Earlier this evening, the Haywood County Board of Education met in a Special Called Meeting to discuss Governor Cooper’s recent announcement allowing Kindergarten through fifth grade students to return to in-person learning as early as October 5th.
During the meeting, Dr. Bill Nolte, Superintendent began with introductory comments. Superintendent Nolte then reviewed three viable plans that could be adopted by the Board. The Board discussed the plan options shared by the Superintendent. Board questions were answered by Superintendent Nolte, Associate Superintendent, Trevor Putnam, and Assistant Superintendent Jill Barker.
The Board voted and approved middle schools and high schools starting with Plan B, weekly rotation, beginning on September 28th. This is the same date the Board approved for middle schools and high schools in a previous meeting. The Board simultaneously approved elementary schools starting on Plan A on October 5th. Plan A is all-day, every day, in-person learning for all interested students. October 5th is the first allowable start date authorized by the Governor.
The Board also authorized the Superintendent to schedule one Mandatory Workday for teachers before in-person learning begins. The Mandatory Workdays will be used by teachers to transition from all remote instruction to in-person instruction. The Mandatory Workday for middle schools and high schools is scheduled for Friday, September 25, 2020. The Mandatory Workday for elementary schools is scheduled for Friday, October 2, 2020.
General provisions for transitioning to in-person learning are:
- An all remote learning option will be available through the end of the 2020-21 for students who want or need that option.
- Schools will honor requests to change from remote only to in-person or from in-person to remote only through the first two weeks of in-person learning.
- Requests after the first two weeks will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the principal.
- If students are assigned to a new teacher, their grades will transfer forward.
Students and parents will receive additional details for individual schools.
Contact: Dr. Bill Nolte, Superintendent