BOISE, Idaho — The Boise School Board approved a Fall 2020 reopening plan for students in the Boise School District. The plan provides students and families with the option to return to school in the Fall for in-person learning or enroll in the Boise School District's online learning program.
The plan reflects input from hundreds of community stakeholders, including parents, educators, health professionals, state officials, as well as Boise School District Health, safety, food, transportation and facilities administration.
The plan creates a framework for the Boise School District to reopen, with fluid guidelines being implemented for reopening, rather than static goals. Day-to-day school-level operational plans, athletics and activities guidelines, as well as detailed information regarding the District's new online school, will be available in the near future.
Highlights of Fall 2020 Reopening Plan
- Provide Monday through Friday in-person learning at all Boise Schools beginning the start of the 2020-2021 school year on August 17, 2020.
- Provide an option for students to enroll in an online learning program with a robust learning curriculum that mirrors the District's in-person curriculum, as much as possible. Registration for the online learning option will open July 13th and run through July 31st. Further information about online registration will be announced in the near future.
School-Specific Pandemic Operation Plan
School teams will now create school-specific pandemic operation plans to support the District's Elementary School Pandemic Operation Plan and Secondary School Pandemic Operation Plan. School principals will obtain input from their staff and parents and communicate about those plans in their July school newsletters/communications.
Each school's Pandemic Operation Plan will support the following personal protective equipment (PPE) strategy (per CDC guidelines):
- Use of masks and face shields by staff. (Recommended)
- Use of masks or face shields by students. (Recommended)
- Sneeze guards -- Main office space in each school.
- Mobile hand sanitizer stations in each school.
- Hand washing stations/sanitizing stations in each classroom.
- Intentional physical distancing measures.
- Take measures to reduce class size and maximize space -- remove furniture, master schedule changes
- Digital thermometers in each school.
- Disinfectant wipes available in each classroom.
- Disinfectant spray bottle in every classroom.
"We sincerely appreciate all the input received, including the results from our parent and staff surveys and public comments, explained Superintendent Coby Dennis of the Boise School District.
In making Thursday's announcement, District leaders reassured parents, students, staff and the Boise community that the District is committed to seeing that every student has a meaningful connection to a responsible and caring adult.
For more information about Boise School District's COVID-19 response, click here for their COVID-19 webpage.
