Reporter’s Note
What do you think schools need to do in order to reopen this August? Will teachers and students be ready? Are you worried? The Times Free Press wants to hear from you! Call 423-757-6592 or email mmangrum@timesfreepress.com to share your thoughts.
– Meghan
THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION NEWS
On Tuesday, May 12, Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Bryan Johnson is expected to announce the beginning of the district’s plans to reopen schools in August and the formation of a task force to begin to prepare for that reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Southeast Region group of the Tennessee Department of Education is also meeting this week to address the same issue.
But even before K-12 schools are set to reopen, child care, daycare and preschools are already reopening and grappling with some of the same issues.
In Chattanooga, all child care providers were allowed to reopen as of Monday, but between child-sized face masks, drop-off and pick-up procedures and the usual concerns of caring for children from age 6 weeks to 5 years old, providers are navigating a lot of new territory that might shed some light and wisdom for K-12 school leaders.
Keep reading for a look at the guidelines local child care providers are following.