Tuscaloosa City Schools Change Plans for January Return Again

Days after releasing their plan for students to return the classrooms in January, Tuscaloosa City Schools has announced a change meant to allow students to get the most out of the two weeks of staggered instruction.

In order to provide equal classroom learning days for students in both the Green and Gray staggered groups, in-person schooling days have been shifted a day. In the new schedule, students with Green designation will attend in-person instruction on Tuesday and Wednesday January 5th-6th, while Gray designation students will shift to Thursday and Friday for in-person instruction. There will be no virtual instruction for any students on Friday, January 8th.

The schedule returns to normal the week of the 11th, and schools will be closed on the next Monday to observe MLK Jr. Day, before all face-to-face students returning to classrooms for full, four-day-a-week in-person instruction on January 19th.

"While I know this update is different from what we published on Wednesday, I believe it is in the best interest of student learning, especially during the pandemic," said TCS Superintendent Mike Daria.

TCS also provided a virtual form for students and parents to fill out should a student contract COVID-19 over over the course of winter break, from December 14th to January 4th. This option is being used as an alternative to contacting school principals or nurses over the break.

It goes without saying that students that contract COVID-19 over the break should not return to school until they test negative.