MUSKOGEE, Okla. — School districts across the state of Oklahoma are re-evaluating plans to open this fall.
READ MORE: Green Country school districts release 2020-21 plans amid pandemic
Muskogee Public Schools said it pushed its opening date back to Aug. 31. and Tahlequah announced it is delaying opening until Aug. 27.
Muskogee announced it will alternate every week between virtual schooling and in-person classroom attendance.
READ MORE: Muskogee Public Schools release 'Return to School Plan' for 2020-21 academic year
”The interesting thing about this year is going to be focus on remote learning, that distance learning you’re going to have," said Dr. Jarod Mendenhall with Muskogee Public Schools. "Every superintendent in Oklahoma is trying to figure out what the best answer is and there’s really not a best answer."
Muskogee Public Schools said it’s going to open school the first week and then switch to virtual learning the second week.
"We’re all trying to figure out what does that distance learning look like? What is virtual learning going to be?” Mendenhall said.
Districts also looking at lack of equipment. For example, Tahlequah is delaying opening because of a shortage in PPE gear for coronavirus safety precautions. Muskogee said it has stocked up on PPE, but how long will that last?
One thing they do know—classrooms will be sprayed and disinfected every day.
"We do want to protect everybody as much as possible from COVID, but we also know that we have some students that need the attention of our adults on a daily basis,” said Lance Crawley with Muskogee Public Schools.
Mendenhall said, ”In Muskogee County, we feel like we can go to school and take some of those precautions and really be okay."
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
