Logan County Schools’ PreK-8 students will return to full in-person learning (Monday through Thursday) beginning Monday, March 1. Superintendent Paul M. Mullins announced the change via video on Friday, Jan. 29.
“We had originally set a tentative date of Feb. 8 for the return of PreK-5 and hoped to follow a few weeks later with grades 6-8,” said Mullins. The plan has been altered to accommodate the vaccine process of school staff.
School staff from both Logan County Schools and Russellville Independent Schools were given the opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on Friday, Jan. 22. The second dose is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19. This schedule has moved the target return date for students to allow time for teachers to maximize the effects of the second round of shots.
We hope allowing teachers time to build immunity will result in fewer teacher quarantines. With additional students in each building and classroom, the number of students/staff quarantined could rise when we have positive cases in the schools. Securing substitute teachers is currently a challenge with fewer substitutes available. When staff members need to quarantine, we run the risk of not having enough subs. This could lead to temporary virtual learning.
“One goal we had was trying to avoid bouncing back and forth between schedules--in person, hybrid, virtual-- as I know this too presents challenges for our parents,” said Mullins.
The March 1 return to full in-person learning allows the district more time to prepare classrooms, cafeterias, gyms, and more for a simultaneous return of PreK-8 students. The safety of all 3,600 students and staff at Logan County Schools is of utmost importance to the district.
Virtual learning students may continue learning online. Current virtual learning students who would like to return to in-person learning should contact their schools.
The district has not announced a full in-person return date for Logan County High School.
“Social distancing in the classrooms and during class changes, at lunch, all of those places, is a challenge that we have to work through. We are monitoring the situation closely and will let you know when the high school students may return to full in-person classes.”
Logan County Schools thanks the students, families, staff, and community for their support, perseverance, and understanding. We know this situation is difficult for a lot of people and a lot of families, but know that these decisions are to keep us all safe.
The LoJo
Superintendent Paul Mullins speaks on this announcement in the following video:
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgxwLsJvLTwSDwDbbdjRwGVRbVsGf?projector=1