Butler County School System
Information for Students to Start School

The Butler County School System staff is nearing completion of our Back to School Plan. This plan provides flexibility in methods of delivery of educational services for our students due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Our current school calendar designates August 17, 2020 as the start date for employees, with students returning to school on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

All school systems in our nation have faced unprecedented challenges this year. In addition to providing the best possible educational services for our students, we are charged with implementing a process to maintain an environment that is safe and healthy for our students and staff members that limits their exposure to COVID-19. Behind the scenes our employees have been working diligently to sanitize buildings and procure sanitation supplies and personal protective equipment for all of our students and staff members. Our administrators, teachers, and technology staff members have been challenged to develop innovative ways to deliver instruction to students through virtual options that are effective and accessible to all students. I am excited to report that we will be able to provide electronic devices for all our students in the system so there will not be a loss of instructional time in the event of another state-wide school closure.

Although this has been a challenging time for us all, it has also been a catalyst for us to collaborate with each other and expand our thought processes and creativity as it relates to teaching our students in non-traditional ways. We will welcome our students back to their classrooms on September 8, 2020 with open arms. We look forward to their return to our safe and sanitary traditional in-person classroom instruction. I am also pleased that we will also offer a virtual school instructional program for those who are not comfortable returning to the classroom setting at this time. We are currently working with the Alabama State Department of Education to finalize the virtual school platforms. We will be providing additional information to you regarding the specifics of the programs as soon as they are finalized. Our local teachers will be actively involved in the instructional process regardless of the platform used.

I appreciate your patience as we navigate this uncharted yet exciting new territory in education in our county. Many thanks to everyone in our community who has worked so hard to make the opening of the 2020-2021 school year a reality. I will continue to provide information to all stakeholders as it becomes available. I hope everyone stays safe and healthy.

Joseph Eiland, Superintendent