May 10, 2021 – What schools will look like next year is the focus of a new district survey open now through May 24.
Parents, students, and school-based employees are invited to share their thoughts on COVID-19 measures for the 2021-22 school year in the new survey available here.
The current COVID-19 mitigation strategies — including face-covering requirements — will remain in effect through the final few weeks of school.
However, the feedback the district receives through the survey — along with the latest guidance from the CDC and input from local health professionals — will help guide decisions on how to open schools for next year.
Mitigation strategies, including temperature checks, desk shields, and face covering requirements, are covered in the survey.
The survey takes just a few minutes and will be available through midnight, May 24.
Watch the video above to hear Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene discuss how filling out the brief survey will impact 2021-22.
What about COVID-19 safety measures for remainder of 2020-21?
There are many questions about the safety measures already in place for the 2020-21 school year. Questions include why these measures remain in place, and were they impacted by recent executive orders.
Why they are in place: Since the start of the school year, the District has reviewed and implemented CDC guidance on the use of cloth face coverings in school. These guidelines are also supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Florida Department of Health and local health officials. In the District’s estimation, the layered mitigation response this school year has helped to reduce the spread of COVID-19 within district schools.
While vaccinations are increasingly becoming available to all ages, there is still a substantial level of transmission of COVID-19 in the community. Therefore the District will continue to follow the advice of the CDC regarding required use of face masks in school settings.
For next school year, the district will review recommendations FDOE provided for 2021-22 as well as guidance from the Florida Department of Health and other local health partners. Input from parents, students and staff will also be collected.
Executive Orders: With respect to State of Florida Executive Orders 21-101 and 21-102, the Florida Department of Education has indicated that neither of these orders impact any school district’s policies for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.
An additional communication was sent from the Florida Department of Education regarding their recommendations for the upcoming school year. The District will take those recommendations into consideration along with guidance from the Florida Department of Health, other local health partners, and feedback received from the survey prior to school resuming in August.
