School districts are submitting their plans for reopening to the Department of Education for review. Districts were provided with three options for reopening, including classroom instruction, online instruction, or a hybrid of the two. Because of rising Coronavirus numbers, some school districts are now delaying their reopening or opting to go online only.
Governor Tate Reeves says the online option or long delays could be detrimental to Mississippi students who need in-class instruction to learn. He says "If you take a first-grader or a second-grader, that was already struggling to keep up and you take them out of the classroom for months and months, quite frankly that could have not only this year and next, that could have an impact on that first or second grader's life for the rest of their lives because they may never catch up."
Governor Reeves says he is also concerned that some schools want to reopen like normal and aren't fully considering the health and safety of teachers and students.
State epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers says many schools have reached out the Department of Health for guidance on making these difficult decisions. "We're working closely with schools to put in place those measures to mitigate the risk as best we can with the understanding of the needed balance and the importance of kids to continue to receive education and to be able to continue to attend school," says Dr. Byers.
Governor Reeves says he will review all districts' plans for reopening over the weekend. He says if plans go too far in closing down or opening up, his team is looking into legal ways to reach a middle ground where students could be safe and educated.
