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Huntsville parents have big decision to make by July 20

Huntsville parents have big decision to make by July 20

  • Start date for Huntsville City Schools (HCS) is August 17.
  • HCS families are being offered two options (Virtual and Traditional).
  • Enrollment in Virtual Academy must be done by July 20.
  • Masks will be required for all staff and students.
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Should we stay or should we go? It’s a question that parents of students enrolled in the Huntsville City School system are asking tonight and one they need to decide by July 20th.

The Huntsville City School Board of Education meeting, held this evening via Zoom, was an unveiling of their Reset Plan for the 2020-2021 school year. Included in the plan is the looming date of July 20 as the deadline for parents who are interested in taking advantage of the Huntsville Virtual Academy option for their students. The Virtual Academy is one of two options HCS families are being offered this school year which is slated to start on August 17.

Below are key details about each program that stuck out to us as we were watching as well as links to many more details (100+ pages). It is important to note that this is an evolving plan and much depends on ever changing Covid-19 numbers in our area.

Superintendent Christie Finley stated when referring to the recent mask mandate in Madison County, “We hope the choices people are making today will allow us to go to school in August.”

Huntsville Virtual Academy

  • Students will remain enrolled in their home school (including Magnet programs).
  • Each pupil will be given an HCS laptop.
  • Students will be able to participate in extra curricular and athletic programs.
  • There will be at least 3 interactive meetings per week with teachers/other students.
  • Teachers will be HCS teachers.

To see a full list of FAQs and more details about the Huntsville Virtual Academy click here.

Traditional/Face to Face Instruction

  • All students will be given an HCS laptop.
  • Everyone will wear masks including staff and students K-12.
  • Art/Music instruction will be given in homerooms. PE will take place in large spaces.
  • Playground equipment will not be used.
  • Plans for staggered schedule are ready if additional distancing/virtual schooling is needed.

While administrators acknowledged that it is a difficult time for parents to make decisions about school they emphasized they need solid numbers in order to move forward. “We need time to build a virtual staff,” said Finley. “A lot of this [the Reset Plan] depends on how many students we have coming back on campus.”

See Also

View full HCS Reset Plan – www.huntsvillecityschools.org/reset

More Details

HCS Facebook | Website | BOE meeting


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