Sumter Times

Sumter County School District issued the following announcement on July 27.

Welcome Back

Sumter County School District is looking forward to welcoming students and staff back to school on August 10, 2021. At this time, masks are optional for students and teachers on campus; however, masks may become mandatory at any time based on CDC, Health Department, FLDOE, or Superintendent’s decision – which will be determined as COVID data and other factors become apparent. Sumter will continue to provide the most up-to-date safety precautions that follow state and county health department guidelines.

Sumter County School District will offer limited school choice options: traditional or virtual.

The traditional model represents a return to the school campus and the classroom where students will interact directly with their teacher(s) and classmates. Sumter’s goal is to create an environment that provides intentional, consistent, rigorous, and impactful learning opportunities for all students.

 The virtual option is for students who wish to have more control over their learning path and pace, and for whom a flexible daily schedule is important. With this learning option, students often work on assignments during non-traditional hours and maintain contact with teachers and classmates using web-based class sessions, emails, text messages, and phone calls. The virtual model requires a more independent student who is proactive and willing to learn on their own. Virtual school offers courses for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, supported by teachers who offer flexible office hours. Students will need a personally owned device to use with internet access at home. Enrollment requires an adult who can partner with the virtual school teachers by serving as the learning guide for the student, especially at the elementary school level.

 Students are legally required to attend school in some format. Homeschool is always an available option for parents, but students must register. Call (352) 793-2315, Ext. 50312 for registration information.

Technology

A digital classroom is one of many important tools to help our students be successful in today’s rapidly changing global society. Schools in Sumter County have secured the electronic infrastructure needed for breakthroughs in digital learning. Schools will kick off the year with a variety of technology advances such as expanding Sumter One to One. “Sumter wants to stay on the cutting edge of technology, career preparation and innovation to help our students meet the academic needs of our students and the future workforce that will employ them,” says Superintendent Shirley.

 Sumter One-to-One initiative is committed to provide student laptops or tablets in the classroom for every K-12 student. All students at South Sumter Middle, South Sumter High and Wildwood Middle High will receive an individual laptop to travel with the student throughout the day and home. Through Sumter’s One-to-One initiative, students have access to academic software, on demand assessments, tutoring, multi-media communication, and coding programs. Every student has a Microsoft 365 account with full access to Microsoft Outlook, Word, Sway, PowerPoint, Excel, and the TEAMs application, which allows for collaboration and communication amongst students and teachers.   

 Elementary Technology Days will be held during each site’s Orientation (see detailed schedule below). Parents will be able to take care of several details when they visit the technicians on campus. Sumter’s techs will first make sure parents have a user name and password that will allow them access to the parent portal in Skyward. Once parents have access to their Skyward parent portal, they will be able to sign the Acceptable Use Policy. Additionally, parents can choose to sign up, and pay, for the district sponsored technology insurance policy ($25). This insurance policy is available to reduce parents obligations for repair costs associated with damage to student laptops. Details about the insurance policy are located on the district website. Completing these steps will allow students to receive a laptop for use at school. Elementary laptops will mostly be kept at school, unless a teacher issues an assignment that requires them to be taken home.

 Secondary Technology Days will be held prior to the start of school (see detailed schedule below). Families will be able to receive student laptops and load relevant applications and software. Technology Days are scheduled during flexible hours to accommodate working students and parents. Parents must sign an acceptable use policy. An optional district sponsored insurance policy ($25) will be available to reduce parents’ obligations for repair costs associated with damage to student issued laptops. Details about the insurance plan are located on the district website. Integrating technology into the classrooms is critical to ensure all Sumter students are prepared with 21st Century Skills.

Student Meals at No Charge

Student meals are available daily at all schools and will be offered at no charge to all students as all Sumter schools are now designated as Title I. Offering meals at no charge to all students will allow more food options, more a la cart choices, and will generate revenue to make changes to cafeterias such as upgrading equipment.  

 Student Transportation

The school district provides bus transportation for children living beyond walking distance of the schools. At this time, masks are optional for students and teachers on campus; however, masks may become mandatory at any time based on CDC, Health Department, FLDOE, or Superintendent’s decision – which will be determined as COVID data and other factors become apparent. Again this year, all students must scan their student ID card as they enter and exit the bus.  Student ID cards may be picked up by students at school orientation. Bus information such as stop location, bus number, and arrival and departure times may be obtained by attending orientation, checking the e-link on the Transportation tab of the district website, or parents may call the Transportation Department at 793-5705. It is recommended that all children ride the bus on the morning of the first day of school to assist the driver in locating bus stops. Parents may meet the bus at school or follow it along the route. Superintendent Shirley has a recommendation for parents, “On the first day of school, young children in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade should wear identification tags with first and last name, telephone number(s), home address and the correct bus number.”

Technology Days
School	Date	Time
Bushnell Elementary	8/5	8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Lake Panasoffkee Elementary	8/5	8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Webster Elementary	8/5	8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Wildwood Elementary	8/5	8:00 am – 12:00 pm
South Sumter Middle	7/29	8:00 am – 5:00 pm
	8/5	8:00 am – 12:00 pm
South Sumter High	8/4	8:00 am – 5:00 pm
	8/5	1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
	8/6	8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sumter Prep	8/6	9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Wildwood Middle High	8/3	8:00 am – 5:00 pm
	8/6	1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Orientation Schedule
School	Date	Time	Students
Bushnell Elementary	Thursday, August 5	8:30 am – 9:30 am	Last names A-H
		9:30 am – 10:30 am	Last names I-Q
		10:30 am – 11:30 am	Last names R-Z
Lake Panasoffkee Elementary	Thursday, August 5	8:30 am – 9:30 am	Last names A-H
		9:30 am – 10:30 am	Last names I-Q
		10:30 am – 11:30 am	Last names R-Z
Webster Elementary	Thursday, August 5	8:30 am – 9:30 am	Last names A-H
		9:30 am – 10:30 am	Last names I-Q
		10:30 am – 11:30 am	Last names R-Z
Wildwood Elementary	Friday, August 6	8:30 am – 9:30 am	Last names A-H
		9:30 am – 10:30 am	Last names I-Q
		10:30 am – 11:30 am	Last names R-Z
South Sumter Middle	Thursday, August 5	1:00 pm – 2:00 pm	7th and 8th Grade
		3:00 pm – 4:30 pm	6th Grade
South Sumter High	Friday, August 6	8:30 am – 10:30 am	9th grade
Wildwood Middle High	Thursday, August 5	1:30 pm – 3:30 pm	6th – 8th Grade
	Friday, August 6	1:30 pm – 3:30 pm	9th – 12th Grade
Sumter PREP Academy	Friday, August 6	9:00 am – 10:00 am	5th – 8th Grade
		11:00 am – 12:00 pm	9th – 12th Grade

Bell Schedules
School	School Start Time	Dismissal Bell	Phone
Bushnell Elementary	7:45 am	2:45 pm	352-793-3501
Lake Panasoffkee Elementary	7:45 am	2:45 pm	352-793-1093
Webster Elementary	7:45 am	2:45 pm	352-793-2828
Wildwood Elementary	7:45 am	2:45 pm	352-748-3353
South Sumter Middle	8:45 am	4:01 pm	352-793-2232
South Sumter High	8:45 am	4:07 pm	352-793-3131
Wildwood Middle High	8:45 am	4:07 pm	352-793-1314
Sumter PREP Academy	7:45 am	2:15 pm	352-568-1113

 Original source can be found here.