Wake warns ‘traditional schooling’ might not return for a while due to NC coronavirus threat
Both the Wake County school system and Durham Public Schools say students will be taught online while schools are closed, but it will focus on old course material and not new content.
All North Carolina K-12 public schools are closed through at least March 30 as a result of the executive order signed Saturday by Gov. Roy Cooper to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. In a message posted Tuesday night, Wake County Superintendent Cathy Moore said the district expects to share additional information next week about how remote learning will be used because school buildings are closed.
“Expectations and options for remote learning are being developed, and will include input from staff, administrators, and teachers,” Moore said in the message. “The purpose of remote learning is to reinforce concepts previously taught, to keep children engaged and to reduce learning loss.”
Moore warned that “it is quite possible traditional schooling will not return to normal well beyond March 30.”
Durham Public Schools gave a similar message Tuesday night when it said it would resume providing instruction to students on Monday.
“These activities will not be new learning for students and are not required but will reinforce instruction received in class,” Durham posted. “In-print activities will be provided for students who cannot access materials digitally and do not have internet access. Internet access or a device is NOT required for supplemental learning.”
One of the challenges school districts are facing with using online learning is that not all families have access to the internet at home. Options such as libraries are out because they’ve been ordered to close as well.
Spectrum has agreed to provide free service to families for the next 60 days who don’t already have internet access through the company. But the installation may not come soon enough for all the students who need the service.
That’s a reason why, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system announced Monday it will not introduce new course material to students, providing only supplemental, optional learning material during the two-week closure, the Charlotte Observer reported.
Teachers still eligible to be paid
Moore said Tuesday that Wake is still designating the week of April 6 as spring break for traditional-calendar schools. The district previously said it would move up spring break to help cover the period while schools are closed.
She cited a memo sent this week by the State Board of Education saying local school boards have the flexibility to designate days this month as mandatory teacher workdays or annual leave days. The board said districts can rearrange their calendar and designate days as annual leave days as needed.
In the memo, the state board also said that all the weekdays between March 16 and March 30 are to be designated as “optional teacher work days” for employees so that all staff are eligible to be paid.
“I know that our community is experiencing uncertainty and anxiety as we respond and adjust to the evolving impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Moore said. “As a strong, resilient, and compassionate community that cares, I know that we will continue to support each other.”
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 7:15 PM.
