Superintendents of school districts in Shelby County will meet with the county health department next week as they begin to devise plans for re-opening schools this fall.

Shelbyville Central Superintendent Mary Harper.

Harper told the Shelbyville Central school board Tuesday night she hopes to present the protocol for re-opening at a special meeting after that in June.  The board could then formally adopt that plan at its July meeting.

Harper says the goal, right now, is to open, on schedule, August 5.

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) released 2020-2021 school year COVID-19 reentry considerations. Indiana’s Considerations for Learning and Safe Schools (IN-CLASS) was developed in partnership with the Governor’s office, the Indiana State Department of Health, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, the Indiana High School Athletic Association, and IDOE’s Reentry Advisory Group, comprised of practitioners and professional organizations.

The Shelbyville superintendent acknowledges that schools cannot abide by everything in those guidelines from the state.

A survey is expected to go out to Shelbyville Central parents soon.  It will offer three questions:  are you OK with 100% participation at schools…..do you prefer 50% on site and 50% virtual….or all virtual.

Shelbyville Central does intend to have a virtual option to school should families feel they’re not ready to send kids to the buildings due to COVID-19 concerns.