CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman County School Superintendent Dr. Shane Barnette announced at the county school board meeting Thursday evening that Kindergarten through eighth-grade classes will be returning to in-person instruction five days per week beginning Monday, April 12, following the expiration of the state mask mandate. County school employees and students will not be required to wear masks, though they may do so if they choose.
Traditional students in grades 9-12 will have the option to attend in person on Wednesdays, and can ride the bus to school and get a meal on that day. The superintendent added that they can still work virtually from home if they choose.
Barnette told the audience at the meeting, “We’re not going to require anyone to wear a mask after April 9. But if they feel more comfortable doing that, we’ll make sure they’re fine doing that. Students or adults: if they want to wear a mask, they can.
“So with that being said, we really want to attract all of our students that have been taking virtual classes, we want them to come back.”
For students enrolled in virtual instruction, the central office advises:
- Current virtual students are encouraged to return to in-person instruction to finish out the school year. Paperwork needs to be completed by April 9, 2021 to begin April 12, 2021 on campus.
- Afternoon tutors, which the CARES act will now fund, will take over the monitoring of virtual students each Wednesday in grades K-8. Teachers will still be able to view virtual student progress, but will not be required to work with virtual students on Wednesdays when traditional students return.
- Traditional students in grades 9-12 will have the option of coming to school on Wednesdays beginning April 12, 2021. Those students will follow the normal bell schedule but will be focusing primarily on pre-assigned work. This is so high school teachers can continue to monitor virtual students. Cullman County Schools has a higher number of virtual students in grades 9-12, which is why this plan is different than K-8. Although students will be doing pre-assigned work, this change will allow them to have dependable connectivity and meals served.
Barnette concluded, “I’m really excited about this. I think it gives us a great opportunity to get our kids back, and really touch base with them and work hard for the last several weeks, and finish out this school year on a positive note.”
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