Vigo County School Corporation Announces Changes to their Back-to-School Plan

Vigo County has announced the following changes.

Dear parents and caregivers:

As you know, Vigo County is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases.

At the beginning of last week, our number of daily cases was relatively low. Now, they are much higher, and the Vigo County School Corporation believes we need to reduce the number of students in our building at one time to allow for smaller classes and more distancing, even though our children and staff will be masked.

When we return to school on August 18, all students who chose the in-person option will attend school every other day in an A/B cohort model that allows for a staggered, safer start to the school year. This plan was developed with the Vigo County Health Department, principals, and the Vigo County Teachers Association and is endorsed by those groups. We have attached a graphic to help you understand this new model.

The shift in educational model is due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Vigo County over the last week and seeks to limit the number of students in the building at one time to allow for a safer school experience for students and staff.

Students who chose the in-person model will be grouped into an “A” cohort or a “B” cohort and will perform remote learning on their day away from school. Those with last names that start with A-K will be placed in the A cohort. Those with last names that start with L-Z will be placed in the B cohort. This model will continue until September 4. Those who chose a hybrid or virtual model will continue with those fully-at-home models.

This model is the best way to check in with our students, welcome them back to school, and keep our children, staff, and community safe. We must safely build relationships with our children before learning can be successful.

We are continuing to work with the Vigo County Health Department, principals, and the Vigo County Teachers Association to determine how we would welcome more students into our buildings or reduce the number of students in our buildings—including a fully remote learning possibility—after Labor Day. An announcement on how school will continue after Labor Day will be made later in August.

Please, let us work together as a community to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on Vigo County.