Nonprofit Mississippi News Donna Boone said that her school was ready to reopen. Forrest County Agricultural High School superintendent said that her teachers had received professional development and plans were in place. Parents already made their decision about whether to enroll their child in traditional or virtual learning in the new school year. This was scheduled to start Aug. 10. Then, Gov. Tate Reeves announced that he would make an announcement on Aug. 4 about whether to reopen schools in the state, which is one of the worst COVID-19 hotspots in the country. Boone stated that she was aware of the possibility that Tate Reeves would push it back. However, it was for everyone. Tuesday’s announcement by Tate Reeves was live and he announced that districts in eight counties were deemed to be coronavirus hotspots. They would need to delay their reopening dates to Aug. 17. Grades 7-12. Forrest was among those counties along with Bolivar and Coahoma. On Aug. 17, the school will open its doors to in-person learning. She said that parents have the option of opting in to virtual learning. However, most preferred face-to-face instruction. Boone stated that she was not surprised by the announcement of the governor. “We find everything when the public discovers everything.” Boone is just one of many school leaders who had to make last-minute adjustments to complicated school reopening plans. Schools across the state were given instructions to make decisions about when and how they would open their doors in the fall before Reeves’ announcement. Reeves’ announcement made it more difficult for many school districts that were affected by the order to reopen. There is uncertainty about the ability to reopen virtually in some districts that were previously scheduled. Reeves’ order only affects 7% of students within the state. The order does not affect the remaining eight school districts, as 13 of them were already planning to open their doors before August 17. Sixteen of these districts had already planned an all-virtual opening prior to Aug. 17. They are currently receiving mixed messages regarding whether the governor’s executive orders allows that. The executive order’s language simply removes the authority of eight county school boards to determine the date for opening school terms for grades 7-12. It also sets the start date for 2020-21 school years for these grades at Aug. 17. However, the order doesn’t mention virtual learning. Reeves was asked Tuesday by a reporter whether schools could still plan a fully virtual opening before Aug. 17. He replied: “There is absolutely not prohibition of virtual learning, teaching or catching up.” However, this contradicts the guidance that school leaders receive from state education officials. The Mississippi Department of Education sent an email to all superintendents requesting clarification on the executive order. The department informed the superintendents that the delay in the academic calendar applies to all school schedules, whether they are traditional, virtual, or hybrid. “Therefore school districts in eight counties named in the order may not open school for grades 7-12 until august 17.” This confusion has caused confusion at the local level. Officials were planning to launch school completely online at the Leland School district, which is located in Washington County. Alexandra Melnick is a high school English teacher in the Leland school district. She said that she believed her school would not be affected by the announcement of the governor. This is the most confusing part. We were all very confident that the order of Reeves does not affect our actions. Melnick even stated that he wasn’t referring to us (districts which go back virtually). Leland has moved all schools — virtual and otherwise — back to August 17 since the order was issued. Melnick stated that there is no reliable information from the governor’s offices. “I completely understand why (the change) occurred because nobody wants to find out of compliance with an executive or.” Melnick expressed frustration that the order was issued so late in the pandemic and at a time when schools had spent months preparing their plans for reopening. Districts are rearranging their entire calendar year at a moment’s notice, instead of taking the time necessary to understand and plan for the new order. Melnick stated that Tate Reeves’ and MDE’s behavior in this matter is absurd. They act as if they have enough time to predict what will happen, Melnick said. It’s actually causing immediate, next-hour impacts to all these districts that had been planning for three months.” Superintendent Brian Freeman of Forrest County School District stated that the executive order led him make the decision to delay all grades’ return to school until Aug. 17, instead of having grades K-6 return on Aug. 10. Freeman stated that while we could have opened the younger grades but it would have meant that our students and staff would be on two different calendars. This would have meant that staff would have to work an additional week at the end or whatever way you chose for the students. “That could have been costly.” Freeman’s district, like Forrest County AHS reached out to the community and got in-person instruction. Parents also had the option to go all virtual. He said that only 20% of families had chosen virtual so far. However, the governor’s announcement prompted the district to reopen virtual registration for parents who changed their minds. South Panola School district, Coahoma Early College and High School all moved their start dates in accordance with the order. Others, such as Greenville, Clarksdale Municipal and Sunflower County Consolidated, had made the same decision before the governor announced it. The executive order didn’t technically affect them. Miskia Davis, Sunflower County superintendent, said that the district delayed school openings by one week. Students will only be able to participate in virtual classes, instead of planning for a hybrid model. Davis stated in an email that he had been closely monitoring the data and found that the trajectory was not supporting the initial hybrid plan. “The Sunflower County Consolidated Schools District is committed in safe navigation of these treacherous times, whether it means scrapping a plan we have spent months perfecting or implementing one that we have only had days to design.” To support this important work, you can make a recurring contribution today to celebrate our Spring Member Drive. Our reporters give a human face to policy’s impact on everyday Mississippians by listening more closely and understanding their communities. To ensure that our work is aligned with the priorities and needs of all Mississippians, we are listening to you. Click the button below to let us know what you think.