Jeannette City planning in-person learning, virtual academy for 2020-21 school year

Parents of Jeannette City School District students will get to decide whether their child has instruction in-person or virtually during the 2020-21 school year.

School board members this week approved the district’s reopening plan, which includes daily temperature monitoring of students and staff upon entry to buildings as officials navigate returning to the classroom during the coronavirus pandemic.

An initial survey of parents showed that nearly 65% wanted their child to get in-person learning this fall, according to the district’s plan. About 12% said they wanted their child to learn remotely, while the remainder preferred a hybrid option.

Students will be required to board buses in a specific way and wear masks during transport to school. Masks will be required throughout the school day when social distancing can’t be met. The number of students in lunch periods and classrooms have been reduced and the cafeteria realigned, according to the plan.

Plexiglass dividers will be installed in classrooms where individual desks are unavailable. Daily cleaning measures will be increased and hand sanitizer will be available, according to the plan.

Jeannette Virtual Academy will include daily instruction, attendance and ability to participate in clubs, honors courses and extracurricular activities. Chromebooks will be provided to academy students and teachers will monitor their progress, according to the plan.

Superintendent Matt Jones said parents will be able to switch their students from one method to the other at any time during the school year.

More information is available on the district’s website.

Parents are being asked to take an online survey by July 24.