Warrensburg-Latham Schools are getting creative in how they are handling bringing students back this fall.

Cheryl Warner took over as the district Superintendent last month and was immediately thrown to the fire in coming up with a return to class plan after Dr. Kristen Kendrick-Weikle departed for the job as the head of the Normal School District. 

Warner explains they are offering an alternating schedule for students. She says this will be an overall two-week schedule with students in school five days and then five days of remote learning. 

Transitions through the building will be more structured. Warner explains they are implementing things like one-way hallways and staggering release times for different classrooms. She adds they are going to ask students to bring their lunches, at least to start the year. 

According to Warner, they offered an extensive survey to their teachers and their community. She notes they received feedback that around 82-percent of parents were ready for students to return to school. Masking was a common theme in their responses. 

Nearly 100-percent of teachers say they are ready to return to school in Warrensburg-Latham. According to Warner, not only did they want students in the school building but they did not want to pursue remote learning options.

Administration, nurses, and maintenance are working together to find isolation areas in their buildings for students that might exhibit symptoms or for students that are discovered to be in contact with someone who has COVID or been to a restricted travel area. Warner says other protocols are going to be established by IDPH. 

Last week, Warrensburg-Latham Schools released their plans for the upcoming year. Warner points residents to the district's website, their mobile app and Facebook.