Bossier School Board adopts plan for 2020-21 academic year

BOSSIER PARISH, La. (KSLA) — Bossier School Board members today unanimously adopted a plan for the start of the 2020-21 academic year.

Bossier School Board agenda for July 16

The 2020 Bossier Strong Start plan was presented to board members by Superintendent Mitch Downey; Nichole Bourgeois, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction; and Jason Rowland, assistant superintendent of administration and personnel.

A spokeswoman has confirmed that the School District’s plan for reopening the parish’s campuses will be released to the public Monday.

Aug. 12 marks the first day of the 2020-21 school year for Bossier Parish students. Student registration will be conducted July 31-Aug. 7.

Here are some highlights of the plan that was adopted:

This is a Phase II plan.
Middle and high school students will be on an A/B week.
A = Monday and Wednesday
B = Tuesday and Thursday
During the first week of the year, students in the A group will go to school on Friday.
The next week, students in the B group will go on Friday.
The groups will alternate from then on.
A/B classes will be virtual when they are not in the classroom.
The School District will try to offer all the extra classes like band. Students will not use wind instruments nor sing.
Schools will have atomized sprayers so classrooms can be sprayed nightly.
The School District is working with daycare centers that pick up students after school so there will be no cross-contamination.
Dr. Martha Whyte, regional medical director for the Louisiana Office of Public Health, was consulted on the plan.

Bossier previously has stated that it’s considering a traditional start to the academic year with health and safety measures in place at the schools in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Virtual learning programs also will be provided as an alternative for elementary, middle and high school students. Applications to attend the School District’s Virtual Learning Academy will be available after students have registered at their zoned school.

There also have been discussions about a hybrid platform.

In developing its plans, the School District surveyed parents and guardians about their thoughts and concerns.

Bossier received 8,550 responses representing 12,500 students in all grade levels. Click here to view the complete results of the survey.

On Monday, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education rolled out its minimum health and safety standards for the state’s public schools this fall.