If you already have a student enrolled in the District but do not have an active ParentVUE account, you will need to contact your student’s school for activation.
You will be able to submit your choice beginning on July 2nd but no later than July 10 through ParentVue. Both face-to-face and remote learning options will be available for all students, in all grades K-12. If you choose remote learning, you will be asked to certify that you have access to a device, the internet, and are committed to the remote learning environment for the semester. If you choose face-to-face learning, you will also be asked if you intend for your student(s) to ride the bus.
We also will continue to work tirelessly to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our staff and our students.
- Social Distancing will be enforced whenever possible.
- Hand sanitizer will be provided in multiple locations throughout schools.
- Masks are encouraged on buses and in school buildings.
- Daily and rigorous cleaning protocols will be followed.
- Nutritious meals will continue to be served daily.
We will continue to be in regular discussion with state and public health officials as their guidance is updated. We look forward to your input and appreciate your support as we support learning for every student in Cobb County during these unpredictable times.
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I believe the Cobb County school board developed a plan that impacts all invested parties except for the most affluent. You should think about the following:
1. How can the school board meet virtually yet let parents and students know mask and social distancing are recommended?
2. For working families I can not keep my children at home. Although inconvenient, I could work something out if a hybrid schedule was implemented?
3. Schools are made to pack students in classrooms and cafeterias. The cafeteria is the “perfect storm” for a so-called super-spreader event.
At the end of the day, I do not see much difference save allowing kids (lucky enough) to stay home for a semester.
I expected more for the school board.
There are so few details available. I know I want to know if the virtual option is the same as in person meaning, will my children be taught by the teachers at their school in classes with their peers in their school or will they be enrolled in the GA public homeschool option and be learning entirely separate from their peers at their own school? Will they eat lunch in the classroom? What happens if most students choose in person learning? If most of the student body is in school how will social distancing even be possible? Will there be temperature checks? It is difficult to make such a huge decision without having all the details answered first.
Greetings Superintendent and hope we taxpayers are allowed to share our opinions and inputs in a constructive/collaborative way.
At the outset, A little disappointed that it’s an all or nothing option (face to face OR remote) for schools in cobb county for fall 2020-21 (maybe there is a reason which we don’t know).
Mostly across US, school districts are first adopting the conservative hybrid model for fall semester, to ensure students have both rich in house learning experience and also remote learning, thereby providing a dual experience and at the same time reducing potential community spread to their staff and personnel that may lead to shutting down the whole school again.
Cobb county even though being one of the better districts nationwide, is adopting all or nothing approach to some parents/teachers/administrators consternation.
To add further, verbiage “encouraged” (instead of mandatory) to wear masks is kind of illusionary, when scientifically its now proven wearing masks is 80 to 90 percent effective in stopping the spread. By using this semantics we are potentially exposing our beloved teachers, administrators, students, parents to risks when we ALL want them to do well. A much better conservative approach, in our opinion and shared among a lot, would be to start the fall with hybrid approach and then do (F2F or Remote) in spring semester, if needed. ( based on events turning out (ie any spread, other challenges like availability of buses etc).
Kindly reconsider and if possible, provide data (results of the survey conducted already) and facts leading to this decision and not considering the hybrid model or reduced daily school hours.
Thank you for all the efforts in this public service and appreciate a transparent response.