The 2021-2022 school year is off to a great start in Elmore County! We welcomed our students back to full in-person instruction, and we are looking forward to returning to many of the routines and practices we followed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health and wellbeing of our students and staff are of utmost importance. We will continue the cleaning and sanitation procedures for facilities and buses we implemented early in the pandemic. Seating charts will be maintained in classrooms and on buses, and buses will be sanitized after both morning and afternoon routes. The importance of in-person instruction cannot be overemphasized. We believe students benefit academically, mentally, and physically from in-person learning and made the decision to offer only in-person instruction in our schools. Students pursuing the virtual
option will attend The EDGE virtual school upon completion of the application/admission process. Sick students will be able to take advantage of our blended attendance plan. We are excited to announce that athletic events will return to 100 percent capacity. Each sport implemented an appropriate cleaning protocol last year and will continue that practice this year. Breakfast and lunch will again be provided free of charge to all students for this school year. Breakfast will be served in classrooms, but students will return to the cafeterias for lunch. Meal components will be pre-portioned to allow for student selection. Students generally look forward to socializing during lunch, so I expect they will be very happy about this change! We implemented a 1-to-1 technology initiative during the 2020-2021 school year. This year, students will be able to benefit from in-person instruction while utilizing the technology as a learning tool both in and out of class. Finally, mental health resources for students and staff are readily available. We
will utilize Rhithm, a K-12 student and staff wellness check-in tool throughout the district. Our employee assistance program is offered through American Behavioral. We also partner with other agencies to provide services and/or make referrals as needed. We often refer to “getting back to normal” as we go about our daily activities. In reality, we may never completely return to pre-pandemic “normal.” We have, however, learned valuable lessons about the importance of focusing on our students and staff first and being adaptable in the rest. Elmore County is committed to doing everything possible to provide high-quality instruction and the necessary academic, social-emotional, and mental health support for our students and staff. Our goal remains: Every Student Empowered – Every Student Succeeds. Richard Dennis is the Superintendent of Education for Elmore County Schools. He is a 1983 graduate of Holtville High School. He served 21 years as a high school principal at Holtville High, Wetumpka High and most recently, Prattville High. He and wife, Leslie (also an educator) have three sons and a daughter.
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