Broward County Public Schools has announced the cancellation of summer activities in its public school buildings.
They said base on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), public health experts, and federal, state and local governments regarding safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic, the District will not host any activities during the summer in school buildings. This includes municipal summer camps and daycare services, Before and After School Child Care, and all other activities previously scheduled or anticipated.
Superintendent Robert Runcie made the announcement in a letter, spelling out the following changes:
- The District will not physically host any activities during the summer in our school buildings. This includes municipal summer camps, daycare services, Before & After School Child Care and all other activities previously scheduled or anticipated. District staff is working closely with providers to coordinate these programs using distance learning, whenever possible.
- School summer operations will be limited to construction, maintenance, cleaning and preparation for the opening of schools in the fall. Teachers are currently scheduled to return to campuses on Wednesday, August 12. The first day of classes for students is scheduled for Wednesday, August 19.
- Required summer programs including Third Grade Reading Academy, Extended School Year and VPK, pending state approval of VPK programs, will be offered for eligible students using distance learning, supported by extensive use of video chats. Class sizes will be reduced for fewer students per teacher to maximize instructional support and personalization.
- Optional summer programs – including transition camps for rising sixth and ninth grade students, Reimagining Middle Grades Align camps and activity-focused camps will only be offered using distance learning, whenever possible.
- Professional learning for staff, including the onboarding of new employees, will be conducted using distance learning.
Students will be allowed to hold onto their district-issued computer devices until the start of the 2020-21 school year to allow for distance learning and activities over the summer, Runcie said.
There is no timetable for a final decision about reopening campuses for classes in August.
