In response to West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s recent announcement that all students would be returning to a five-day per week in-person schedule as of Jan. 19, Mercer County Schools have released additional details and provided further clarification regarding what their education-model will be going forward. Mercer County School’s plan does differ from what Justice announced in several key areas.
In a social media post dated Tuesday, Jan. 12, Mercer County school officials said, “Now is not the time for drastic change. Our county has one of the highest infection rates in the state and our local hospital is full. It is my recommendation to the Board that our current procedures in the reopening plan continue to be our guide until infection rates decline and our employees are vaccinated. At that point, it would be appropriate to re-examine the data and discuss possible adjustments.
Some vaccines are being rolled out in Mercer County this week to our employees, so there is hope on the horizon. I am looking forward to a lower transmission rate and better trending numbers in the future. Until then, Mercer County’s plan will be as follows:
Beginning Friday, January 15, Mercer County Schools will review the WV DHHR map color to announce the instructional schedule for the following week. If our county is red, all students will be in remote instruction. If our county is orange, gold or yellow, we will follow our current blended model for middle and high school students (50% of students each day). Elementary students will attend five days per week. If our county is green for two weeks, our middle and high school students will attend five days per week as well. Announcements will be made on a weekly basis, and families will be notified every Friday about the next school week.”
The post concludes with, “We are hopeful that the spread of COVID-19 will diminish over the next few weeks, the vaccine continues to roll out and that we can get back to some normalcy.”
The statement was written and signed by Mercer County Schools Superintendent Deborah Akers, as well as Board of Education members Paul Hodges, Gene Bailey, Jacinda Smith, Jim Bailey and Gregory Prudich.
Since making the announcement on Dec. 30, Justice has received significant criticism over opting for a unilateral return to in-person learning.
Through a social media post, dated Wednesday, Dec. 30, Fred Albert, president of the West Virginia Chapter of the American Federation of Teachers 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.”
In another post, dated Wednesday, Jan. 13, the AFT West Virginia stated, “Many county BOEs have already voted to use blended or remote models of instruction until all willing school staff can be fully vaccinated. AFT-WV requests the WV BOE to implement AFT-WV’s list of recommendations to protect the health and safety of staff, students and the community.”
During the governor’s Monday, Jan. 11, coronavirus response media-briefing, it was asked what “medical or scientific” information led state health experts to recommend Jan. 19 as the appropriate day to return to in-person education.
State Health Officer Dr. Ayne Amjad fielded the question.
“January 19 was actually picked by the Department of Education,” Amjad said. [ ] “I believe they spoke to their county superintendents about the date. And we also started with the vaccination rollout before that date, as well. But the Department of Education selected that date with their county superintendents after several meetings.”
According to the State Department of Education, a letter was sent by the West Virginia Association of School Administrators and individual conversations were had. However, no such meeting involving all county superintendents was held to discuss re-entry plans for 2021.
Mercer County School’s announcement comes on the same day that new cases of COVID-19 were identified in an employee of Melrose School and an individual associated with Glenwood School.
The West Virginia Daily News will provide updates on this developing story as additional details become available.
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