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What parents, students, Savannah need to know when school starts Wednesday

Savannah Morning News - 7/30/2021

Jul. 30—With just three days to go until 37,000 Savannah-Chatham County students return to school, the district wants parents and the community to know a few things that will make the transition to in-person learning smoother for students and everyone else.

Attendance: While the ultimate desire of the district is to have all students in school five days a week, the district is not expecting perfect attendance. Students who are sick, or who have a fever, or any possible COVID symptom should be kept at home. "We're not looking for perfect attendance because perfect attendance means come when you're not feeling well," said Ann Levett, district superintendent. "We've said to students and staff. "What we're looking for is for you to come [and] engage with us."

She added students and staff who need help with physical health, mental health or emotional health should feel free to reach out to their school staff and that help will be provided.

As for students who may have not attended school as consistently as they should have from the fourth quarter of the 2019-20 school year through 2020-21, social workers, school counselors, and other school staff have been reaching out to those families. "We'll see some of those students return [and] we will see them reengage," said Bernadette Ball-Oliver, district associate superintendent of secondary schools. She added students may have moved out of the area, but for students who still reside within the district, and who may have changed schools, Ball-Oliver said those students will be assessed to find out if they completed the requirements to move on to the next grade level.

Air quality in schools: One of the mitigation strategies the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends is upgraded HVAC systems. SCCPSS buildings' HVAC systems have been upgraded and filters are changed regularly. "We change approximately 6,541 [air] filters every two months," said Vanessa Miller-Kaigler, district deputy superintendent and COO.

Bell times: A list of updated bell times for all schools, as of July 29, is posted on the district website at sccpss.com.

Electronic devices: Students will be required to bring their laptops or other electronic devices to school each day. "The expectation is that [students] will bring them to school every day," said Ball-Oliver. "[The devices] need to go home with them so that they are able to continue with their homework and other projects and assignments. [Electronic devices are] integrated into their classes every day."

Face masks: Due to rising COVID cases, the district is requiring all persons in district facilities to wear a face mask indoors until further notice — regardless of vaccination status. Students are required to wear face masks while on the school bus. If a student at the bus stop does not have a face mask, bus drivers have a limited number of paper face masks. However, face masks are optional while outside, so students can take a "mask break" during recess.

Jobs with the district: Savannah-Chatham County Schools continues to hire for many positions from bus drivers and monitors, to resource officers, crossing guards, custodial and nutrition department staff. Available positions are posted on the district website at sccpss.com.

Meals: Breakfasts and lunches are free for all students in 2021-22. Applications for free and reduced lunch are not required. Menus will be posted at the serving lines.

For students attending Savannah-Chatham E-learning Academy who want school meals, they should contact their nearest school site and pick up their meals there. "As long as there's communication with the cafeteria manager, we can make it happen," said Dorothy Dupree, district school nutrition coordinator. The SCELA student's academic coach (usually a parent) can request up to a week's worth of meals at their nearest school. Dupree added if a student is at another location — such as with a caregiver — during the school day, the caregiver can just call the nearest school and pick up the student's meals from that location.

Open Houses: All schools are hosting open houses right before the first day of school, or during the first week of school. Parents should check their child's school website for days and times as these vary by grade level or student's last name.

Traffic: With the shortage of bus drivers, the school district anticipates an increase in walkers, cyclists and parent drivers in drop off and pick up lines. Terry Enoch, chief of the school district police department, is asking the community to be aware of students walking or riding bikes, and drivers slowing down to enter school properties.

"Be aware of little scholars, medium scholars, and big scholars who are walking or riding bikes to school," Enoch said. "We have asked local law enforcement to support us. You will see speed enforcement out of pretty heavy." Parents should check their school's website for directions to enter and exit drop off and pick up zones.

He also asked for patience from community members who don't have children in school. "Be patient," Enoch added. "Tell your boss you might be a little late because you're taking your child to school or you have to slow down while driving through a school zone."

Here are a couple of rules of the road to remember, according to the Georgia Driver's Manual:

—When school is in session, drivers must be aware of reduced speed limits in school zones. Drivers can be cited for driving just one mile per hour above the posted speed limit. Fines start at $75.

—All motor vehicles must stop behind a school bus that has activated flashing red lights and extended stop signs. It is unlawful for any motor vehicle to pass a school bus while it is loading or unloading children.

The Chatham County Police Department will activate speed cameras on Aug. 16 around several school zones. The school zones to be monitored are near Georgetown K-8; May Howard and Marshpoint elementary schools; Coastal Middle, and St. Andrew's School.

While citations won't be issued the first 30 days after activation, motorists should be aware that the cameras will be operational the entire school day, not just in the mornings and afternoons when children may be going to or from school. The cameras will be on from one hour before the start of school until one hour after the end of school.

CCPD added there will be signage before the cameras alerting motorists of the speed cameras; and citations will be issued only if the motorist is caught going more than 10 mph above the posted speed limit, starting Sept. 16.

Vaccines: At the Forward to School Expo on July 24, Levett said more than 200 people received the COVID vaccine from St. Joseph's/Candler staff. She reiterated getting vaccines is one of the mitigation strategies for keeping students and staff safe. However, the district cannot require the vaccine or ask for someone's vaccine status. "Our intention is to continue to recommend [and] strongly encourage people to be vaccinated since we know that that is a big part of the solution," Levett added.

Barbara Augsdorfer is the education and nonprofits reporter for the Savannah Morning News. Reach her at BAugsdorfer@gannett.com or on Twitter @Babs7983.

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