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Fayette R-III School Board

Fayette school board mulls holding summer school amid pandemic

Justin Addison Editor/Publisher
Posted 5/26/20

Whether or not the Fayette school district will host summer school this year was a major point of discussion during the Board of Education’s regular meeting Wednesday, May 20. Board members …

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Fayette R-III School Board

Fayette school board mulls holding summer school amid pandemic

Posted

Whether or not the Fayette school district will host summer school this year was a major point of discussion during the Board of Education’s regular meeting Wednesday, May 20. Board members voiced concerns over various issues with regard to holding summer school classes during a period of financial uncertainty, all the while adhering to guidelines meant to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Daly Elementary principal Cheri Huster detailed results from a recent survey sent to parents about summer school. At the time of the meeting, 111 parents had responded. Of those, almost 70 percent said they wanted to send their children to summer school, and 50.9 percent indicated the need for bus transportation. About 17 percent of respondents said that their children would not attend summer school if transportation is not provided.

So far about 85 students have shown interest in attending summer classes. Huster said one strategy to comply with social distancing guidelines would be to host summer school programs in two sessions, which would allow for small class sizes of 15 students or fewer. 

“We’re hoping to have about 45 kids per session,” Huster explained.

The sessions would be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays June 15 to June 25, and June 29 to July 9. The district hopes to be able to provide breakfast and lunches for those attending summer school. “I think the families would appreciate the food and that would be another good positive to this summer school program,” said Huster.

Almost half of the survey’s respondents say they would like their children to attend both sessions. Determinations for which students could attend both sessions will be assessed by need, Huster said.

Transportation supervisor Gary Beeler is looking at possible routes based on those parents who asked for summer school bus service during the summer term. The district would likely be able to provide transportation with only two busses. Students would ride one per seat to comply with social distancing recommendations.

Huster said the district plans to submit summer school plans to the Howard County Health Department for review.

In order for Fayette to host summer programs, it must be able to afford them. The district is facing budget shortfalls due to cuts in state education funding which is a casualty of the economic fallout from COVID-19. “We have to balance our expenditures with our revenue,” said Fayette superintendent Jill Wiseman. “Figuring out our revenues right now is tricky at best.”

“We really want to do this for our kids,” Wiseman said.

Other concerns expressed by members of the board centered around fear of litigation should a student test positive for the coronavirus after attending summer school. The legal landscape is uncertain. Politicians at the federal level are advocating for protections for schools, businesses, and other organizations against such lawsuits. But no legislation is currently in place.

District administration and board members are expected to announce a decision this week.

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