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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT

New Hanover County Schools Modifies Plan B to AA/BB Model

Board Chair Stefanie Adams speaking at the September 21st special school board meeting.

Last Tuesday, the New Hanover County School Board voted to transition to Plan B, where students would rotate through one week in school and then two weeks remote. But last night’s special school board meeting resulted in a big change of plans.  

Board Chair Stefanie Adams says Governor Roy Cooper’s decision to give school districts the option to open K-5 schools for all in-person teaching came as a surprise: 

 

Last week, we met on Tuesday, and on Tuesday evening we made the vote to move to B. None of us up here knew about the announcement that was going to come.

 

At last night’s special meeting, county health department officials presented current COVID data and answered questions, but refrained from making outright recommendations. Here’s board member Nelson Beaulieu:
 

[Beaulieu:] At what point is it safe for schools to seriously consider opening under Plan A, is it a 5% positivity rate? Is it a 3% positivity rate? [Phillip Tarte, Director of New Hanover County Health Department:] I will be honest. There was no magic number.

The board ultimately voted to modify Plan B to an A-B schedule. That means one group of students goes to school on Mondays and Tuesdays, and the other group attends on Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesdays will be all remote learning while schools are sanitized.
 
The updated Plan B, affecting all grade levels, will be implemented on October 12th. 
New Hanover County Schools is hosting virtual town halls next week to discuss school reopening plans.

 

 

Additional information:
 
Families who still want a full remote option will be able to participate in a 100% remote learning option.
 
To help communicate information and specifics regarding the AA/BB model under Plan B, the district will be hosting a series of Town Hall Meetings during the week of September 28. Each Town Hall will run from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. with the option to extend 30 minutes.The district will hold four separate virtual events on:
 

  • Monday, September 28 - District Staff (see principal/supervisor for more information)
  • Tuesday, September 29 - Pre K and Elementary Schools
  • Wednesday, September 30 - LatinX Families (Partnered with UNCW Latino Alliance)
  • Thursday, October 1 - Middle and High Schools
     

Katelyn Freund is a nonfiction student at UNCW's MFA Creative Writing program. She holds degrees in Spanish and English. In her time not spent working as WHQR's CoastLine Producer, she enjoys shooting pool, humor writing, and snacking.