The start of the school is fast approaching for the Mountain View-Birch Tree School District. Recently the district released their back to school plan and in Superintendent Dr. Don Christensen’s words, “It’s going to be a different start of school.”
The return date has been set for Monday, August 24. “It’s going to be a different start of school with lots of unknowns right now,” started Dr. Christensen on the back to school plan. “We are all going to have to work through issues that we’ve never faced before in those first few weeks of school. We are dealing with the effects of COVID, social distancing and keeping everyone safe at school. We are trying to allow for some virtual education at every grade level. Those are all things that we have never done before so there’s no doubt there’s going to be challenges that we are going to have to work through. The biggest challenge is the lack of internet accessibility in student’s homes. Just because we can offer it, doesn’t mean students can access it at home. We encourage everyone to be patient and we will work with you if you work with us.”
Parents will have two educational options for their children this school year. Students can physically attend school when school reopens or students can continue their learning for the first semester in a virtual format with teachers from their school or Acellus for middle and high school. Parents wanting their students to use the virtual platform must be enrolled by Wednesday, August 19. Parents can sign their students up for virtual learning by contacting the building principal. If the virtual platform is chosen, students must complete the semester virtually. Students enrolled in either virtual or distance learning will not be eligible to participate in extracurricular events and activities.
For students physically attending school, masks will not be mandated. Every classroom will have hand sanitizer and disinfectant available. Six electrostatic fogger sprayers have been purchased by the district to disinfect the school, buses, PE and playground equipment. Social distancing will be enforced, students will face one direction and not facing each other. Elementary breakfasts will be “grab and go” with social distancing recommendations for lunch in all buildings.
For transportation purposes, students riding buses will have assigned seats and students from the same family will be seated in the same seats. Temperatures will be taken daily for students and employees.
Schedule pick-ups for Liberty High School will be held the week before school starts. Liberty High School Seniors can pick-up their schedule Monday, August 17 from 8:00am to 12:00pm; Juniors on Tuesday, August 18 from 8:00am to 12:00pm and Sophomores on Thursday, August 20 from 8:00am to 12:00pm. Incoming Freshmen and new students only can pick-up their schedules during open house which will be held from 7:00pm to 7:30pm at the Liberty High School on Thursday, August 20.
The Liberty Middle School will hold their open house for incoming sixth grade students and new students only on Thursday, August 20 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm in the gymnasium. Schedule pick-ups for seventh grade will be held on Tuesday, August 11 from 8:00am to 12:00pm and eighth grade will be held on Wednesday, August 12 from 8:00am to 12:00pm.
For more information on open houses and schedule pickups, the district can be reached by calling 417-934-2020. Information regarding the districts back to school plan can be found at http://home.liberty.mvbt.k12.mo.us/
