Seminole County school leaders say middle, high schools to have fewer classes in a day, one-way halls

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — During morning and afternoon livestreams on Wednesday, Seminole County school leaders answered middle and high school parents’ questions about the county’s four back-to-school options.

While elementary school students tend to stay in the same classroom all day, middle and high school students change classes throughout the school day, so the district addressed how they would handle those issues, which includes operating on a block schedule.

School officials said masks are also required when social distancing can’t be accomplished.

READ: ‘There’s no win in this’: Parents of Central Florida special needs students struggle with back-to-school options, decisions

They also are looking at making hallways all one-way.

With less than two days to go before the deadline, 27,000 parents in Seminole County have registered their children for one of the four options that are available. But so far only 7,000 of those have chosen to send their kids back to the brick-and-mortar school for face-to-face instruction.

Another 17,000 have chosen Seminole County Virtual School, Seminole Connect or the hybrid model.

READ: Back to school: When do classes resume in Central Florida?

"We understand a lot of families are going to make that determination tomorrow and probably all the way up to that noon deadline on Friday," said Michael Lawrence, communication officer for SCPS.

Parents who don't register at all will automatically default to the face-to-face option, which is why the district said it's important for parents to choose.

“If they happen to miss that deadline … if we have space at Seminole County Virtual or our Seminole Connect model or the hybrid, we will try to accommodate them as best as possible,” Lawrence said.

Video: Seminole County holds back-to-school question and answer sessions The first of three back-to-school question and answer sessions was held today in Seminole County to address concerns and help them decide which of the four options for instruction to choose from.

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