BTCS COVID-19 Response Care Plan
January 24-February 15, 2022
In response to challenges we are facing due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in our school district, for the next three Mondays, Bristol Tennessee City Schools will be CLOSED:
Monday, January 24, 2022
Monday, January 31, 2022
Monday, February 7, 2022
Why is BTCS taking this measure?
During the last two weeks, our region and the country has seen an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases. This is also true for staff and students in our school district. The large number of cases is causing a shortage of staff and lack of access to COVID-19 testing. By closing on Mondays, part-time educational assistants will work full days on Tuesdays-Fridays of these weeks. This will allow us to maximize our coverage in classrooms using existing staff and utilize our subs four days per week instead of trying to cover five days. We will also take this opportunity to disinfect our schools. Last school year, we used a similar model for similar reasons with temporary remote Wednesdays that proved effective.
Childcare
To minimize the inconvenience for parents, childcare will be provided as follows:
Fairmount Elementary School (grades K-5): 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Tennessee Middle School (grades 6-8): 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Your child may also bring a snack and a water bottle. Transportation will NOT be provided.
Please click here for more information or to sign-up for COVID Response Childcare.
COVID-19 Testing
Testing will be available for staff and students at each school and at the BTCS Administration Building on those three Mondays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. You must contact your child’s school to see if your child qualifies for testing and to schedule an appointment to get a COVID-19 test. We will also continue testing at each school and at the Administration Building as usual on Tuesdays through Fridays of those weeks. Information about testing can be found here.
How does this impact the school calendar?
The three Mondays school will be closed will be taken from our stockpiled inservice days. BTCS earns 13 stockpiled days every school year. During the 2021-2022 school year, four of our stockpiled inservice days are in our calendar as Flexible Learning Days. This left us with nine days available in case of inclement weather. We used one of those on Friday, January 7, leaving us with eight. By using the next three Mondays, we will have five stockpiled days remaining.
Extracurricular and Athletics
Most extracurricular and athletic activities will continue as scheduled unless otherwise communicated. LEAPs will not be offered these three Mondays.