Florida Keys students to return to classrooms as local COVID-19 rates drop
Florida Keys students will return to public school classrooms over the next few weeks as COVID-19 rates along the island chain have subsided, school officials said Thursday.
The return will happen slowly over the next few weeks, starting Monday, with schools bringing in students who may need a little extra help navigating the changes and different routines, said Monroe schools spokeswoman Becky Herrin.
By Sept. 14, school leaders expect all schools to have some students back in classrooms.
Under the plan, students in grades pre-kindergarten through grade 5 will be in school five days a week with their assigned teacher. Students in grades 6 through 12 will return on a part time basis and attend virtual school on days they are not in the classroom.
“Fewer students will allow for social distancing in the classroom, and for fewer students in hallways and other public areas,” Herrin said.
The rate of COVID-19 cases in the Keys helped make the decision, said Monroe County Superintendent Theresa Axford.
“Virus spread in our community is not at a high level,” said Axford. “It has been below 7 percent for the past 10 days, and after consultation with the health department, we believe as long as we all follow safety guidelines, students and teachers can remain safe and healthy.”
Axford said she will monitor the rate closely as the return date approaches. But the plan is to employ social distancing — including one-way hallways — hand-washing and masks as protection against the virus.
“We made this decision because we think we can do it safely,” Axford said.
Families have a choice in returning their children to classrooms, though.
“The parents have a virtual option,” Axford said. “We’re going to try to work with the parents to provide virtual teachers that are within their school. We’re going to try to accommodate parents’ needs. They need to talk to their school principal.”
Like in Broward, schools opened last week for remote learning. Miami-Dade public schools will open remotely on Monday.
As of Thursday, the Keys had 1,704 known cases of COVID-19 and 15 deaths.
There was only one current hospitalization reported by the state health department. It was at Lower Keys Medical Center on Stock Island.
On Sept. 8, schools will begin bringing all students back for orientation on a staggered schedule. Orientation will include an introduction to changes meant to provide safety.
The changes include smaller classrooms of 8 to 12 students. “Fifteen if it is possible within social distancing guidelines,” Herrin said.
Signs will remind students to wear masks, wash their hands and maintain social distancing. Also, schools will make hallways one-way so students will not pass each other, and kids will eat in their classrooms instead of the cafeteria.
“We want to be able to continue doing this, but the only way this will work is if we all follow the rules and respect each other when it comes to health and safety,” said Axford.
Students must wear masks when safe social distancing cannot happen, said Herrin.
“In general, students will be wearing masks in the classroom,” Herrin said. “However, they will have mask breaks at the teacher’s discretion and there are other things that depend on situational issues.”
But in South Florida, putting kids back in classrooms hasn’t been risk-free. Florida has a school COVID-19 problem in Manatee County, which opened up and immediately saw infections.
Four K-12 schools and two colleges reported new COVID-19 cases over the past several days. There have now been more than a dozen cases at Manatee County schools since the return of students on Aug. 17.
For teachers in Monroe, views on the return to classrooms vary, said their union president.
“Some people have their own health concerns,” said Holly Hummell-Gorman, president of the United Teachers of Monroe. “Some people have concerns about family members at home they don’t want to expose. It just depends on what your personal circumstances are and what you believe about the virus.”
Monday’s return is limited to students such as those who speak English as a second language, homeless students and others from low-income homes, she said.
“It’s voluntary students and voluntary teachers, so it’s not everybody,” said Hummell-Gorman.
The union and the school board are in negotiations over the return to classrooms. They met Thursday and will meet Monday from 3 to 6 p.m.
This breaking news report will be updated.
This story was originally published August 27, 2020 at 4:11 PM.
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