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As children begin returning to classrooms amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic, Alabama Sen. Malika Sanders-Fortier, D-Selma, is gearing up for a virtual town hall meeting to discuss the issue alongside other Black Belt state representatives.

Sanders-Fortier will be joined by Alabama Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Montgomery, and Alabama Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, for the event scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, as well as a bevy of Black Belt superintendents, including Selma City Schools Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams and Dallas County Schools Superintendent Hattie Shelton, as well as superintendents from Bullock, Greene, Lowndes, Perry, Macon and Wilcox counties.

Further, Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey will also be in attendance.

According to Sanders-Fortier, parents and community members across the Black Belt have reached out for information from city and county school systems all across the Black Belt and the town hall will provide those concerned with an opportunity to ask questions and get information.

“This will give parents an opportunity to hear the state superintendent’s plans, along with insight from local superintendents,” Sanders-Fortier said in a press release.

“We are inviting the superintendents to provide a five-to-seven-minute presentation, as well as field questions alongside Dr. Mackey.”

Sanders-Fortier said in the press release that such information is “vital to help parents better understand their options, how to support their children’s education and how to keep them safe during this COVID-19 pandemic.”

Additionally, the senator will be listening in for insight on where her efforts should be focused during the next Alabama Legislative Session.

“I also will be listening for way my office and Alabama Legislature can support schools during this time of crisis,” Sanders-Fortier said.

The town hall event is being sponsored by the Deputy Senators of District 23 and the Selma-Dallas County Coronavirus Task Force and will be moderated by Krystal Hardy Allen of K.Allen Consulting, an education consulting agency.

Citizens can tune in for the town hall at the Deputy Senators of District 23 Facebook page or by calling 312-626-6799 and entering meeting identification number 874 5427 1487.