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Chilton County Board of Education has approved changing the school start date to Sept. 8.

The Board approved the change as a part of the consent agenda during the July 23 meeting.  The meeting was held via Zoom but could not be streamed live on YouTube as planned because of a technical issue.

The video has since been uploaded to the Chilton County School District YouTube channel.

Superintendent Jason Griffin said he wanted “to give parents and guardians more time to consider their options for their students’ education that way when we gave them the plan, they would have several weeks to look at it over and make decisions about it.”

Each school will be contacting parents to explain the in-person and online options available. The entire back-to-school plan will be available on the school systems website. The plan includes sanitation and distancing guidelines as well as outlines precautions to be taken by staff in classes like physical education. Plan also includes the steps that will be taken if there is a COVID-19 case at a school.

An updated calendar has been approved with the final day of school being June 3.

eLearning days, where students complete works at home, for the fall will be Oct. 12, Nov. 23, Nov. 24, Dec. 21, Dec. 22.

During the meeting, board member Angie Sanderson asked if teachers would be required to be at school on these days.

Griffin said he wanted to give teachers to work from home on these days.

This will likely be discussed in more detail at the next board meeting.

Board President Pam Price said depending on what happens at the state level, there might need to be a few meeting on revisions to the back-to-school plan.

“Mr. Griffin worked very hard on this (plan),” Price said. “He was very helpful and worked with us greatly on the changes we (the board) wanted.”

Griffin said he appreciated everyone’s wok on the plan.

Board members Keith Moore and Jacqueline Sullivan also expressed their appreciation.