The West Virginia Department of Education updated their color-coded county map on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 12. Monroe County remains designated as yellow and Pocahontas County remains designated as orange. The only change made to the map was Greenbrier County, which has now been upgraded to orange.
In Greenbrier County, an active outbreak has been reported at the Davis Stuart School, where there have now been six confirmed cases of COVID-19. And in Monroe County, an active outbreak has been reported at Peterstown Elementary School, where four cases of the virus have been confirmed.
In a statement on Wednesday, Dec. 9, Greenbrier County schools announced that all students would transition to full-remote learning on Thursday, Dec. 10 and Friday, Dec. 11.
“A determination regarding school attendance next week will be made after the release of the West Virginia Department of Education COVID map on Saturday, Dec. 12,” the statement read.
An emergency meeting of the Greenbrier County Board of Education was scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 13 to discuss whether students would stay remote or return to in-person learning for the week beginning on Dec. 14. However, with Greenbrier’s upgrade to the orange designation, the decision was made without the need for discussion. As mandated by the West Virginia Department of Education COVID-19 guidelines, all in-person learning within Greenbrier County is suspended.
An email sent out on Sunday morning stated, “The emergency meeting of the board scheduled for 2 p.m. today has been cancelled.”
A second email sent out Sunday afternoon stated, “All schools will transition to remote learning beginning Monday, Dec. 14 through Dec. 22. The in-person learning option is scheduled to resume on Jan. 4, 2021, following the holiday break.
Greenbrier County Schools will distribute three-day meal bags to students at each school on Tuesday & Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The week of December 21, 5-day meal boxes for all in-person or remote students (PK – 12) will be distributed from the four secondary schools only on Tuesday, Dec. 22 from noon until 1 p.m.
Wi-fi access for GCS students is available in designated areas of school parking lots. Students and families are encouraged to visit greenbriercountyschools.org for Wi-fi locations and additional remote learning resources.”
Pocahontas County Schools are now in their fourth consecutive week of remote learning, with no end in sight. Pocahontas County Superintendent of Schools Terrence Beam had been hopeful that students would have the opportunity to return to their buildings before breaking for the holiday. However, this possibility seems less and less likely.
“We were really hoping,” Beam said. “Especially for the younger elementary students. They do a lot of fun things right before the Christmas break. It’s not looking like it will work out, but I hope I’m wrong.”
Through a post on their Facebook page, PCHS officials provided some useful information.
“Charge your devices and join classes using the schedule below this week. Stay safe, and we will see you remotely Monday. We miss seeing you all in person but keep up the good work remotely. Hoping we can see you all before Christmas for a few days.
• Monday & Thursday: 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. — 1st Period; 12:30 -1:30 p.m. — 2nd Period; 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. — 3rd period; 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. — 4th Period.
• Tuesday & Friday: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. — 5th Period; 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. — 6th Period; 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. — 7th Period.
• Wednesday – office hours: 1st block — 8 – 8:30 a.m.; 2nd block — 8:30 – 9 a.m.; 3rd block — 9 – 9:30 a.m.; 4th block — 9:30 – 10 a.m.; 5th block — 10 – 10:30 a.m.; 6th block — 10:30 – 11 a.m.; 7th block — 11 – 11:30 a.m..”
As Monroe County is designated as yellow, they will be moving forward with in-person learning.
According to a social media post dated Sunday, Dec.13, Monroe County School officials said, “Monroe County Public Schools will remain yellow for the week of 12/13/2020. A/B schedule will continue.”
Monroe County will also be continuing food distribution for the upcoming week.
Through a separate social media post dated Saturday, Dec.12, school officials said, “Food pickup will be on Wednesday, Dec. 16 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at your preferred location. Please reserve your bag(s) using (the appropriate) links. The links will close at 10 p.m. Monday night and then reopen Thursday morning for the next week.”
All appropriate links can be found on Monroe County Schools Facebook page.
The West Virginia Department of Education will next update the color-coded county map on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m.
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