Cumberland County students will stay in remote learning through end of semester

The board also decided to allow school sports outdoors and allow indoor volleyball.

Sixty-seven employees of Cumberland County Schools have tested positive for the coronavirus since school began. As a result, more than 100 employees were exposed to the coronavirus.

Seven people had to be hospitalized from the coronavirus, and one staff member died.

Despite this, Connelly recommended that the district resume in-person classes. He said that the recommendation is based on coronavirus metrics in the county and guidance from the Cumberland County Health Department.

Three board members voted for reopening, and six board members voted against.

Charles McKellar, one of the board members who voted against the Connelly's recommendation, said that there wasn't a strong enough plan for him to vote for in-person instruction.

McKellar said he would want the schools to do on-campus, rapid testing to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Connelly responded and said that school systems are not in the position to do testing. That would be done in the medical community, he said. Instead, students and staff would be screened for the coronavirus before they entered schools in the morning.

The plan the Connelly proposed was a blended learning model. Students would be divided into two groups – group "A" would go to school on Monday and Tuesday, and group "B" would go to school on Thursday and Friday. When students aren't in school, they would be learning online.

Families who chose to stick with remote learning could participate in classes via live stream, according to the plan.

Students in pre-k and those with special needs would go to school for the entire week.

Greg West, vice chair of the board, made a motion to allow that students who needed in-person instruction be invited back on campus starting October 13. West voted for Connelly's recommendation.

After discussion, West's motion was put off for the next board meeting.