Williamsburg Board Sets Reopening Plan

“Our goal is to bring students back to school,” Superintendent Lisa Murgas said during the Williamsburg Community School Board meeting on July 21.

Murgas outlined a plan that is available to school district families via the school’s website.

If Blair County is in the Green Phase, Williamsburg will open in its entirety on Aug. 24. Classrooms will be reorganized to maximize space in order to social distance; if this is not the case, wearing a mask and practicing additional personal hygiene will be in place. Transitions will be limited; schedules at the high school and elementary will be reduced to limit student interactions throughout the day.

“It is going to be very difficult for students to wear a mask all day long,” Murgas said.

Murgas added that there will be mask breaks during the day if social distancing guidelines cannot be followed. In the upper level of the elementary school, Murgas said they are currently measuring to get 20 per classroom to meet the social distancing guidelines.

For high-traffic areas like the school district cafeteria, there will be a modified lunch schedule that will promote for social distancing, hand sanitizer will be installed, provide prepackaged food items if feasible, prohibit sharing food and plexiglass will be installed along serving line and cashier line in cafeteria.

If the school district enters the Yellow Phase, students may be grouped into a hybrid model of Groups A and B – where group A attends classes on Mondays and Tuesdays; Group B on Thursdays and Fridays. Online learning would take place on the remaining days.

If a Red Phase occurs, the district will be closed and full online learning would be implemented.

Parents will be asked to take temperature checks at home and if a child shows any symptoms of COVID-19 for them to stay at home. Families who do not feel comfortable sending their children back to school are urged to contact the school immediately for alternative options.

Disinfecting procedures and protocols will be established such as extensive cleaning of “high-touch” areas such as doorknobs and railings. Disinfecting sprayers will be used at the end of each school day to combat spread of virus. Hand sanitizers and other disinfecting cleaning products will be provided in classrooms.

Mugras said the school district has enough masks for four to five months for each child to wear one daily.

The School Board approved the Health and Safety Plan following Murgas’ presentation.

The school board also approved Elementary Principal Jennifer Metzler’s request for 38 students for a bus ride during kindergarten orientation on Aug. 6.

Rebecca Smith submitted her resignation as high school yearbook advisor, which also was accepted.