FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gary Schools Welcome Students Back for In-Person Instruction
Gary, IN – Today, nearly half of the student population (4,500) of the Gary Community School Corporation (GCSC) returned to buildings for in-person instruction for the first time since closing mid-March 2020 due to the pandemic. Teachers, staff and administrators worked together to ensure a safe return for scholars while maintaining the engagement of students who are still learning virtually.
“So far, we have been pleased with how things are going with re-entry,” said Dr. Paige McNulty, Manager of GCSC. “We thank the parents, students and staff for their patience as we navigate through times no school district has ever experienced.”
Teachers have been trained to instruct in-person and virtual students simultaneously with the aid of cameras, white boards and various educational applications. Live instruction takes place Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The buildings are closed on Wednesdays for deep cleaning while all students participate in online instruction.
Each school developed a re-entry plan designed to safely bring students and staff into the facilities at scheduled times. Temperatures are checked before entering the building, and hand sanitizer stations are readily available at the entrances and most doorways. Each student and teacher has desk shields and are required to wear a mask when moving around the building and classroom.
“We’re really proud of our teachers and administrators for being so nimble through all the changes,” added McNulty. “We thank the parents for being patient and understanding as we implement the new processes in every school.”
Breakfast and lunch are pre-packaged, and students are assigned numbers to indicate where they should sit on the bus, in classrooms and in the cafeteria. Each school also hosted virtual parent meetings to explain the new protocols and procedures for in-person learning.
“We look forward to the day when we can bring back all of our students,” said McNulty. “We will continue to watch the COVID-19 numbers, and inform our families of any changes in operation as they occur.”
For more information, visit GarySchools.org, and follow GCSC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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