July 8, 2020

Dear Bossier Schools families,

We want to take this opportunity to thank you for participating in the parent survey to better
assist Bossier Schools as plans are made for the 2020-21 school year. Your voices are
important because they give us a better understanding of your family’s needs and concerns,
and help us make informed decisions as we move forward.

While we had all hoped to have COVID-19 in our rearview mirror at the start of the new school
year, that is simply not the case and the district is faced with making challenging decisions amid
an ever-changing global pandemic. It will not be as easy as pushing the reset button, but let us
assure you Bossier Schools is committed to the work ahead. Our main goal is to get children
back in school, while making their re-entry as safe as possible. We also realize there is no
one-size-fits-all approach.

With that said, we want to share with you the results of the parent survey. A total of 8,550
responses were received, representing 12,500 students, and reflected nearly equal input among
all grade bands. Complete results can be viewed at ​bit.ly/BPSBSurvey​. Key takeaways from the
survey indicate the following:

● The vast majority (68%) of parents currently plan to have their children return to school
in August, while 28% remain undecided.
● Most (55%) prefer daily face-to-face instruction, with hybrid and virtual options being
respondents’ second and third choices, respectively.
● A simple majority (51%) indicated being either very comfortable or comfortable with
requiring masks for students and employees.
● Parents are in favor of daily temperature checks, increased cleaning of “high touch”
surfaces, broad availability of hand sanitizer and requiring that parents keep sick
students at home.

Bossier Schools is listening and shares your belief that instruction is best delivered in a daily
classroom setting, yet much depends on the phase Louisiana is in when school begins August
12. Our state is currently in Phase 2, which places 50-percent limitations on group sizes and
school bus capacity, and even when the state moves to Phase 3, there is a 75-percent limit.

We recognize child care is a real concern among many parents with younger students. While it
will be a challenge, Bossier Schools is working within guidelines from the Louisiana Department
of Education and Louisiana Department of Health to provide daily face-to-face instruction for
PreK-5th grades.

While everything about the “normal” elementary school routine will look different, we feel it can
be achieved through static grouping, social distancing, altering breakfast/lunch schedules and
staggering class rotations to the maximum extent possible. Bossier Schools cannot do this
alone, though, and will need our community’s help throughout Phases 2 and 3. We will have to
lean heavily on parents who are able to provide transportation for their children, both to and
from school, at least until the state emerges out of Phase 3. This will help create room for those
students in need of bus transportation.

An A/B schedule will be implemented for grades 6-12 if the state remains in Phase 2 at the start
of school. Students will be divided into groups that will receive face-to-face instruction one day
and virtual learning at home the next. The only exception is Plain Dealing High School, where all
students in PreK-12th will attend school daily for face to face instruction.

Once Louisiana enters Phase 3, all students will return to school for daily instruction. Again,
parents’ assistance is needed to provide transportation for their child, if possible, throughout
both Phases 2 and 3.

Of course, Bossier Schools recognizes not all parents feel comfortable with their children
returning to the classroom environment at this time and remote learning options will be offered
at all grade levels. Applications to attend Bossier Schools’ Virtual Learning Academy will be
available after students have registered at their zoned school. Student registration is July
31-August 7.

It is our desire to communicate to parents how best to prepare for what currently lies ahead and
the district will release its fully detailed Bossier Strong Start reopening plan the week of July 20.
It is important to note as the coronavirus crisis continues to be a fluid situation, state guidance
that school districts must follow can also change, and so may Bossier Schools’ plans as August
draws closer. A helpful resource is Strong Start 2020, which includes guidelines and best
practices for school districts, released by the Louisiana Department of Education. It is available
at ​www.louisianabelieves.com​.

Please know we appreciate your partnership, support and patience and we will keep you
updated as Bossier Schools receives more definitive information. We are Bossier Strong and
will continue to work through this together.