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Knox County School Board meeting has begun. Big topic tonight...the plan for reopening schools. @wvlt
KCS School Board will not be voting on the reopening plan tonight. Superintendent Bob Thomas is going to present the plan only. Some board members say that takes away transparency @wvlt
Lots of discussion right now with the Knox County law director about whether this is legal to do so. @wvlt
Board motions to move onto presentation. Superintendent Bob Thomas now laying out the plan. @wvlt
Thomas says so far they’ve spent around $800,000 on safety measures at school. They plan to spend up to $5 million more this year. “Could be more. Could be less.” @wvlt
Reopening plan includes in-person classes and virtual learning. Whatever decision families make, they will have to keep that way for the full semester. @wvlt
Safety measures for in-class learning include: Temperature checks for everyone entering the building, including visitors...hand sanitizing stations in all classrooms...students and staff required to wear a mask where social distancing is not an option. @wvlt
Parents who wish to do so must enroll their kids for virtual learning option by July 22. @wvlt
“This school year won’t be easy, but our students are worth the struggle.” -Superintendent Thomas
Moving on to public forum now. @wvlt
First to talk during public forum is a mother of a student with special education needs. She has concerns about other students with similar needs going back to school under current conditions. @wvlt
Next is a father and physician. “COVID is real and very, very serious.” He says clearly a tremendous amount of thought went into reopening plan. He says there’s a lot [in the plan] he likes. But, he says it‘s missing a more stringent mask requirement @wvlt
Current mask plan reads “All staff and students will be required to wear an appropriate mask while on campus when physical distancing isn’t possible or there is a medical condition preventing it.” @wvlt
Third speaker for public forum is up. @wvlt
“I’m here to urge the board members and superintendent to demand the resources needed...this is too big for the resources we have.” @wvlt
Last to speak is Tanya Coats, Knox County Education Association President. @wvlt
“We are going to be damned if we do and damned if we don’t.” -Tanya Coats, KCEA President @wvlt
“We just want you to know that you have our safety in your hands.” -Tanya Coats
Public forum is over. Board is now discussing the plan. @wvlt
School Board member Jennifer Owen says these decisions should be, “our decision. We should be working together...this plan should be on me too, not just one individual. That is just not right.” @wvlt
“If we vote on this plan...what happens if we need to change something. Does it need to come back to the board? I think that would make things very difficult.” -Board Member Kristi Kristy @wvlt
Kristy asking Superintemdent Thomas if he wants the board to vote on the plan. @wvlt
Superintendent Thomas says, “Don’t ask me to make the decision for you. I made the decision on the plan” in response to Kristy’s question of whether he wants the board to vote on the plan. @wvlt
School board member Mike McMillan says if we do this, we need to do more with masks. But this is an “outstanding” plan. @wvlt
