William James Middle School

On January 25, Bulloch County Schools received from a parent a list of concerns about the school district's virtual learning program and upcoming iReady testing. The concerns were featured in three letters addressed to State School Superintendent Richard Woods, Dr. Kathleen Toomey of the Georgia Department of Public Health, and a limited group of six local, regional, and state media contacts.

The letters were copied to Bulloch County's Superintendent of Schools, Charles Wilson. Superintendent Wilson has reached out personally to the parent, members of the School Improvement Department have spoken to other concerned parents by telephone, and the school district's Public Relations Department has responded and assisted two of the media entities with their questions and media coverage. 

Bulloch County Schools certainly always welcomes parent feedback. We understand that decisions made by the school district are not always easy to understand. This is especially true during a global pandemic as we continue to find the right balance between instruction and safety, and move forward to keep children engaged in learning and fulfill our mission to the children of Bulloch County.

We want to share the specific concerns that were listed by the parent in the letters, and offer answers and points of clarification.  It is our desire to assist any employees, parents, or community members who may have similar concerns or questions. 

Concern: "BCS central office continues to change their procedures or rules mid-flight, causing severe communication problems and a state of distrust by parents."

Clarification: Superintendent Charles Wilson and his staff do continue to update the school district’s approach to an ever-changing situation (the COVID-19 pandemic).  With a steady focus on why we are all here, everyone in the school district has been expected to be flexible, even when that means adapting weekly or even daily, to meet the needs of students in continuously changing circumstances.  This mindset has been reinforced by Bulloch County Board of Education members in board meetings.  It is unfortunate that, due to the constant changes we are faced with in such abbreviated time frames, communication has not been as good as we would like.  However, the district has attempted to communicate in a timely and forthright manner.  We understand that many people are suffering with anxiety and other challenges to their emotional well being in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and that these conditions may make it more difficult to be satisfied with conditions, regardless of the facts that exist.

Concern: "The Superintendent announced school would be starting virtually for the Fall. Parents complained, so then he changed to allow parent choice. This resulted in SEVERE consequences for the virtual program as it divided already limited resources and left teachers to prepare for in person and virtual students."

Clarification: As Bulloch County Schools completed the 19-20 school year, there was much deliberation about how we would plan for the 20-21 school year.  It was the school district's decision to proceed with improving upon our virtual learning experience so that it would be a viable option for students as we moved forward.  

We incorporated feedback we received from stakeholders in March through May of 2020, regarding a virtual learning program, into our planning for the upcoming school year.  We also waited to find out if there would be further state guidance or requirements related to the upcoming school year.  

Due to such short timing and the intensity of circumstances surrounding our first pandemic, we began to evaluate all reasonable and practical options.  After extensive and careful deliberation between the superintendent and the Bulloch County Board of Education over the summer, the school district made the decision to offer options for students: a face-to-face option; and a virtual program option for students who did not want to return face-to-face. Additionally, we developed a distance-learning option for students enrolled in face-to-face that may have to be out of school for quarantining and/or sickness, allowing them to continue with their academic progress until they were able to return.  School was to begin, according to our previously established school calendar, on August 3, but due to the need for additional preparation, our school start date was pushed back to August 17.   

Teachers were selected for the virtual learning program, and most were assigned completely to virtual program students. In order to offer additional course offerings, there were a small number of teachers who were responsible for face-to-face students and virtual students (some examples included some teachers from these groups: GAA teachers, CTAE teachers, PreK teachers, STEM teachers).

Concern:  "Allowing iReady testing to be virtual in the fall, yet mandating it be in person for the winter. We have been told our students will be locked out of completing any remaining lessons, or even worse, be removed from the virtual program for not completing the iReady assessment."

Clarification: The school district is not aware of any parents being told that they will be locked out of completing any lessons, only that continuing in the virtual learning program may no longer be an option if the school district does not have iReady diagnostic data to support teachers and assist students.

The school district’s original intent in August 2020, was to conduct the fall, winter, and spring iReady assessments for all virtual students in-person.  However, due to the first semester volume of virtual students and other challenges associated with beginning school in a pandemic, the district chose to allow virtual students to take the fall iReady at home.

In early-October, Bulloch County Schools received its fall iReady results from Curriculum and Associates, and became aware of testing anomalies that indicated results were statistically unsound and could not be relied upon to adequately inform student interventions and enrichment.  After sharing this with school principals and soliciting their feedback, it was mutually agreed upon that the school district needed to ensure valid iReady diagnostic results by assessing students at school in a proctored environment.  Working collaboratively with principals through November, the district established a protocol for on site testing.

At the December 10, 2020 Bulloch County Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Charles Wilson and his leadership team updated the Board on this matter, informing them that, virtual students will be required to take assessments, such as the iReady, face-to-face, and that failure to do so may result in students not being permitted to continue in the virtual program.

The school district began communicating about iReady testing on January 18-19, and soon after the school district began receiving feedback from families who were uncomfortable coming in to test. School leaders began having conversations about what accommodations could be made for those with extenuating circumstances and the implications of not having this data.

There are 1,262 K-8 virtual students who need iReady testing. The district has extended the testing window and the deadline for virtual families to sign up for appointment times through February 26, three weeks after the original deadline of February 5. The superintendent will reevaluate the situation after February 26. For those virtual families who are comfortable with these and other safety measures that have already been put into place for on-site iReady testing, we ask that they proceed as planned. 

The district is offering late afternoon, evening, and  weekend appointment times, and at no time will virtual students be tested with face-to-face students. If any virtual families would like to discuss alternative arrangements, they may reach out to Kelly Spence by email or 912.212.8500 to discuss arrangements that best meet their family’s needs. The virtual learning program's parent agreement states that students are expected to “Participate in any state or district required assessments.” 

Concern: It should be noted the State Superintendent has said “"Local districts have authority to chart their course for the upcoming school year. Our role is to support them" and "we must choose compassion over compliance". It should also be noted the “agreement” or parent and student expectations outlines the requirement to participate in testing without unauthorized assistance. Additionally, the GADOE document gives guidance on parents choosing to opt out of state mandated testing.

Clarification: The Georgia Department of Education continues to reference the following: "Neither the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) nor the local district or school has the authority to waive the student assessment requirement mandated by federal and state law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-281)."

Concern: We understand iReady is not state mandated and therefore should allow for even more flexibility. Many of our surrounding counties are utilizing virtual proctoring. While there were safety precautions outlined for the in person iReady testing, parents are rejecting it because the actions of BCS central office has resulted in distrust from virtual families. Additionally, we reference the 2010 Georgia Code O.C.G.A 20-2-319.1 which states a characteristic of Georgia Virtual School is “not involving on-site interaction”.

Clarification: Bulloch County Schools does not have a virtual school. Instead, we offer a virtual program. Virtual schools, like Georgia Virtual School, may have different guidelines and compliance requirements than a virtual program.

Concern: The Bulloch County Board of Education changed quarantine protocol to allow far less protection for our students and community back in October 2020. This change was reversed due to a response from Dr. Kathleen Toomey with the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Clarification: The Bulloch County Board of Education did make an effort to establish local protocol out of interest in being responsive to our community.  Upon receiving a letter from Commissioner Toomey, the board approved the superintendent’s recommendation to rescind their previous decision.  

Concern: Parents were told it was an expectation for their student to make “adequate progress” in the virtual program, yet leaving that undefined, even after a 2-3 week delay due to learning platform glitches. While students stressed about being behind, they were always reassured by teachers that they were ok or not to worry. At the end of the fall semester, all but 1/8th of the virtual students were mandated to return to face to face or be unenrolled in Bulloch County Schools. It is our understanding that MINIMAL intervention was offered by BCS central office. 

Clarification: Adequate weekly progress is defined by teachers and used as a mechanism to measure student engagement and progress. Parent contacts are made based on weekly progress reports. In addition to teacher contacts, virtual program coordinators and social workers are also involved. A lack of engagement triggers a home visit by social workers.  In addition to how a student is progressing, this measure also allows our school district to ensure that students are safe.

Out of the 4,297 total virtual students, 2,175 students are no longer virtual. Of that number, the parents of 1,578 students chose for them not to remain virtual after the school district again provided parents a choice of platforms for the second semester. There were 597 students that were not allowed to remain in the virtual program due to not making adequate progress.

Concern: The implementation of the virtual platform was nothing short of a disaster. Teachers were not allowed access to the virtual program until a week prior to the beginning of school, making it impossible for them to facilitate a smooth transition. 

Clarification: Teachers were provided access to the virtual platform as soon as it was available. Student registration and rostering to the virtual program had to occur prior to the platform becoming live. Rostering could not be completed until parents made a selection of virtual or face-to-face learning.

Concern: The first two weeks of school were a wash due to not being able to log in, the system being down, or correcting teachers' rosters. 

Clarification: Many students and teachers experienced technical difficulties the first two weeks. A virtual help ticketing system was established and teachers, administrators, technology liaisons, media specialists and district personnel worked together to troubleshoot issues as quickly as possible.

Concern: Virtual and face to face pacing is not aligned. 

Clarification: The district contracted with teachers over the summer to align the pacing guides as close as possible. This was easily accomplished in most courses. We asked teachers to stick to the pacing guides as closely as possible. Additional adjustments were made to a few courses at the end of first semester to more closely align to the face-to-face courses. As with all curriculum, ongoing adjustments will be needed, and we will strive to improve each year.

Concern: Virtual students in middle and high school have MINIMAL to no interaction with local teachers. 

Clarification: In order to accommodate the needs of families, non-synchronous instruction was offered for maximum flexibility. The Edgenuity platform provides the bulk of tier-one instruction. Bulloch County Schools' teachers schedule individual and group meetings with students to provide additional support and intervention.

Concern: Due to multiple technical problems in the (virtual) platform, some students were unable to begin lessons for 2-3 weeks, putting them too far behind to reasonably catch up. This was not taken into consideration when students were forced to return face to face due to "inadequate progress" that was not any fault of their own.

Clarification: This is simply false. Students were given time to catch up and late assignments were not penalized. Progress was determined from weeks 12-15, long after much effort had gone into helping students catch up.

Concern: Students who chose STEM for connection were suddenly removed from it at the start of the Spring semester due to “no longer having a STEM teacher for virtual students”. BCS moved the STEM teacher for in person STEM. 

Clarification: One of our face-to-face teachers had a class period dedicated to STEM during the first semester, but the teacher is not a dedicated STEM teacher.  A large majority of middle school students returned to the face-to-face learning environment for the second semester. As a result, this teacher did not have space in their schedule for virtual STEM. It is common practice for middle schoolers to change elective courses mid-year after the first semester.

Concern: Teachers were forced to change grade levels and subjects between fall and spring semesters, leaving students to have to deal with yet another abrupt change with little to no warning. Some students still did not know who their new teachers were after the new semester had already been in session for several days.

Clarification: Due to many students returning to face-to-face, teachers were needed back at their schools. Each school’s personnel needs were evaluated, and shifts were made to meet student needs. Due to unforeseen circumstances, some teachers were not able to return immediately in January. Substitute teachers were needed for the first few days until the assigned teacher was able resume duties.

Concern: Parents have requested to participate in Board of Education meetings virtually. They were told “there’s no provision for virtual participation”. It should be noted that a Board member has participated virtually. It should also be noted in a separate email we were told “the district office lost trust in zoom”. With zoom being adopted by so many across the country, this is not a zoom problem.

Clarification: Parents do have the option to view board meetings that are live streamed on the district’s website and Facebook page.  Public participation at board meetings is not required to be offered virtually and the board has not chosen to make that adjustment. 

However, this does not prevent parents from submitting concerns to the superintendent and/or board members at any time if they do not want to attend a board meeting, nor does it prevent parents from expressing their concerns on social media, which is a common venue for expressing concerns.  Social distancing is maintained at board meetings, particularly for those who want to do so, and nothing prevents those who want to attend for public participation from doing so in a safe manner.

Concern: There are neighboring counties who are refusing to travel to BCS citing weak COVID19 policies as the reason. This results in a loss of money for athletic programs and the greater Statesboro and Bulloch County communities. This means those individuals don’t buy gas here and don’t eat here. 

Clarification: We recognize that other counties are making choices that align with their preferences and we respect their choices.  Bulloch County Schools is in compliance with all Georgia High School Association guidelines for athletics. Schools who do not travel to games must forfeit the game and we respect the right of other schools and districts to make that choice. We will continue to follow the guidelines provided to us by GHSA to ensure the safety of our athletes and spectators, while also respecting the desire of our community to allow activities that provide opportunities for our students.

Report COVID-19 related absences online - Employees and parents of students may report their COVID-19 related absences by contacting your school/office or using this online form. 

Schools reopened for the second semester for all students on January 6 . Please protect yourself and others by remembering to do a daily self-check health screening each day before work or school. For your convenience, please refer to the attached Bulloch County Schools' COVID-19 Prevention and Notification Protocols flyer and the Stop the Spread Self-Check flyer, which guides families about how to report COVID-19 related symptoms or absences to your school for proper public health practices.

The self-check information and absence reporting is also available as an online tool.  If any students or employees received a positive COVID-19 test or were exposed to a confirmed positive case during the winter break, and are unsure if they may return, parents may contact their school nurse and employees may contact their supervisor to discuss proper public health protocols. For any non-COVID-19 related absences, please follow the school district's regular student absence policies in the Bulloch County Schools Student Handbook.

Access Bulloch County Schools' real-time report of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 and quarantines here.

This website provides data for Bulloch County Schools' confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, clusters, and direct exposures that result in quarantine as reported by the school district's medical personnel and administrators using robust and secure protocol developed in partnership with the Department of Public Health. This website is updated in real time as cases are reported. While our school district medical personnel collect, monitor, and report other health data to the Department of Public Health, this online report will focus on confirmed cases, clusters, and quarantines/exposures.

• Case: A reported case is an employee or student in either the school district's virtual or on-campus learning programs, who has received a confirmed positive diagnosis of COVID-19.  A reported case does not mean that the individual was physically in or on school property (building, athletic facilities or bus) on the day the case was reported.
• Quarantines/Exposures: A healthy student or employee who has direct exposure to a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 on or in school district property (building, athletic facilities or bus) or they are the family member of a student or employee who has a confirmed positive case. Direct exposure means that the person was in contact with a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 within less than six feet for 15 minutes or more. A direct exposure does not mean that the person will become ill. The person is quarantined and monitored for 7, 10, or 14 days to see if symptoms arise. (revised CDC quarantine guidelines updated 12/4/2020)
• COVID-19 Clusters:  A cluster exists and is reported to the Department of Public Health if there are two or more people who were on or in school district property who developed COVID-19 symptoms or had a confirmed positive test within 14 days of each other, and who had been in direct close contact with each other. This is reported in order to monitor a potential outbreak or spread in a specific area.
• Isolations: Isolation separates people who are sick for any reason from people who are not. COVID-19 has a wide range of symptoms, some of which mirror other common illnesses. Based on our protocols developed with the Department of Public Health, some students and employees may stay home or be sent home to isolate for up to 10 days if they are sick. An isolated person can return to school if they receive an alternate, non-COVID diagnosis from a healthcare provider and have a negative COVID-19 test. An isolated person must also be symptom-free and fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing drugs to return to work or school.

Isolation numbers are not included in this online data because their COVID-19 status is unknown, and they may receive an alternate diagnosis from a medical provider. If an isolated person receives a confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis, then this online report will reflect that data.

• Students and Employees*:  The data reflects students and employees in both the school district's virtual learning and traditional on-campus learning programs because even those in the virtual program may be in or on school property.  College interns, student teachers, Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks & Recreation Department Afterschool personnel, and contracted services personnel who serve on our campuses are included in the data of this report as well.

• All schools practice deep cleaning measures throughout the day, and areas where a COVID-19 person has been will receive immediate deep cleaning.
• Only students whose parents were contacted are quarantined. Other students may remain and return to school.

How is COVID-19 related absence information monitored?

• School nurses will collect information on students and employees that are out for isolation or quarantine due to reasons related to COVID-19 so that the school district can adequately monitor their absence and their return to school or work. 
• The school district will actively communicate with the Department of Public Health when school or district personnel become aware of a confirmed case of COVID-19 that affects an employee or student who has been in or on school district property. School nurses have the necessary contact information to do this. 
• The Department of Public Health will handle  contact tracing for contacts outside the school environment related to a confirmed case. 

How will parents whose child has been exposed to a COVID-19 positive person be notified and what are their next steps?

• School nurses will monitor employees' and students' isolation and quarantine/exposure periods   
• During the quarantine/exposure 14-day period, school nurses and Department of Public Health will monitor persons for any COVID-19 symptoms. Person will also receive daily follow up communication the Department of Public Health. .
• At no time will any individual health information about other students or employees be shared with anyone.  The privacy of individual student health information is protected by the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act, and individual school district employee health information is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

How will the public be informed of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases?

• The school district’s Public Relations Department will maintain an area on the district website that provides up-to-date information about confirmed positive COVID-19 cases and any resulting quarantines/exposures.
• This information will be site specific, but will not include any specific information related to the individual(s) involved.   

How will students who are absent due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis or voluntary quarantine receive instruction or make up work?

• As a student is well and able, the school district’s distance learning option is activated for them, and the student will receive instruction and assignments at home from their Bulloch County Schools teachers via Google Classroom and Google Meet.
• Once a child can return after a quarantine period, face-to-face learning can resume.

How should families conduct daily self-checks to help stop the spread of COVID-19?

Before you go to work or school, follow these steps that were sent home with students and made available on our website

More flexible options reduce quarantines to 7 or 10 days
 

If you are directly exposed to a confirmed positive case of COVID-19, you now have more flexible quarantine options. Bulloch County Schools put the changes into effect on December 4 in response to COVID-19 protocol revisions announced by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on December 2, followed by updates from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as well.  While 14 days still remains the recommended length of time for healthy persons to monitor their health after direct exposure to a confirmed positive COVID-19 case, if you are not sick, you do not have any COVID-19 symptoms, and certain conditions are met, your quarantine period can now be reduced to seven or ten days. The isolation period for sick persons with COVID-19 symptoms remains at ten days. 

Bulloch County Schools' nurses and human resources personnel have updated the school district's protocols for students and employees accordingly. The new guidelines are retroactive and can be applied to those currently under quarantine.  Bulloch County Schools' quarantined employees and parents of quarantined students who are interested in finding out about a return before their original 14 days may speak with their supervisor or the student's school nurse.

Updated Duration of Quarantines

If you are not sick and do not live in a congregate setting (group home; dorm, etc.) you may discontinue quarantine after seven or ten days.

Seven-Day Quarantine

You may return to work or school after seven full days have passed since your most recent exposure to a confirmed positive COVID-19 case, if you have fulfilled all three of the following criteria:

• You are tested for COVID-19, and the test is negative. The test should be a diagnostic test (PCR or antigen) and the test specimen may not be collected more than 48 hours before you plan to end your seven-day quarantine. If you plan to discontinue quarantine after seven full days, then you should not have a COVID-19 test until after you have completed at least five full days of quarantine.
• You may not discontinue quarantine until you have completed a minimum of seven full days since your most recent exposure, even if you receive your negative test result earlier. If your result is positive, you must follow DPH isolation guidance.
• You do not experience any COVID-19 symptoms during your seven-day quarantine period.

Ten-Day Quarantine Option

If you choose to not be tested for COVID-19, you may return to work or school after ten full days have passed since your most recent exposure to a confirmed positive COVID-19 case, if you do not experience any symptoms during the ten-day quarantine period.

Quarantine Guidance for Student Athletes

A student athlete who ends quarantine after 7 or 10 days can return to practice if the athlete can adhere to mitigation measures, which include appropriate mask use and adherence to six feet of social distance from others while at practice. However, the athlete cannot return to athletic competition until a full 14 days have passed since direct exposure to a confirmed positive case of COVID-19.

Nine-Week Grading Terms for 2020-2021

• August 17 - October 5, 2020 - First Nine Weeks*
• October 6 - December 18, 2020 - Second Nine Weeks
• January 6 - March 18, 2021 - Third Nine Weeks
• March 19 - May 26, 2021 - Fourth Nine Weeks

*The first nine weeks is shortened for the 2020-2021 school year.

For Elementary School Students

At the end of each nine weeks, progress reports are available in Infinite Campus Parent Portal. The grades on these reports are a snapshot of a student’s progress at the end of each nine weeks. At the end of the second and third nine weeks, an updated snapshot will be posted to Infinite Campus. These grades are not averaged together for a final grade until the end of the year but are reflective of a rolling gradebook. 

A rolling gradebook is ongoing documentation of student progress and provides multiple opportunities for students to show mastery.  A student’s final grade is a calculation of all assignments and assessments throughout the year, regardless of the nine weeks in which the work is completed.  Since the progress report is a snapshot of where the student is at that current time, it likely will change quickly as students complete more assignments, make up missing work, and complete remediation and reassessment of standards that were not mastered.  For courses located in the SchoolsPLP platform, login with your student to view the most up-to-date grades at any time. 

Please note that in an effort to accurately report student progress, zeros have been used as a placeholder for assignments that are missing, incomplete, or never attempted. The rolling gradebook allows zeros to be replaced as the student completes the assignment.

Kindergarten students will not have grades reported in Infinite Campus but instead will receive a standards mastery report card. For the first nine weeks progress report, students in grades 1-5, will only receive a snapshot grade for English Language Arts and Math. Students in grades 3-5 will also receive snapshot grades in Science and Social Studies at the end of the second nine weeks. 

Please follow up with your student’s teacher or virtual program coordinator with any questions or concerns you may have.

For Middle School Students

At the end of each nine weeks, progress reports are available in Infinite Campus Parent Portal. The grades on these reports are a snapshot of a student’s progress at the end of each nine weeks. At the end of the second and third nine weeks, an updated snapshot will be posted to Infinite Campus. These grades are not averaged together for a final grade until the end of the year but are reflective of a rolling gradebook. 

A rolling gradebook is ongoing documentation of student progress and provides multiple opportunities for students to show mastery.  A student’s final grade is a calculation of all assignments and assessments throughout the year, regardless of the nine weeks in which the work is completed.  Since the progress report is a snapshot of where the student is at that current time, it likely will change quickly as students complete more assignments, make up missing work, and complete remediation and reassessment of standards that were not mastered.  We encourage you to check the Edgenuity Family Portal for the most up-to-date grades at any time. For courses located in the SchoolsPLP platform, login with your student to view the most up-to-date grades at any time. 

Please note that in an effort to accurately report student progress, zeros have been used as a placeholder for assignments that are missing, incomplete, or never attempted. The rolling gradebook allows zeros to be replaced as the student completes the assignment.

For the first nine weeks progress report, middle school students will only receive snapshot grades for English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Grades for electives/connections courses will be reported at the end of the second nine weeks.

Edgenuity Family Portal

View your middle school student’s most up-to-date progress in the Edgenuity Family Portal. To set up an account, follow these steps:

• An activation code specific to your student is needed to set up a parent account.
• To request an activation code for Edgenuity Family Portal, please complete a help ticket and one will be sent to you.
• Once logged in to the Edgenuity Family Portal, refer to your student’s “Actual Grade” for the most up-to-date grade that reflects the student’s mastery and progress towards course completion.

Please follow up with your student’s teacher or virtual program coordinator with any questions or concerns you may have.

For High School Students

At the end of each nine weeks, progress reports are available in Infinite Campus Parent Portal. The grades on these reports are a snapshot of a student’s progress at the end of each nine weeks. At the end of the second and third nine weeks, an updated snapshot will be posted to Infinite Campus. These grades are not averaged together for a final grade until the end of the year but are reflective of a rolling gradebook. 

A rolling gradebook is ongoing documentation of student progress and provides multiple opportunities for students to show mastery.  A student’s final grade is a calculation of all assignments and assessments throughout the year, regardless of the nine weeks in which the work is completed.  Since the progress report is a snapshot of where the student is at that current time, it likely will change quickly as students complete more assignments, make up missing work, and complete remediation and reassessment of standards that were not mastered.  We encourage you to check the Edgenuity Family Portal for the most up-to-date grades at any time. For courses located in the SchoolsPLP platform, login with your student to view the most up-to-date grades at any time. 

Please note that in an effort to accurately report student progress, zeros have been used as a placeholder for assignments that are missing, incomplete, or never attempted. The rolling gradebook allows zeros to be replaced as the student completes the assignment.

For the first nine weeks progress report, high school students will only receive snapshot grades for English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies courses and Spanish I and Spanish II. Grades for all elective courses will be reported at the end of the second nine weeks.

Edgenuity Family Portal 

View your middle school student’s most up-to-date progress in the Edgenuity Family Portal. To set up an account, follow these steps:

• An activation code specific to your student is needed to set up a parent account.
• To request an activation code for Edgenuity Family Portal, please complete a help ticket and one will be sent to you.
• Once logged in to the Edgenuity Family Portal, refer to your student’s “Actual Grade” for the most up-to-date grade that reflects the student’s mastery and progress towards course completion.

Please follow up with your student’s teacher or virtual program coordinator with any questions or concerns you may have.

Visit our Virtual Learning Program Website for orientation information, virtual teacher websites, technology help, and resources. 

Bulloch County Schools' School Nutrition Department will provide meal service to all families whose children are the following:

• Enrolled in the school district's virtual learning program for grades Pre-K - 12.
• Enrolled in the school district's traditional learning program, but are temporarily at home due to a 10-day isolation or 14-or-more-day quarantine due to COVID-19 symptoms or direct exposure to a confirmed positive case.

How to Order? 

Parents/Guardians must complete this online meal service pre-order form by each Thursday to be able to pick up meals on the following Monday. The online form is available on each district and school website and social media. It was also emailed to all virtual program  and distance learning parents and students. Keep the link to use each week.

What Does a Meal Box Cost?

• Breakfast is free for all students.
• Lunches:
  • Temporarily there is no cost due to a USDA waiver that may end December 18, 2020 or earlier. When the waiver ends, these are the costs:
    • $11.25 per week for Pre-K -5th grade students who qualify for full-priced meals  

    • $12.50 per week for 6th - 12th grade students who qualify for full-priced meals. 

    • $2.00 per week for Pre-K - 12th grade students who qualify for reduced-priced meals. 

    • Free, no cost for Pre-K - 12th grade students who qualify for free meals.  

How Do You Pay for Meals?

Temporarily there is no cost due to a USDA waiver that extends through the end of the school year.  After that time, the school district uses MySchoolBucks to provide parents/guardians a convenient online website and mobile application from which to manage a meal payment account and make payments online. You can also make a payment by cash or check at curbside when you pick up your meals.

What Do You Receive?

This service provides a one-week supply of five breakfasts and five lunches for each child in grades Pre-Kindergarten - 12th. The first two week's menus are attached below. Thereafter, the meal menus will be the same as those served in the traditional program, and the menus are posted on the school district's website and printed in the local newspaper.

Who Can Pick Up? Meals may be picked up by a parent, guardian, caregiver, or the student if he or she is old enough to drive.

What Time to Pick Up? There are two available time frames to choose from for meal pickup: 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. or 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Where Do I Pick Up Meals? 

• Meal boxes are for curbside pick up only on Mondays when school is in session or an alternate day when holidays occur.
• The pick up locations are outside each of the school district's nine elementary schools. 
  • Families with children in middle and high school, will go to their home's zoned elementary school to pick up meals. 
  • School Nutrition staff will set up outside the elementary schools during the two time frames.
  • They will place a box of food for each child inside the family's or student's vehicle.
  • Participants are asked to remain in their vehicle.

What if I miss my pick up time? 

Due to the perishable nature of the food and our school nutrition personnel's schedules for on-campus meals, the school district is unable to accommodate any alternate pick up times for those who do not come to pick up their pre-orders. Please ensure that you are able to pick up your order at either of the assigned times prior to placing an order.

How does my child qualify for free or reduced-priced meals?

• If your child was a student in our school district last year, and he or she qualified for either free or reduced-priced meals last year, your family's application is still valid for your child to continue to receive free or reduced-priced meals through September 29, 2020. 
• To either apply to qualify for free/reduced-priced meals as a new student or to renew your previous year's application, a parent or guardian must complete a 2020-2021 Free & Reduced-Price Meal Application.
• Our school district will provide a printed application to all students or you can complete the application online via this link. 
• A completed form must be received and processed prior to September 29, for returning students to continue to receive this benefit.