LCSD return to learn Wednesday

The Lauderdale County School District will return to in-person learning for students beginning Wednesday. Kicking off a new semester, the district is making sure precautions are taken due to the recent uptick in coronavirus cases. Students whose last name starts with A-K will return on Wednesday and last names starting with L-Z will return Thursday with everyone returning on Friday.

“Next week, we’ll have everyone back. We’ll have a virtual day on Wednesday,” said Kevin Cheatham, Director of Operations and Safety for the Lauderdale County School District. “The following week, whenever we have Martin Luther King holiday, on that Monday we’ll have four complete days of in-person learning.”

Cheatham says cleaning is still a top priority. Cleaning took place at all schools during the Christmas holiday and that will remain intact throughout the new semester.

“We’re still providing the cleaning during the day. Our custodians are going through and wiping down all hard surfaces during the day,” said Cheatham. “Teachers are wiping down during the classes. Also, we have an after-hour that comes in. One of our local vendors here in town comes in and they wipe down all the hard surfaces after school.”

When students return they will each receive PPE. The Mississippi State Department of Education recently donated supplies to the district for the spring semester.

“We have about 12,000 face masks in stock. We have about 1,000 boxes of gloves and then we also have hand sanitizer. We have about 500 gallons of hand sanitizer that we try to replenish at all times.”

The district says the PPE will be distributed to students once they return.