Hoover Parents Weigh In On School System's Reopening Plan

HOOVER, AL — The Hoover Board of Education reviewed the school system's pans for reopening for the 2021-22 school year Monday night, and received mixed opinions of the plan from parents in the community.

Hoover City Schools recently developed a draft reopening plan for the coming school year. The plan includes four levels, and the schools plan to open at "Level 1" unless conditions necessitate a to shift to Level 2.

The levels are as follows:

• Level 1: Normal school operations when COVID-19 conditions have significantly subsided. Face coverings are optional, and limited restrictions will still apply to protect vulnerable employees and students.
• Level 2: Normal school operations with good hygiene, social distancing as feasible, face coverings for all (PK - 12th grade required), and additional restrictions which may include no PE dress-out, limited class changes PK-5, and limited drills (marked by [Level 2-3 only]).
• Level 3: Level 2 plus staggered schedules, Monday / Thursday and Tuesday / Friday (2 days in-person per week, 3 days remote).
• Level 4: Full remote learning for all students at home and no extracurricular activities.

Superintendent Dee Fowler said Monday the plan is "fluid," and has already been amended twice since he took the job July 1.

The main concerns expressed by parents at Monday's meeting involved the lack of contact tracing in the plan, and that children under age 12 do not have access to the vaccine.

"It would be a shame if any of our children in Hoover became gravely ill in the coming months when we are so very close to having a greater degree of protection available to them," one parent said in the meeting. "I urge the members of the board to follow the science and continue to help us keep our children and our community safe."

Other parents, who oppose masks and social distancing in schools, urged the school system to move forward with in-person learning, without restrictions.

Some parents brought up the issue of vaccinations, with one parent telling he Board that she would pull her children out of Hoover schools if vaccinations for COVID-19 were made mandatory.

Fowler said the board would not vote on the plan Monday, and that more considerations would be entertained before a final reopening plan would be approved.