Some families won’t return when schools reopen. Wake wants to give them online option.
The Wake County school system plans to offer a virtual school option this fall for students who don’t feel comfortable returning to campus during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Wake County school board voted Tuesday to have administrators plan for a virtual learning program that would be offered next school year even if campuses reopen for in-person instruction. Board members and staff say the virtual program will help families who want to stay in the district but don’t think it’s safe for them to return to campus just yet.
“We’re very excited about this possibility and believe it will be part of our overall plan that we can offer to serve our students and families,” Lloyd Gardner, Wake’s chief of staff and strategic planning, said after the board vote.
The vote comes after only 43% of the more than 25,000 parents and students who took a Wake County school system survey said they’re comfortable with going back on campus next school year. The majority of the respondents want at least some use of online instruction this fall, with only 35% saying they want just in-person instruction being used.
School districts and charter schools across North Carolina are working on plans for how to reopen schools after having been closed since mid-March to try to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Schools asked to accommodate at-risk populations
Last week, the state Department of Health and Human Services released health guidance for reopening schools. Also last week, the State Board of Education adopted the state Department of Public Instruction’s strategies for using the health guidance.
Health officials recommend schools develop programs for students and staff who don’t feel comfortable returning to schools.
“I don’t want to be too dramatic,” said school board member Chris Heagarty. “But for some of our families with either students or family members, and for our staff that do have problems with their immune systems who are compromised that are particularly vulnerable, hopefully something like this will save lives.”
Schools are being asked to develop three reopening plans, ranging from using minimal to moderate social distancing to only offering online learning.
Gov. Roy Cooper will decide by July 1 which plan level should be used.
Unless coronavirus metrics improve, the state is on pace to open under “Plan B,” where schools and buses would be required to operate at 50% capacity and students maintain 6 feet of social distancing.
The social distancing requirements would create major challenges for a district like Wake, which has 162,000 students. Most classrooms would be limited to 16 to 18 students, with some classes potentially being held in places such as the media center, cafeteria and gymnasium.
The district would have to look at hiring additional teachers to meet the smaller class sizes and/or require specialized teachers to take over those classes.
“It almost feels as though we’ll need students to choose a virtual learning program in order to accommodate the space requirements within our buildings,” said school board member Heather Scott.
This story was originally published June 16, 2020 at 5:07 PM with the headline "Some families won’t return when schools reopen. Wake wants to give them online option.."
