INDIANAPOLIS — All schools in Marion County, including IPS, will begin at their scheduled time in the fall — but students and parents will still have options.
"All Marion County traditional public schools will be starting on their scheduled date and will offer instructional options in either the physical school setting or online for students who are not able or are uncomfortable returning to school on the scheduled start date," the school systems said in a joint statement released Wednesday.
The school systems have not released any additional guidance at this time and say they are waiting on the Marion County Public Health Department to finalize their guidance before sending additional details to parents.
You can read the full statement released by IPS below.
"Indianapolis Public Schools stands united with our fellow Marion County school districts to ensure we provide a safe environment when we welcome students and staff back to school for in-person learning. In a joint announcement, in collaboration with the Marion County Health Department, all Marion County traditional public schools announced they will be starting on their scheduled date and will offer instructional options in either the physical school setting or online for students who are not able or are uncomfortable returning to school on the scheduled start date.
Greater detail will be provided to our families in early July after the Marion County Public Health Department finalizes their guidance to us."
You can read the full joint letter from the Superintendents of Marion County Public Schools below.
Dear Marion County Public School Families,
We appreciate the patience and understanding of our families and communities as we have been planning for a safe return to school. The Marion County public school corporations have been meeting weekly with the Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) as we prepare for the 2020-2021 school year. We know that Governor Holcomb’s Executive Order allows schools in Indiana to open July 1. In addition, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and MCPHD Director Dr. Virginia Caine anticipate that Marion County will be in Stage 5 in mid-July based on the current data. And, the Indiana Department of Education, in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Health and the Indiana Family and Social Services Agency, recently released guidance for the reopening of Indiana schools in their IN-CLASS report.
Marion County public schools, in collaboration with the Marion County Health Department, have come together to share important information as we prepare to welcome your children back to our classrooms. All Marion County traditional public schools will be starting on their scheduled date and will offer instructional options in either the physical school setting or online for students who are not able or are uncomfortable returning to school on the scheduled start date. Greater detail will be provided to our families in early July after the Marion County Public Health Department finalizes their guidance to us. The guidance we will receive from the MCPHD and will share with you in early July will include procedures for:
- Symptom Screening
- Cleaning and Disinfection
- Cloth Facial Coverings and Masks or Face Shields
- Social Distancing
- Student Health and Safety
- Bus Transportation
- Identifying, Reporting, and Tracing Cases
Please expect more details to be shared in early July. Thank you again for supporting your Marion County public schools as we look forward to a safe reopening for the 2020-2021 school year.
- Dr. Paul Kaiser, Beech Grove City Schools
- Dr. Matthew Prusiecki, MSD of Decatur Township
- Dr. Bruce A. Hibbard, Franklin Township Community School Corporation
- Dr. Shawn A. Smith, MSD of Lawrence Township
- Mr. Patrick Mapes, MSD of Perry Township
- Dr. Flora Reichanadter, MSD of Pike Township
- Dr. Timothy Hanson, MSD of Warren Township
- Dr. Nikki Woodson, MSD of Washington Township
- Dr. Jeff Butts, MSD of Wayne Township
- Dr. Kyle Trebley, School Town of Speedway
- Mrs. Aleesia Johnson, Indianapolis Public Schools
