UPDATED July 30, 2021 at 3:00pm. Released August 2, 2021 at 12:35pm.
The WMCSD Safe Return plan is subject to change based on COVID-19 data and/or information from state/local/educational agencies or officials.
The WMCSD Board of Trustees gives the Superintendent or her designee the authority to make changes or adjustments to the plan as needed. Updates will be shared through the communication tools listed below.
The district uses feedback collected from employees, parents, and community members through on-going communications via meetings, emails, telephone calls, and surveys.
Back to School Information Highlights:
- Employees will report for professional development on Monday, August 2 and Tuesday, August 3.
- Students will report to school beginning Wednesday, August 4, 2021.
- Visit our website at www.winonamontgomerycsd.com for the district calendar and more information on a variety of topics.
- Students will participate in traditional face-to-face instruction.
- Masks will be required for all students and staff while indoors and on the bus.
- Masks, temperature checks, and health questions will be required for all visitors to schools.
- Proper handwashing techniques and hygiene will be taught and encouraged.
- Students experiencing symptoms of a communicable disease will be placed in an isolation room until they are picked up from school.
- Students and employees who are sick must stay home.
- All students will be eligible for free breakfast and lunch.
Transportation - All students and employees on buses will be required to wear a face covering. Students will be spread out as far as possible on the bus; however, social distancing of 6 feet will not be possible. Parents are encouraged to provide transportation for their students.
Food Service - Plans are being finalized and will be shared in more detail soon, but include delivering meals to classrooms for some grades and eating in classrooms or other designated areas for all students.
Information is provided through a number of outlets:
- Website - winonamontgomerycsd.com
- Social Media - Facebook and Twitter - Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District and @WinonaDistrict respectively
- Newspaper - The Winona Times
- Radio - WONA FM 95.1
- AIM Parent Notification System
- SchoolStatus - email, telephone calls, texts
COVID Hotline - tigertalk@winonaschools.net.
Face Coverings will be required of students and employees.
- Students and employees will be required to wear a mask at all times while indoors.
- Students and employees may wear a mask or neck gaiter of their choice that meet the following requirements of covering the mouth and nose and being one solid color (no logos or emblems).
Documentation of Vaccination
- Employees must submit documentation of being fully vaccinated to their supervisor.
- Students are encouraged to submit documentation to the school nurse or office.
- Documentation should be submitted 14 days after receiving the final dose of the two-dose vaccine or the dose of the single-dose vaccine.
- Vaccinated employees and students do not have to quarantine as a result of a close contact. Vaccinated employees and students will be able to participate in the school setting without wearing a mask as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.
Sports and Activities MHSAA Guidelines and MSDH Guidance for Sports and Activities will be considered in all decisions.
As a requirement of the American Rescue Plan: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP/ESSER III) funding, the WMCSD plan addresses the topics listed in bold below.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING
- Implement traditional face-to-face instruction
- Provide afterschool and summer school programs to help with learning loss
- Pay stipends to certified staff to participate on a variety of topics related to learning loss and Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Hire additional personnel such as academic interventionists
- Provide instructional coaching for teacher and administrator support
- Issue devices to students and teachers for enhanced learning experiences
- Use a variety of programs such as iReady, STAR Reading & Math, Edgenuity to monitor students’ progress
- Conduct Needs Assessments through surveys, school based Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings, and district leadership team meetings
- Elicit parental feedback at the school level
OPERATIONS
- Use Board approved school calendar for 2021-2022 approved June 8, 2021
- Follow guidance and best practices from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) for cleaning and sanitizing the buildings and distributing meals
- Clean/disinfect buses after each route
COMMUNICATIONS
- Utilize AIM, the district’s website and app by Apptegy, and SchoolStatus to help communicate health and safety issues or necessary changes to the district’s regular operating schedule
- Use the district’s email hotline tigertalk@winonaschools.net for questions and concerns
- Use various resources to educate students and their families on proper personal hygiene and sanitation practices
HEALTH AND SAFETY
- Hire additional personnel (counselor, social worker, certified nursing assistants - CNA,)
- Provide ongoing professional development for all school staff in the areas of reducing the spread of communicable diseases and improving Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Collaborate with Mental Health agencies
- Provide educational materials and resources to address social, emotional, mental health, and other needs of students and staff
- Provide access to support services (School-Based Counselors and Social Worker plus LIfeHelp therapists)
- Replace outdated HVAC systems as needed
- Replace windows as needed
- Recommend self-screening at home by both students and staff
- Adhere to CDC and MSDH guidelines/recommendations for mask wearing and social distancing strategies for large gatherings (extracurricular/events) based on the CDC and Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) guidelines
TECHNOLOGY
Provide devices and software to enhance in-person and virtual learning
- Conduct Needs Assessments quarterly through surveys, PLCs and Leadership Team Meetings
- Conduct Semi-annual Equipment Quality checks
- Students will be assigned Chromebooks once school begins. The students and their parent/guardian will be required to sign an agreement accepting responsibility for the device.
- Internet access is available in the Winona Elementary and Winona Secondary schools’ parking lots.
This plan is subject to change based on the Mississippi Department of Education and/or state officials.