First things first: South Madison, Lapel prepare for 2021-22 school year

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SOUTH MADISON COUNTY — As the calendar flips over to August, school systems in southern Madison County get ready to open their doors to students, parents, teachers and administrators for the 2021-22 school year.

South Madison Community Schools jump right in with Teacher Organization Day on Aug. 3 and Staff Development Day on Aug. 4. The first day for all students in the district is Thursday, Aug. 5.

Superintendent Mark Hall said with a large number of housing developments in the district, he is expecting an increase in enrollment this fall. With that, the corporation has added new teaching positions at the elementary levels. He also said some familiar faces will be in new places.

“We’ve had a substantial number of teacher changes this summer with many teachers staying in the district but changing buildings, subjects and grade levels,” Hall said.

Maple Ridge, Pendleton and East elementary school days will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. Pendleton Heights High School and Pendleton Heights Middle School will begin at 7:30 a.m. and wrap up at 2:25 p.m.

In the Frankton-Lapel district, school offices open Monday, Aug. 2, at Lapel Elementary, Lapel Middle and Lapel High schools.

Student registration for elementary and middle school is set for Aug. 3-5. High school registration is set for Aug. 4-5.

New teacher orientation will take place at the administration office from 8 a.m. to noon Aug. 6. Organization Day/In-service Day, with meetings at schools, will take place on Aug. 9, with the Teachers’ Work Day following on Aug. 10.

The first day for students K-12 will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 11.

Lapel elementary and middle school students will notice a remodeled media center, while the middle school will also have a new STEM lab.

Elementary and middle school class hours will run from 8:25 a.m. to 3 p.m. High school students will be in class from 8:20 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

In an effort to keep a cleaner, healthier environment at their schools, FLCS assistant superintendent Sterling Boles said they have installed air purification devices on all air handlers to reduce airborne and surface contaminants and pollutants.

South Madison and Frankton-Lapel schools implemented pandemic-related plans for their school year at July meetings. Both systems plan to be mask-optional to start the school year.

Masks will be required for students and staff when riding school buses, a Federal public transportation mandate.

Plans came out prior to Tuesday’s announcement by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC updated its mask guidance recommending that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and children resume wearing masks indoors in parts of the country with high levels of the virus. The public health agency also advised everyone in K-12 schools to wear masks regardless of vaccination status.

“That’s one piece of guidance but we also follow guidance from our local and state health departments,” Hall said on Tuesday. “We’re going to see how they react to that news and go from there.

“I do not foresee a change in our plan before the start of school because we don’t have a school board meeting prior to that.”

The next South Madison board meeting is 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 5, the evening after the first day of school.

More information on both school systems can be found on their websites: https://smcsc.com and www.flcs.k12.in.us.