To send your letter to the editor, email it to editor@decaturish.com. The global pandemic of COVID-19 has only magnified the flaws and inequities of most institutions, especially healthcare and education. Naturally, these District achievements have had a drastic impact on the city of Decatur at large. Schools have been closed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to only a four days’ notice, the plan’s deadline for choice fell on a Sunday, the last day before the holiday break. Theinitial plan was to begin a phased return for in-person instruction by mid-October, but after several protests, teacher resignations and new public health data, district officials reversed their assessment. By 2018, only 20% had earned a career pathway credential and were working in Georgia. DECATUR, Ga. - Teachers from the Decatur City School District rallied silently in front of the school board headquarters Tuesday to express their concerns about the new plan … Describe contingency plans for a second wave or reoccurring waves of COVID-19 infections. Over the past 10 years, CSD has seen unprecedented growth in enrollment as families, sharing the same value for high academic achievement and college readiness, moved here for the school system alone. What was most concerning of all, is the original make up of the committee lacked any representation from our Black community and their advocate organizations. CSD is increasing the class sizes of its virtual cohorts to the effect that virtual classes will be double or even triple the size of in-person classes, with high probability that these young students (K-5) will be reassigned a new teacher in the middle of the year, with a new class of students from across the entire district, not necessarily even from their own neighborhood school. , CSD Leaders have failed to move the needle in terms of addressing the disproportionate outcomes affecting the academic achievement of and the disciplinary actions against its marginalized students, particularly the Black students. Some parents are left wondering if staff had to work outside of contracted hours to track down parents during the first week of break, the week that was supposed to make up staff’s contracted break that was removed by the cancellation of the Fall break. Students in pre-K through fifth grade can return to school in person starting Jan. 19. This plan was communicated only through email. As a result, CSD is pouring all of its resources into bolstering the viability of its new in-person model at the cost of the students who need to remain virtual for physical health and safety. Decatur City Schools Reopening Plan Video. Fulton changed its plan Dec. 16, while Cobb announced the change Dec. 15. For years, the City Schools of Decatur (CSD) has been plagued by pervasive issues of inequity and racism. Decatur City Schools is excited to be partnering with the Amazon Future Engineer program, which is going to fund computer science professional development. The gentrification of the city compromised its racial and socio-economic diversity by sky-rocketing housing costs and property taxes, thus resulting in a community that has now become unaffordable for the average middle class family. We accept letters to the editor. By Kellie Miller | August 3, 2020 at 8:23 AM CDT - Updated August 3 at 8:35 AM . Guntersville City Schools announces traditional, virtual reopening plans Alabama health, education officials announce coronavirus contact tracing apps for college students Adapted Curriculum/Program Special Education classes, … msn back to msn home news. Of all the truths that this global pandemic has revealed, among them is that Dr. Dude is not the right fit to lead this particular district at this particular time. Decatur City Schools will open Aug. 12, but what that reopening will look like will remain uncertain even after the system releases its reopening road map next week, according to In acknowledging that an in-person learning environment is the gold standard of education, it is also admitting that its virtual option is sub-standard. The Executive Session will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the Board meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m. – Susan Camp, CSD parent of a special needs child and a member of the Beacon Hill Black Alliance of Human Rights education committee, [adsanity id=”59104″ align=”alignleft” /] [adsanity id=”56211″ align=”alignright” /], [adsanity id=”61010″ align=”alignleft” /] [adsanity id=”59208″ align=”alignright” /]. Sign up for our free newsletter by clicking here. The Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights, a group that advoca... tes on behalf of Black residents and students in Decatur, on Friday released its official position on City Schools of Decatur’s school reopening plan. City school board members support Dude, but have not voted to approve his plan. Reopening Plans 2021; In-Person Learning Schedule & Procedures; COVID-19 Stakeholder Planning Committee; CSD COVID-19 Safety Manual ; CSD COVID-19 Reporting Dashoard; Glennwood Elementary; CSD COVID-19 Reporting Dashboard . Many children with special needs are also burdened with co-morbidities of health that make COVID a greater risk for them. Dear Decaturish – City Schools of Decatur reopening plan isn’t transparent. We reserve the right to edit letters for length and content. Find links to your district's plans, plus updates to special programs, here. If you appreciate our work on this story, please become a paying supporter. In this current model, CSD is offering two completely different and inequitable learning environments. Mild but wet through the end of the year Video. [adsanity id=”56022″ align=”aligncenter” /], [adsanity id=”59106″ align=”alignleft” /]  [adsanity id=”52166″ align=”alignright” /], To advertise with Decaturish, click here or email advertise@decaturish.com. Parents can choose to continue virtual learning or return for in-person instruction; however, this reopening plan is contingent upon coronavirus data and the level of community spread. 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