Schools will re-open

Clay County and other schools will open for in-person instruction Aug. 17 under an updated Plan B, according to an announcement made by Gov. Roy Cooper during Tuesday’s news conference. The plan also offers remote learning options.

Cooper had earlier encouraged school districts to prepare three reopening plans: completely in-person education, a mix of in-person and online education, and completely online education.

“Plan B is our baseline for the states. Districts can choose Plan C,” Cooper said.

In preparation, Clay County Schools have been working on plan B, but Superintendent Dale Cole said the plan is ever changing.

“The guidelines are changing on a weekly to daily basis, so knowing that Plan B was a possible option a month ago did not really allow us to do more than brainstorm ideas,” said Cole. “For example, a week ago we were told that students had to remain 6 feet apart on buses regardless of whether they wore masks or not. Several days ago the guideline changed so that students would be required to wear masks to ride buses and could, as a result, sit one to a seat. Multiple students living in a house can sit together two to a seat. The allowances for transportation hugely impact how many students we can serve at each school.”

While we know the start date of school, specifics of how Clay County schools will coordinate the daily routine depends on several factors. Cole said the school will offer virtual learning for parents who want it in order to provide a viable option for every child. There’s also the question of whether high school students could participate in distance learning while younger students attend school in person. In addition, with 21 buses running locally, three-fourths of which are operated by teachers, will there be scheduling conflicts?

A big step in answering some of the questions will involve a survey that will be sent out soon asking parents if they’re planning to send their children to school in-person and if so, do they need transportation. From there, the school will have a better idea of what needs to be done.

“We’re working on it. We’re maybe a week away from telling specifically what we’re going to do,” Cole said.

In the meantime, Plan B requires face coverings for all K-12 students, fewer children in the classroom, measures to ensure social distancing for everyone in the building among other safety protocols.

Cole said training will take place to ensure safety measures are adhered to.

“Our custodial and maintenance teams will be trained further in how to deep clean classrooms and schools. Other staff, including teachers, will also be trained in how to clean all flat surfaces between classes throughout the day,” he said. “Each classroom will be provided with state-approved disinfectants, spray bottles, and wipes for this purpose. Buses will be thoroughly cleaned by our transportation team after each run.

Under Plan B:

• Require face coverings for all teachers and students K-12

• Limit the total number of students, staff and visitors within a school building to the extent necessary to ensure 6 feet distance can be maintained when students/staff will be stationary 

• Conduct symptom screening, including temperature checks 

• Establish a process and dedicated space for people who are ill to isolate and have transportation plans for ill students

• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in the school and transportation vehicles regularly

• Require frequent hand washing throughout the school day and provide hand sanitizer at entrances and in every classroom

• Discontinue activities that bring together large groups 

• Limit nonessential visitors and activities involving external groups 

• Discontinue use of self-service food or beverage distribution 

In addition, schools are strongly recommended to follow additional safety measures that include:

• Designate hallways and entrance/exit doors as one-way

• Keep students and teachers in small groups that stay together as much as possible

• Have meals delivered to the classroom or have students bring food back to the classroom if social distancing is not possible in the cafeteria

• Discontinue activities that bring together large groups 

• Place physical barriers such as plexiglass at reception desks and similar areas

More details can be found in the Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit. Read the Screening Reference Guide for schools and the Infection Control and PPE Guidance.

He warned that the state may switch to requiring all schools to use online-only instruction if COVID-19 cases spike and they can’t safely reopen under the new health protocols.

The next school board meeting is set for 6 p.m. Monday, July 27. The meeting is streamed Facebook live. There’s little doubt reopening of school will be the main topic. 

In addition to the announcement about school plans, Cooper said the state will remain paused in Safer At Home Phase 2 after the current Executive Order expires on Friday, July 17. 

“As we continue to see rising case numbers and hospitalizations, we will stay in Safer At Home Phase 2 for three more weeks,” said Cooper. “Our re-opening priority is the school building doors and in order for that to happen we have to work to stabilize our virus trends.”