Desks with new plexiglass partitions move into Broward private school with plan against coronavirus

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After being away for 5 months during the coronavirus pandemic, Calvary Christian Academy students returned to classrooms in Fort Lauderdale with plexiglass partitions between desks and new sanitizing stations.

Students from pre-kinder to 12th grade had a new list of requirements, including social distancing, face masks, more hand washing and temperature checks. The first day of school was Aug. 19.

Temperature checks are a new requirement for students at the Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale. (Local 10 News)

Kevin Menear, who teaches pre-algebra, engineering, design, modeling, automation, and robotics to secondary students, said Wednesday that teachers have also face additional challenges.

“We are having to learn how to teach class in a different way, so that we can keep kids focused, engaged and still deliver the same material and let it be fun at the same time,” Menear said.

The religious private school spent nearly $500,000 on an effort to keep teachers and students safe during the pandemic. Jason Rachels said that as the head of the school he is happy to report that students and teachers have been safe.

Calvary Christian Academy adopted new cleaning procedures to welcome students back to the classroom Aug. 19. (Local 10 News)

Rachels, who worked for the Calvary Christian Academy for over two decades, said there is new equipment and a stricter plan of action when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting. The plan, he said, had the blessing of experts, from physicians to public health experts.

Rachels said he wanted to give parents a choice, so each classroom has a camera for students whose parents prefer they watch the teacher from home through Google Classroom. To help parents adapt, the school is also offering parenting classes online in English and Spanish.

“We have done great work,” said Rachels, a doctor in education from Liberty University. “Our team has worked so hard to put all types of precautions and protocols in place to make it the safest it can be for our kids”

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(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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About the Authors:

Sanela Sabovic joined Local 10 News in September 2012 as an assignment editor and associate producer. In August 2015, she became a full-time reporter and fill-in traffic reporter. Sanela holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with a concentration in radio, television and film from DePaul University.

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.