July 16, 2020
By: Staff Report
TAMPA, Fla. – Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent Addison Davis announced a new collaboration with Tampa General Hospital, USF Health, and Hillsborough County Public Schools, to assist the schools in reopening for the 20/21 school year.
Davis is also recommending a 2-week delay in returning to school this year. Earlier this week, Polk County Schools voted on a similar measure that would delay kids heading back to the classroom.
Superintendents full statement is here:
“Today, I would like to announce a new collaboration with Tampa General Hospital, USF Health, and Hillsborough County Public Schools. This partnership will assist our district in our 2020-21 reopening strategy. This will include a review of all school, student, teacher, staff, visitor, and transportation plans to ensure that all safety measures are under consideration and opportunities to educate the public exist before the start of the school year.
We all can agree that this school year presents unprecedented challenges because of COVID-19, and we’re so pleased that two of the area’s preeminent medical institutions have agreed to collaborate with us to provide the safest back-to-school environment possible.
The unpredictability of this virus makes the recommendations and expertise from medical authorities invaluable for Hillsborough County Public Schools as we look to reopen our doors carefully to our students, teachers, and staff. I look forward to collaborating with each of our stakeholders to clarify safety procedures and actively communicate expectations prior to the start of a new school year.
Tampa General Hospital and USF Health are excited about this partnership as we collaboratively focus on the health, safety, and well-being of our entire community.
Based on ongoing medical consultations, I will be recommending to the School Board that we delay the start of the 2020-2021 school year for students by two weeks, until August 24th. I understand that this recommendation will need to be reviewed, discussed, and approved by the School Board along with collaboration with HCTA.
One lesson the pandemic has taught the global community is that plans must be fluid to ensure the best outcomes for individual communities. I recognize the importance of listening to experts around timelines, and will continue to look at our strategies and school calendars to adjust for changes as we monitor the virus conditions.
I look forward to this continued partnership as we seek to protect all students and employees in Hillsborough County Public Schools.”
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