August 5, 2020 Edition

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News

Greenville County Schools Changes Start Date

GCS has revised the 2020-21 school calendar, changing the start date from Monday, August 17, to Monday, August 24. Read more about GCS Start Date Change.

Greenville County Schools Roadmap Attendance Plan

Greenville County Schools has developed Roadmap 2020, a framework with four possible Attendance Plans designed to allow students to safely return to in-person instruction as the threat from COVID lessens. The plans are labeled Plan 0, Plan 1, Plan 2, and Plan 5. Plan 0 is the same as 100% eLearning with no in-person attendance and Plan 5 is what we consider normal - 5 days a week of in-person attendance. The Roadmap divides students into color groups based on the first letter of their last name. These groups will be important anytime the district is on Attendance Plan 1 or Attendance Plan 2. Under those two plans, students attend school in-person either one or two-days per weeks (corresponding to the plan number) and are on eLearning the other days. The benefits are that teachers get in-person interaction with students, but on Plan 1, only ¼ of students are in school any day and on Plan 2, only ½. Dividing up student attendance allows social distancing in most areas of the school and alleviates many concerns with student transportation, arrival and departure. Social distancing is not possible under Plan 5, when 100% of students are in school every day. The district will announce which plan will be in effect at the start of school on August 10. Absent emergency conditions, any change between Attendance Plans will be announced least five calendar days before the change is implemented.

Attendance Plans will be aligned to the DHEC community spread as follows:

High Community Spread - Attendance Plans 0 or 1 will be in effect
Medium Community Spread - Attendance Plans 1 or 2 will be in effect
Low Community Spread - Attendance Plans 2 or 5 will be in effect

Learn more about GCS Roadmap Attendance Plan

Virtual Program

In response to the needs of our community, GCS has added a new full-time virtual option for students in grades 5K-12. Students must be enrolled in a GCS school to register for the GCS Virtual Program. Unlike eLearning, which was implemented under emergency conditions during last spring's school shutdown, students in the Virtual Program will have a normal daily instructional schedule, earn grades, and receive timely teacher feedback in response to class or homework. Teachers experienced in online platforms and virtual instruction will help and support student engagement using live and recorded lessons and tutorials.

All applications submitted prior to 11:59 p.m. on July 27 were automatically ENROLLED in the GCS Virtual Program. All applications received after that point will be placed on a wait list. Those students will be enrolled in the Virtual Program based on our ability to accommodate additional students at the appropriate grade levels. Apply for the Virtual Program.

Destination Return to (in-person) School

On July 21, GCS unveiled Destination: Return to (in-person) school, the district's plan for re-opening schools in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. A new Parent Resource webpage was also unveiled and is being updated regularly with additional information important to parents and community members. GCS Re-opening ebook

Unofficial Board Meeting Summary

August 4, 2020

Virtual Special Called Meeting - The GCS Board of Trustees had a virtual Special Called Meeting to receive an update on school re-opening, vote on three items, and receive an update on current facilities projects.

Superintendent's Report - Dr. Royster provided an update on the 2020 School Re-Opening plan. The presentation is available on Boarddocs in the link below.

Superintendent's Presentation

ACTION ITEMS

Framework Correlating DHEC Community Spread Level Rating to GCS Attendance Plans - Approved the Administration's recommendation that the DHEC Community Spread level ratings be correlated to the GCS Attendance Plan. The practical result is that, absent other contributing factors, the administration will select Attendance Plans 0 or 1 when community spread is High, Attendance Plans 1 or 2 when spread is Medium, and Attendance Plans 2 or 5 when spread is Low.

Request for Use of CARES Act Funds - Approved recommendation from the Administration to expend $3,306,920 in CARES Act funds for Virtual Program technology support and COVID-related expenses for the 2020-21 school year.

Personnel- Approved the hiring of personnel as recommended by the Superintendent. Among the approved were Assistant Principals Libba Mattison, who will serve at Lakeview Middle and J. Clint Yarborough who will move into a new role at Tanglewood Middle.

INFORMATION ITEMS

Facilities Project Report- The report was presented as information.