Superintendent To Face Unprecedented Challenges

The Madison City School System has a new superintendent

As school districts across north alabama and the rest of the country develop plans for the future, today the president questioned the advice of dr. anthony fauci.

He warned against reopening schools in the fall without more robust testing.

President trump he wants to play all sides of the equation.

<butt with i was surprised by his answer actually because, you know, to me it's not an acceptable answer especially when it comes to schools.

> here in alabama - the decision is still in flux - with state school superintendent dr. eric mackey expected to provide some additional guidance possibly as soon as next week.

Waay 31's will robinson-smith is live outside of the madison city school board office.

The board named its new superintendent tonight... and he is already preparing to take on this uncertain future that's right.

Dr. ed nichols spent four years as the superintendent of decatur city schools and a few months as the interim superintendent here.

He starts his new job june first, and says the important thing right now is that they prepare for the fall.

Dr. ed nichols, appointed superintendent, madison city schools the things we have to do between now and that time is to develop multiple plans so that we have flexibility.

Dr. ed nichols is wasting no time as the newly appointed superintendent of madison city schools.

As the school system waits for guidance on returning to in- person teaching next school year, he says virtual learning likely won't completely disappear in the fall.

Dr. ed nichols, appointed superintendent, madison city schools we found that we can provide that virtual education and so we're going to look to see how that will be part of what we do in the future.

Dr. nichols will take over for the interim superintendent, eric terrell.

He says there are tentative plans to bring some in-person activities back as early as june 8.

Eric terrell, interim superintendent, madison city schools with some activities with older kids, 13 and older.

And then probably looking at july with younger kids, 13 and younger.

But that could change.

So that's going to go off the lead of what dr. mackey has for us.

Other districts, like hartselle city schools, are also making plans for reshaping class sizes to meet social distancing best practices.

We need to come up with a plan of how to return.

Do we all return at one time?

Do we have an alternate schedule where one grade comes in at a time, where you make your high school campus more like a college campus where students come in at a certain time for classes.

As far as how much widespread testing should factor into these decisions, dr. nichols says that will be up to the state to decide.

Dr. ed nichols, appointed superintendent, madison city schools this is not something that is isolated to just communities.

People are fluid with transportation and so we've got to be looking at that across the state as well as by our community and take the guidance from the alabama department of public health and give us that information.

The state board of education has a regular meeting and a work session tomorrow.

We asked if reopening strategies will be part of their discussion.

While it's not on the agenda, officials tell us it may be brought up during the period of general discussion.

Reporting live in madison, will robinson-smith, waay 31