During his Wednesday, Dec. 30, coronavirus response media briefing, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced that all elementary and middle school students across the state will be returning to in-person learning five days per week starting on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
While the use of the State Department of Education map will be discontinued, high school students will also return to in-person learning provided their county is not designated as red on the DHHR’s daily color-coded county alert map.
In order to comply with the governor’s directive, school officials in Monroe, Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties have made several adjustments to their education model.
A statement posted to Monroe County Schools Facebook page on Thursday, Dec. 31, stated, “students will be on remote instruction beginning on 1/4/2021 through 1/15/2021. Students with special needs and students who are at-risk of failing will have the option of attending in-person during those two-weeks. Each school will be reaching out to at-risk students to encourage attendance. Food pickup will continue at each school on Wednesdays. Beginning on 1/19/2021, all students will return to in-person learning five-days per week. All students will be required to wear masks and social distance when possible. Winter sports will not start until March 1, 2021. Consistent disinfection and deep cleaning will continue. More details will be provided as they arise.”
A similar statement posted to Pocahontas County High School’s Facebook page Saturday, Jan. 2 stated, “All grade levels in Pocahontas County Schools will continue with remote learning until January 19. January 18 is Martin Luther King Day, which is a planned day off. The remote learning plan will be in effect from January 4 through January 15. Students are reminded to attend their online classes and complete their assignments. The end of the semester is fast approaching and incomplete assignments will negatively affect grades. All faculty and staff will report to their work assignments on a regular schedule beginning January 4. The meal distribution program will resume on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.”
An updated message on Greenbrier County School’s website stated, “Greenbrier County students will continue to learn remotely the weeks of January 4 and January 11. Schools are closed on Monday, January18 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Beginning January 19, students in grades Pre-K through 8 will return to in-person learning five days each week. Students in grades nine through 12 will also return to in-person instruction five days each week as long as Greenbrier County is not red on the W.Va. DHHR County Alert System Map. [ ] The WVDE Saturday education map will no longer be published.”
“Families have the option to keep their children enrolled in full-time remote or virtual learning regardless of changes to in-person instruction,” the Greenbrier Schools post continued. “Families interested in enrolling in full-time remote learning or transitioning their child from full-time remote to in-person instruction should contact their school principal. Virtual school registration is open through January 15. [ ] Greenbrier County Schools will distribute five-day meals on Wednesdays for in-person learning at each of the thirteen schools. Remote learner five-day meal boxes will still be picked up at the secondary schools on Wednesdays. Pick up times for both will be 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Questions regarding school meals can be directed to jncurry@k12.wv.us.”
“Wi-fi access for GCS students is available in designated areas of school parking lots. [ ] Winter sports and extracurricular activities are postponed until March 1,” the GCS post concluded.
According to Justice, as well as West Virginia school and health officials, this decision was made for three primary reason; COVID-19 transmission rates are exceptionally low for students and staff of elementary and middle schools, the remote learning model has led to a 50% to 54% reduction in monthly child protective services referrals and, perhaps most importantly, virtual learning has been a categorical failure.
“We’ve got a bunch of kids out there, really suffering. So we must get back in school,” Justice said.
“The governor understands the data is undeniable,” State Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch said. “I fully support this decision because we know that heightened transmission rates experienced in communities are not reflected within the schools because of the mitigations in place.”
As of Sunday, Jan. 3, Greenbrier, Pocahontas and Monroe counties are all designated as red on W.Va. DHHR’s daily color-coded county alert map. All three counties have remained designated as red for at least the last two-weeks consecutively.
As is to be expected, not all education professionals are happy with this decision. The American Federation of Teachers — the largest teachers union in the state — were among those opposed to West Virginia’s new education model.
Through a social media post, dated Wednesday, Dec. 30, Fred Albert, president of the AFT-WV said, “AFT-WV is disappointed that Governor Justice made such a sweeping proclamation on in-person school attendance at a time when community spread is at its most unchecked during the whole pandemic. Furthermore, he did so without getting any input from those on the ground doing the work.”
An emergency meeting of the Greenbrier County Board of Education has been scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 5. The meeting will be held virtually, via Microsoft Teams.
The West Virginia Daily News will provide additional updates as new details are made available.
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