Preparation continues this week for the start of school in Madison County. Schools Superintendent David Gilliam says opening day falls a bit later than a traditional start. He said the August 18th date gives teachers more workdays up front.
Gilliam said COVID-related measures include maintaining space, recommended masking, frequent hand washing, and improved ventilation. The school district leader noted the use of masks generally has been polarizing. “When you look at polarizing issues, rather than take an absolutist view of it. Feels best to give people choice and let them make their decision. That is consistent with the recommendation from CDC,” said Gilliam.
At the end of the prior school year, Gilliam said about 30% of students were learning virtually. He said a robust and longer than usual summer school along with interventionists at kindergarten through 8th-grade schools should help in the effort to reduce the gap in academic learning. Gilliam noted teachers and students in the central Kentucky school district got in a lot of in-person instruction in 2020-2021. “You know our data showed that while we didn’t have the progress that we would typically expect to see in a year, the gaps are not as wide as you might expect. Particularly in reading, our reading gap wasn’t too much off of what it typically would be,” explained Gilliam.
Gilliam says a more prominent gap was seen in math instruction. The school district leader asks for patience and grace as the school year progresses. He admitted there are a lot of COVID-related challenges as instruction gets going next week.
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