Faught discusses plan to reopen Enterprise schools

At the Enterprise City Schools Board of Education meeting on Thursday, July 16, superintendent Greg Faught discussed the school system’s plan to reopen.

Faught mentioned the recent changes to the plan – much of coming after Gov. Kay Ivey’s mask mandate order – that were released online.

“We’re working every single day to make sure that we are able to open up schools as safely as possible,” Faught said. “It reflects the newest information we have and we will be reviewing (and updating) that periodically.

“We encourage everyone to not get frustrated with that. I don’t want people to get tired of looking at it because it’s very, very important information for reopening. I want everyone to understand that it’s not going to be a perfect plan and we can’t let perfect get in the way of something that’s good.”

Faught said that he knows there are parents that are anxious about reopening schools and what that will look like but wanted parents to know that the school system is doing everything it can to bring students back safely.

One of the primary updates to Enterprise’s plan to reopen is the addition of mandatory masks. Face coverings or masks will be required for all students, staff and school visitors over the age of six and students under six years old are strongly encouraged to wear coverings, as well.

Also, students, staff and school visitors may be screened for a fever of 100.4 or greater before entering the building.

Another addition to the plan is that normal travel patterns in the school will be adapted at each school to help distance students during class transitions, and plexiglass will be installed in lower grade classrooms to help protect students and teachers during small group instruction. All updates to the plan can be found at, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1utb-OFpZCXE8ShJiV8IF26FDo6H3io7M/view.

Faught also said he wanted parents to know that this public plan is primarily for parent consumption and that each school will have their own, more detailed, individual plan.

“There is no way that we can include (in the public plan) every possible scenario that we discuss here in the central office or with our principals,” Faught said. “I want everyone to understand that we address every single scenario that comes to mind and we are putting together the best plan possible. It is intended to be general guidance, not all inclusive of every single thing we can think of that can happen in a school during this pandemic.

“That’s a plan for consumption primarily. Plans will vary from school to school because all of the schools are a little different.”

Faught also emphasized that he and the school system want to be as transparent as possible throughout the school year and said that parents will be notified – in some capacity – when a student or teacher in their child’s classroom contracts COVID-19. Faught said that the Remind app that parents can download is a likely delivery method of this information.

“We are fully commited to being transparent throughout this whole process,” Faught said. “If we have a student in our school system that is diagnosed with COVID-19 – and we receive documentation of that – I think we have a fiduciary responsibility to let the parents know that have potentially been in contact with that child.

“If we have intimate knowledge that one of our students has (COVID-19) we have the responsibility to let the parents know. So, it’s very, very important that parents sign up for that Remind app.”

Faught also said that it is the school’s responsibility to protect the identity of any student that contracts COVID-19, as well.

“We also have the responsibility to go above and beyond to protect the student’s identity,” Faught emphasized. “We’re working through and talking about how that’s going to work.”

Board member Roderick Caldwell reiterated Faught’s message that the school system was working hard to provide students and teachers a safe place to go to school.

“I believe that we need to pray for the kids, the staff and everyone involved,” Caldwell said. “It won’t be easy but we have to work together and try to keep the chatter down and let the people know the school system is doing everything possible to bring our kids and staff back safely.”

At the meeting the board approved suspension of board policy that would allow Faught to make decisions quickly during the pandemic, which he said has been suggested by the CDC and has been adopted at other schools across the state.

“There are certain times we have to make a lot of decisions right now and board members aren’t always able to assemble when we need to make one,” Faught continued. “If we have to make (a decision) – whether it be a purchase of cleaning supplies or something for students – we would like to be able to go ahead and do that. We would then let (the board) know what we’re doing and at the next board meeting make it available to the public about what we’ve done.”

In other business, the board approved the employee assistance program with American Behavioral and also approved the bid of $84,117 to CS Target Systems USA for a shooting system for the rifle team’s shooting range.

The Enterprise Board of Education also approved several personnel decisions.

Resignations:

Heather Rodriguez, math teacher, Enterprise High School;

Justin Hope, maintenance technician, Enterprise City Schools;

Debra Estes, CNP worker, Hillcrest Elementary School;

Retirements:

Ambria Fleming, P.E. aide, Rucker Blvd. Elementary School;

Leave:

Erica Weller, CNP worker, Enterprise City Schools;

Elizabeth Whitton, first grade teacher, Hillcrest Elementary School;

Christina Addy, fifth grade teacher, Hillcrest Elementary School;

Devin Thornton, school nurse, Pinedale Elementary School;

Emily Vaughan, interventionist, Hillcrest Elementary School;

Transfers:

Christopher Hill, special education aide, Enterprise City Schools to special education aide, Rucker Blvd. Elementary School;

Sarah Kelley, kindergarten teacher, Enterprise Early Education Center to kindergarten teacher, Hillcrest Elementary School;

Employment:

Rochelle Harriel, math teacher, Enterprise High School;

Stephen Phillips, assistant principal, Coppinville Junior High School;

Kevin Temple, social science teacher, Dauphin Junior High School;

William Hulsey, P.E. aide, Rucker Blvd. Elementary School;

Cassandra Vest, Pre-K aide, Special Projects;

Calvin Garth, special education aide, Enterprise City Schools;

Harold Demby, teacher grade TBA, Pinedale Elementary School;

Jenny Brown, teacher grade TBA, Pinedale Elementary School;

Amanda Davis, P.E. aide, Hillcrest Elementary School;

Jessica Jones, school nurse, Enterprise City Schools;

Bonnie Rathey, substitute bus driver, Enterprise City Schools;

Non-athletic supplements:

Carlos Flores, maintenance foreman, Enterprise City Schools; and,

Clayton Paramore, choral music director, Dauphin Junior High School.