MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray announced Friday that SCS teachers would return to school for in-person learning on Monday, Feb. 22.
Pre-k students through 5th grade will return to class March 1, other students March 8, Ray said. Virtual learning is still available for families who chose that option.
A one-time bonus of $1,000 for certified school-based employees and $500 for classified school-based employees was also announced.
Ray said the district has spent million in COVID relief funds to purchase protective equipment, cleaning supplies, safety signage and improve building ventilation system in an effort to keep student sand staff safe.
The district canceled in-person classes in March of 2020 as the pandemic spread. Classes have been conducted virtually.
Shelby County Schools delayed the return to in-person learning that was set to begin starting February 8, saying the COVID-19 infection rate in the community was still too high to begin in-person school safely.
Shelby County Schools, the state’s largest district, is the only school district in Tennessee with no in-person learning option.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has pushed for Nashville and Shelby County to have an in-person option for students ready to go. A bill introduced by Republican Senator Brian Kelsey of Germantown would give Governor Bill Lee the authority to open schools through executive order.
“There’s proposed legislation in the general assembly that could impact our funding and penalize the district,” Ray said. “Not to mention the bill already passed in special session that would penalize districts for low participation on in-person TCAP.”
But Ray says while there’s a push to re-open, they will not compromise safety.
“Our buildings are ready. We’ve used millions of dollars of COVID-19 relief funds to purchase protective equipment, cleaning supplies, installed safety signs and improved building ventilation systems,” Ray said.
The superintendent did not give a specific date for when teacher and staff will have access to COVID-19 vaccinations but said it could happen in “the near future.”
Kelsey said he was happy to see SCS returning to in-class instruction, but was still pursuing passage of his Senate Bill 103, which received committee approval Wednesday.
“I am glad that Shelby County schools are now listening to the voices of parents like the ones who testified in favor of my legislation this week. This decision is long overdue because every Tennessee family deserves the choice of in-person learning. Let’s follow the science, and the science says it’s safe,” Kelsey said in a statement. “We will be watching to ensure that the plan to return to the classroom is implemented. Our children deserve the best education they can get.”
