Crisp expands virtual teaching plan systemwide

Superintendent Hughes says policy applies to all grades for next week

CORDELE, GA – The latest surge of Covid-19 in South Georgia has local educators in a TBA state of class planning.

One day after making all Crisp County High School students return to virtual instruction, Crisp Schools Superintendent Cindy Hughes is expanding the policy to all Crisp schools and grade levels, for a single week, starting next Monday.

Below is the Friday afternoon press release from the Crisp BOE on their new, Covid-19 sensitive plan as it applies to student instruction.

****************************************************************************************

With careful consideration, due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the community, the Crisp
County School System administration has made the decision to move all students to virtual
learning for the next five (5) school days. Students will return on campus Monday, August 23,
2021. Also, beginning Monday, August 23, 2021 we will offer a virtual option for K-12
students who choose to not return on campus this semester due to the COVID-19 conditions.
Our nutrition department will prepare a meal package to be distributed at the hotspot locations
while students are working at home.
This decision was made with many factors in mind. Current COVID-19 data has heavily
impacted our decision to move our students off campus for instruction in order to mitigate the
spread of COVID-19. We understand the concerns of our families, as well as staff, and we have
made this decision with all considerations in mind. Please understand decisions such as these
are not taken lightly, and may not be convenient for everyone, but safety for all during this time
of uncertainty is essential. We understand these decisions may create hardships and are
disappointing to students and their families, but these are necessary measures to avoid the
potential of spread within our schools and community.
Next week we will share a Google form with parents/guardians to register their student for the
virtual learning option, if the parent desires. If you register your student for this option, they
will continue the virtual learning option for the remainder of the first semester, which does not
end until Friday, December 17, 2021. Virtual students will be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities on campus. If academics become concerning while participating in the
virtual learning option, the school may require the student to return on campus for in-person
learning. At this time, the virtual learning option does not apply to Pre-K students. Pre-K
students must return on campus Monday, August 23, 2021.
In order to make the best decisions for our community, we will continue monitoring the
COVID-19 data to inform future decisions. Again, thank you for your support and flexibility
during these times of uncertainty.