August 19, 2021

Greetings Meridian Families,

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to our educators and staff members for working diligently to keep our students safe and for following the CDC and MS Department of Health Guidelines. 

I would also like to thank the parents in our community who are taking out time to call, email, or text questions about how the school district is handling the increase in COVID cases. We want to do all we can to be transparent and clearly communicate how we handle cases as they are reported to us. Below are a few of the questions I have received from parents. We will continue to update this information as we receive questions. 

What steps and precautions are we taking to continue to do all we can to keep our students safe while on campus? 

MPSD was one of the first districts in our area to implement a universal mask mandate which requires all students and staff members to wear a mask. Our educators are enforcing the mask-wearing while indoors and while in the presence of students; hand washing, wiping down areas in the classrooms, and social distancing. Custodians are also fogging classrooms and hallways with disinfectant. The district is hosting vaccination drives in partnership with local healthcare providers to encourage staff and eligible students to get vaccinated. We are asking staff members and students not to report to school if they are ill to avoid spreading germs and forms of the virus. 

What can you do as a parent or guardian to help with our efforts to keep our students in school?

1. If your child is sick or showing symptoms such as a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, or fever, please allow them to stay at home. We are urging our teachers to not report to work ill so we encourage you to do the same as parents. 
2. Continue to encourage your child to wear their mask at all times when they are in the presence of others (within three to six feet).
3. If your child is 12 or older, we strongly encourage you to consider allowing them to take the vaccine. Health professionals continue to stress that vaccinations save lives!

What happens when we are notified that a student or staff member tests positive for COVID?

The district immediately begins the process of contact tracing to determine students and staff members who may have been exposed for more than 15 minutes in a close setting. Communication will only be shared with parents/guardians of those students who are impacted by possible exposures/close contacts, positive cases.

Quarantine Due to Close Contact

• Parent receives notification from the school that they may have been in close contact with a positive individual
• According to CDC guidance for a K-12 setting, positive individuals should quarantine for 10 days, testing on days 3, 4, or 5. They may return to school on day 11 if symptom-free for 24 hours.

Positive Test of COVID-19

• Notify the school of positive test
• The student should isolate for 10 days
• The student may return to school on Day 11 if symptom-free for 24 hours.

Outbreak of COVID-19

The Mississippi Department of Health defines an “outbreak” as 3 or more positive cases of COVID-19 within a class or group within a 14-day period.

Do all cases reported by MPSD occur in the school setting?

When reporting cases to the MSDH, MPSD is required to notify them of any/all positive COVID-19 cases that we are aware of, even if the positive result didn’t occur in a school setting. 

When will we move to hybrid or virtual learning? 

The district monitors the number of cases at each school, in grade level, and in individual classrooms. Based on guidance from the MS Department of Health and the number of cases, district officials make the decision to shift to hybrid or virtual learning when cases rise or when there is not sufficient supervision or a shortage of staff members. We know that the best place for students to be is in school.

What are schools doing to prepare students for virtual learning when and if schools have to transition?

The district purchased chrome books for individual students in grades first through twelve. Lessons are being created in Google Classroom (K-5 students) and Canvas for middle and high school students (6-12). Parents need to make sure they have signed up for a device and they have access to the internet. Students will be required to log in daily, participate in live instruction, and complete assignments. PreK and kindergarten students will be required to complete practice materials and be available for teachers to assist with instruction. Our goal is not to have younger students participate in virtual learning unless it is absolutely necessary for safety purposes. 

We will continue to monitor cases and make decisions that are in the best interest of all students and staff. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this unprecedented time. 

If you have additional questions please email us at info@mpsdconnect.org.

Sincerely,

Dr. Amy J. Carter 

MPSD Superintendent 

August 20, 2021

Yesterday, the Mississippi Department of Education State Board voted to allow school districts to utilize the hybrid scheduling option starting August 19, 2021. The option is only available for use in response to the COVID pandemic. Hybrid is a combination of virtual and traditional instruction modes. This allows school districts to comply with CDC guidelines of social distancing. 

We know there is no substitute for traditional instruction, but many have been concerned about the increased number of COVID positives throughout the state. We want to keep students safe while providing the best education possible under these circumstances. 

Beginning August 23, 2021, Meridian High School will begin hybrid learning. Students will be divided into groups and rotate A/B schedules for virtual and face-to-face attendance. We feel this will cause the least amount of disruptions to learning. 

A schedule will be provided in Canvas for the days your child will attend traditionally or virtually. On Monday, August 23, students with last names that begin with A-L will report to school for face-to-face learning, and students with last names that begin with M-Z will report virtually via Zoom. Teachers are prepared for virtual learning and will continue instruction while loading assignments through Canvas. Zoom links will also be provided by the teachers in Canvas.

Students should follow the guidelines below for virtual days:

• Follow their regular school day schedule of 8:20 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. through Zoom 
• Access Zoom links through Canvas
• Attend each class to be considered present
• Log in to class within 10 minutes of the start of the class 
• Email their teacher if they are experiencing problems logging into Canvas

These decisions are difficult and not always popular, but we base our decisions on keeping our students and employees safe and keeping our schools open. By keeping schools open, parents/guardians are able to continue working and students are provided the best education possible during these difficult times. As we continue to monitor COVID cases, we will revisit this decision and make you aware of changes by September 3, 2021. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate these ever-changing situations. By working together, we will get through this challenging time. 

Sincerely,

Amy J. Carter

Superintendent

August 18, 2021

Northwest Parent Letter (English)

Northwest Parent Letter (Spanish)

Northwest Parents/Guardians,

After much consideration, we have determined that Northwest Middle School will transition to virtual learning as a precaution due to COVID-19 safety concerns. With the number of teachers and students testing positive or being quarantined, it’s difficult to continue face-to-face instruction and supervise students with staff. Those teachers and students who are close contacts have been notified. The school will participate in virtual learning for five instructional days beginning tomorrow, August 19, 2021, and return to face-to-face instruction on Thursday, August 26, 2021. 

Teachers are prepared for virtual learning and will continue instruction while loading assignments through Canvas. Zoom links will be provided by the teachers.

Students should follow the guidelines below:

• Follow their regular school day schedule of 8:20 a.m. - 3:20 p.m. through Zoom 
• Access Zoom link through canvas 
• Attend each class to be considered present
• Log in to class within 10 minutes of the start of the class 
• Email their teacher if they are experiencing problems logging into Zoom 

Please know this was not an easy decision. We continue to make the safety and well-being of our students and staff our number one priority. We know that the best and most effective learning takes place in the classroom, but the circumstances of Northwest Middle School make that difficult at this time. 

Thank you for your continued support. By working together, we will get through this challenging time. 

Sincerely, 

Amy J. Carter

MPSD Superintendent 

July 27, 2021

MPSD Parents and Guardians,

On Tuesday, July 27, 2021, the Meridian Public School District (MPSD) Board of Trustees met in a special-called meeting to approve the Universal Masking policy (JGAC). During the 2021-2022 school year, as a preventative measure, all MPSD students, teachers, and staff will be required to wear a mask while indoors in the presence of others.

Please know that the policy was implemented with everyone’s safety in mind. With COVID-19 cases rising and the vast majority of our students not meeting vaccination criteria, we made a decision with everyone’s safety in mind.

I look forward to seeing students back safely on campus on Thursday, August 5, 2021.

Sincerely,

Dr. Amy J. Carter

MPSD Superintendent

Superintendent's Update for July 27, 2021