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Private school evaluates options for reopening

Small private schools have some advantages over big public schools including close relationships with families and the ability to limit class size

KNOXVILLE, Tenn — Across East Tennessee, school leaders grapple with the details of reopening school during the coronavirus pandemic.

Public schools and private schools may take different routes to achieve the same goal.

"We're trying to be as flexible as possible while being as safe as possible," Reem Abdelrazek said. 

She the principal of Annoor Academy, a the private Islamic school for students in preschool though 8th grade. 

Credit: WBIR
Reem Abdelrazek is the principal at Annoor Academy

"We want to absolutely keep our parents involved in the decision making process as well as our staff because the safety of our staff and students is paramount to us," she said. 

Credit: WBIR
Annoor Academy is considering three options

She consulted with staff and parents and the board of directors about three options:

Everyone on campus

Hybrid

Everyone remote

The school is leaning toward a hybrid with some students completely remote if that's what their parents prefer. 

"And also an on campus experience that would most likely be a half day so we can bring in students in a safe way. We would reduce the number of students in each classroom.  In our largest classroom it would be about nine students and in our smallest classrooms it would be about five students," she said. 

That would allow social distancing. It's easier for a private school with about 150 total students than it would be for a large public school.

Credit: Annoor Academy
Class size would be limited to five to nine students

She said Annoor Academy will probably roll out the plan in phases, adjusting the model every four to eight weeks. There are just so many uncertainties. 

"If the state mandates that schools close, for example, we will have to follow that guideline so we are trying to keep it as flexible but as predictable as possible," she said. 

Credit: Annoor Academy
Annoor Academy teaches children from preschool to eighth grade

August 10 is the first official day for students at Annoor Academy but the school may do a test run. 

She said, "We are hoping to host a pilot day in advance of that so we can see what the logistics look like. So we can tweak what we need to tweak when we see how our students interact with our new normal."

As normal as the new school year can be. 

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