Government & Education news

LAKE COUNTY SCHOOLS ANNOUNCES OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS TO RETURN TO SCHOOL

7/1/2020

In preparation for students’ return to school in the fall, Lake County Schools is offering options:

Traditional in-school learning,
Full-time online learning through Lake County Virtual School, and
Modified-day learning, a combination of the two.

The district has launched a new website at lake.k12.fl.us/reopening to explain the differences. Parents are asked to visit the site and by Monday, July 13, indicate on a form which option they prefer. The form for parents to select their choice is available here. The selection of an option on the form does not lock a parent into a decision or enroll the student, but rather gathers information for the district for planning. Once a student is officially enrolled in an option, the district prefers that choice is for the entire school year or semester.

TRADITIONAL IN-SCHOOL LEARNING

The traditional option is a full return to school buildings with teachers delivering instruction in person during the school day. Students will have opportunities to collaborate, communicate and problem solve with each other. This option includes enhanced safety protocols, such as six feet of social distancing in classrooms, hallways, gyms and cafeterias when possible. When social distancing isn’t possible due to classroom space or the setting, the district is still considering whether face coverings will be mandatory or strongly recommended for students and employees. Additional protocols include increased sanitization, limited group gatherings and temperature checks after a student or employee has exhibited COVID-19 symptoms.
The district is still developing a final list of safety protocols that will be in effect when school resumes. That list will be provided in the near future.

VIRTUAL SCHOOL

The full-time Lake County Virtual School option will give students access to a rigorous, fully accredited K-12 online curriculum with interactive teacher-led lessons for select content.

modified day learning

The modified-day option is a combination of the other two. It offers instruction for English language arts and math in a traditional school setting, with other courses (social studies, science and electives) offered through Lake County Virtual School. Students will be assigned either a morning or afternoon session for the traditional instruction. The district will not provide mid-day transportation for students who choose this option.

Lake County Schools purchased additional Chromebook computers so that every K-12 student can be issued a device. Students will not be asked to share a device with siblings. This investment will allow all students access to online curriculum and instruction, regardless of whether they choose the traditional, virtual or modified-day option.

An online survey of parents and students taken last month prior to the rising local COVID-19 cases resulted in 58 percent of parent and student respondents reporting they feel comfortable returning to brick-and-mortar school buildings this fall with unspecified safety protocols in place.

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3 Comments

John Burr

7/1/2020 11:06:47 pm

My grandkids would love to be back at Tavares High in person. Without mandatory masks, or with them, that place will be worse than bars reopening. Weren't there 5 lockdowns last year? Kids don't follow rules. I won't get to see my grandkids for months, and they live within 350 feet of my house. Kids are going to be killing there grand parents. I guess that will give therapists plenty to work with next year. Lake County Schools will be an Orphan Factory...

Mom

7/2/2020 12:16:08 am

Masks will not stop a virus. Listen to the real Scientists. 6 hours a day with the same mask on? Not to mention it’s not comfortable and hot. If your child has underlying conditions then maybe you should virtual school. Personal responsibility always. People that followed every rule/guideline ( masks, social distance, no more then ten in a group) still got the virus. The children need to be in a normal environment. Some hand washing breaks and cleaning desk and clean other high traffic areas. That’s all you can do. Kids are kids. The flu affects kids at a much higher rate. They have to miss a week or so of school every year and some get multiple strands through out the year and we have never changed a thing. This Virus affects kids almost never ( especially regular healthy kids). Time will tell if they can get the flu and corona virus at the same time? Bottom line either you choose to put them in or not. A mask is a false security. If you want to wear one I think you should be aloud but not forced. Kids will be trying to take them off all day and teachers are going to have to tell them all day to put it back on. If passed I have a feeling that rule will be broke the most. Most adults hate them so expecting a child to keep it on for that long is a bit too much in my opinion and honestly not necessary.

Another mom

7/3/2020 01:12:01 am

Yes but the same kids, who “it effects almost never”, will come home with the virus and give it to their diabetic parents and then those parents will be in the hospital. 😔

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