Marshall County school officials are continuing to review the Indiana Department of Education’s guidelines on re-entry for the new school year together and individually to make it safe for all students and staff.
Triton School Superintendent Jeremy Riffle believes that the guidelines leave a lot of decisions to local health departments and school corporations as what can be enacted at each school corporation in August.
Riffle told the Triton School Board members Monday night that the school year is anticipated to start on time at the Triton School Corporation on Aug. 5. He said the state encourages school corporations to start on the regularly scheduled start date.
He added that meetings are being held with each department to ensure all details are worked out to provide a safe start of the school year.
“We started our meetings last Monday with Bruce Gephart and our maintenance crew,” explained Riffle. “We continued with food service and technology. Today (Monday) we had meetings with transportation and the Elementary School. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we’ll continue with Junior/Senior High School instruction. We’re just talking about what it’s going to look like and how we can continue to keep our kids safe, but use a lot of common sense to make sure things are age appropriate for them. We’re going to come out with a couple of videos to kind of show you what that’s going to look like at Triton.”
Riffle said some things to expect will be the use of masks by staff and students. Riffle stressed that masks will not be worn all day.
“We will be masking up when we’re on the bus, when we’re in close confined areas, when we’re in populated areas, and when transitioning in the building. When we get into the classroom we’re going to make sure that our desks are facing in one direction, our kids are safely spaced, and that may be a time when we are able to mask down.”
Teachers in the lower grade levels may be expected to wear face shields instead of masks.
Transportation routes are being coordinated and other measures are being developed. More detailed information will be available in the coming weeks.
